University of Wollongong (UOW) researchers will play a leading role in the new $56 million Australian Research Council (ARC) Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science.
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On Tuesday Federal Minister of Education Dan Tehan announced $36 million had been awarded to the Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future (SAEF) research program.
SAEF will deliver world-leading research that will forecast environmental change across the Antarctic, deploy effective environmental stewardship strategies, and secure Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science.
Monash University's Professor Steven Chown will be SAEF director. UOW's Senior Professor Sharon Robinson will be deputy-director (Science Implementation).
Professor Robinson is an international expert on how climate change impacts Antarctic terrestrial communities and leader of UOW's Sustaining Coastal and Marine Zones Global Challenge
"This Special Research Initiative is a wonderful investment in Antarctic Science by the Federal Government," Prof Robinson said.
"It has enabled us to build an integrated program which will be the first in world to bring together the best Antarctic physical scientists with marine and terrestrial biologists. This interdisciplinary expertise will allow us to understand how Antarctic climate is and will change in future and, what this means for Antarctic biodiversity.
"Using this unique data, we will work with national programs in Australia, and around the world, to enable them to make the best decisions for future Antarctic environmental management.
"The global uniqueness and benefits of this approach are clear from our partners in the Norwegian Polar Institute who are excited about the possibility of applying these methodologies in the Arctic."
SAEF will be led by Monash University and bring together researchers from UOW, the Queensland University of Technology, University of New South Wales, James Cook University, University of Adelaide, the Western Australian Museum, and the South Australian Museum.
Peak industry bodies such as the Australian Antarctic Division, and Geoscience Australia, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, and the Bureau of Meteorology are also involved.
SAEF will also link with the Antarctic national programs of Chile, Norway, South Africa and the UK, and with the Department of Conservation in New Zealand.
UOW will contribute to all the three themes of SAEF. Climate scientist Associate Professor Helen McGregor will co-lead the climate theme.
Statisticians Distinguished Professor Noel Cressie and Dr Andrew Zammit-Mangion contribute vital climate modelling, allowing SAEF to statistically downscale from climate models to smaller, more biologically appropriate scales.
Senior Professor Pascal Perez and Dr Johan Barthelemy will use smart sensing technologies to remotely monitor Antarctic ecosystems. Distinguished Prof Stuart Kaye is the team's expert on environmental law and Antarctic policy.
"On a personal level, I am really excited to have this opportunity to work with so many of the best Antarctic researchers, in Australia and overseas, to ensure a brighter future for Antarctic ecosystems," Prof Robinson said.
"This is a great example of research with far reaching environmental benefits. It will also train the future Antarctic workforce, equipping them with the interdisciplinary skills, which are essential to deal with the complexities facing Antarctica, and the world, over the coming decades."