PROFILE OF PRINCIPAL SPONSOR: THE AUSTRALIAN MARINE SCIENCE CONSORTIUM
The Australian Marine Science Consortium (AMSC) comprises a large number of marine institutions and organisations, including many of Australia's universities and some other tertiary institutions (see below), the Royal Australian Naval College, Otago University in New Zealand, the Australian Defence Force Academy, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
The broad aims of the AMSC are to encourage and provide for collaboration in marine science research and development, and to promote interactions aimed at strengthening each individual research organisation. Specifically, the Consortium seeks to co-ordinate and stimulate marine science research, and to provide a focus for interaction between Consortium organisations in the fields of marine science in government, semi-government and statutory bodies, private organisations and tertiary institutions. It also strives to provide for public education in marine science, to provide common facilities for postgraduate research and training, and to facilitate collaboration within and among universities, colleges, government departments and industry in the general areas of postgraduate research and training in the marine sciences.
Member universities and colleges of the AMSC at the time of publication are: Australian Maritime College, University of Central Queensland, The Flinders University of South Australia, James Cook University of North Queensland, University of New England Northern Rivers, University of New South Wales, Northern Territory University, University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney, University of Tasmania Launceston, and University of Wollongong.
PROFILES OF SUPPORTING SPONSORS:
CSIRO Division of Fisheries
The Division of Fisheries is Australia's largest research organisation studying marine living resources. It provides scientific advice to managers of Australia's marine resources and the industries that depend on them to ensure that marine resources are managed on a sustainable basis. From its headquarters in Hobart (Tasmania) and regional laboratories in Marmion (Western Australia) and Cleveland (Queensland), it conducts five comprehensive research programs:
- Mariculture - develops new approaches to farming of current or potential mariculture species
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- Marine Environment - determines the marine ecological processes that must be understood to manage the marine environment
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- Pelagic Fisheries Resources - develops an understanding of the ecology and population dynamics of Australia's main pelagic resources
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- Temperate and Deepwater Fisheries Resources - examines stock structure, productivity and biomass of Australia's temperate and deepwater resources
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- Tropical Fisheries Resources - identifies factors that influence the distribution, abundance, dynamics and productivity of tropical fisheries, and develops new approaches to their management
Department of Employment, Education and Training
The Department provides career information and advice through Career Information Centres and Work Information Centres in CES offices nationally. The Department also publishes the job guides in each state and in the Northern Territory each year, which outline job descriptions, education and training requirements for around 400 occupations, as well as a range of other printed career information.
CSIRO Division of Oceanography
The Division carries out a diverse range of research, from the oceans' part in climate change, through to the chemistry of sewage effluent and how it disperses in the ocean, and understanding tides and currents for better environmental management. It provides advice to industry in diverse areas such as offshore oil and gas exploration, commercial fishing, fish farming and fish by-products. The Division also develops oceanographic models and technology as tools of trade.
The CSIRO research vessel RV Franklin, moored current meters, satellite remote sensing, and information obtained from various models are used for data collection by the Division's marine chemists, physical oceanographers, mathematical modellers, engineers, and laboratory technical officers. The Division is also a partner in the Antarctic Cooperative Research centre based at the University of Tasmania where the major project is to understand the role of the Southern Ocean in the climate system.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
The Institute is a federally-funded statutory authority and has its headquarters located at Cape Ferguson, 50 km south of Townsville. Its primary activity is research, with an emphasis on tropical marine science, not only in Australia but in Southeast Asia, and the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Institute's research is used by industry and natural resource management agencies to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in these regions. Research and development is carried out through four core scientific programs each of which contain a number of interrelated projects. These scientific projects range from short-term studies to research of an ongoing nature. The four core programs are:
- Coastal Processes and Resources - focuses on the functioning of coastal ecosystems and how they are affected by human populations
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- Coral Reef Ecosystems - seeks to understand coral reef systems and to provide a sound basis for their conservation and management
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- Environmental Studies and Biotechnology - focuses on responses of marine organisms to their environment, the evaluation of marine organisms for benefit to humans, and genetic research
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- Tropical Oceanography - works on oceanographic processes and fisheries in tropical ecosystems
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
The GBRMPA is a federally-funded statutory authority responsible for the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and its headquarters are located in Townsville (Queensland). Its goal is "to provide for the protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef in perpetuity through the care and development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park". Achievement of this goal depends significantly on education and the acquisition of scientific information for management.
Department of Industry, Technology and Regional Development
The Department provides significant support for, and coordinates, the promotion and development of marine science, technology and industry, largely through the Marine Industries Development Program, which
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