CMST @ Science Week November 2015 National science week is Australia's an‐ nual celebration of science and technol‐ ogy. Thousands of individuals from stu‐ CMST News #21 dents to scientists and chefs to musi‐ The Newsletter of the Centre for Marine Science & Technology cians get involved, taking part in more than 1000 science events across the nation. Curtin University did their part by hosting events, activities, talks and 30th Anniversary Edition showsy for ever age group. PhD stu‐ dent, Sarah Marley ably represented Welcome to CMST’s 2015 newsletter. This is a very special year for us ‐ we are 30 years old! CMST when she assisted Curtin’s Sci‐ CMST was established in 1985, as part of 2009 has been maintaining, the Acoustic ence Outreach team inform and enter‐ CMST’S VISION Festival the Western Australian Institute of Tech‐ Observatories of Australia’s Integrated tain visitors at the Science Week launch Our vision is to operate as a Centre of Excel‐ Science nology (WAIT), which a year later became Marine Observing System (IMOS; http:// at the Perth Cultural Centre on 15th and lence in marine science and technology that is Perth Curtin University. We are Curtin’s oldest imos.org.au). In addition, industry and 16th August. recognised locally and internationally for the research centre. government have funded CMST to listen relevance of its R&D outputs, the strengths of Photo: its strategic alliances, the quality of its gradu‐ Sarah Marley persuades a group of primary schoolers to imitate the marine soundscape during Science Week. CMST creates marine‐related research to the underwater soundscape on‐and‐off programs that are both innovative and at over a hundred sites around our conti‐ ates, and the responsible and ethical approach it takes to its staff and students. applied. Australia has substantial offshore nent, accruing almost 5000 datasets in energy resources, a large fishing industry, over 20 years. This data provides a record a strong maritime defence sector, boom‐ of the marine soundscape at these loca‐ CMST’S MISSION Did you know? Our mission is to serve the current and future ing coastal and marine tourism—all over‐ tions, and lets us monitor great whales on lapping with rich and often still pristine migration, observe seasonal fishes chorus‐ needs of our customers (in industry, govern‐ ment, defence, not‐for‐profit organisations, marine ecosystems. CMST is committed ing, study ocean weather, track anthropo‐ and the community) through basic research as to the development of technologies and genic activities and identify any long‐term well as applied R&D in our core competencies methodologies, as well as environmental changes in the soundscape. in marine acoustics, hydrodynamics, and ma‐ monitoring programmes, for the sustain‐ CMST staff are co‐investigators in four rine instrumentation. Our multi‐disciplinary able development of our marine re‐ Western Australian Marine Science Insti‐ approach is central to CMST’s mission. sources. Curtin University has significant tute (WAMSI) projects within the Kimber‐ capability and infrastructure in the field of ley Science Node, studying marine marine research. CMST works closely with mammals visually and acoustically, other centres and departments at Curtin, Continued page 2 Galindo Archives other Australian and international univer‐ Marta CMST sities, and a wide variety of industry and Image: Photo: government bodies, both here and over‐ The image used to decorate CMST’s promotional range of t‐shirts and CMST’s Graduate Diploma in Marine Archaeology ran from seas. drink bottles, and also featured in this newsletter, was designed by 1989‐1995. Here is the 1995 class. Do you recognise anyone? CMST’s research is very much interdis‐ PhD student Marta Galindo Romero. What a multi‐talented lady! ciplinary. The Centre meldse th skills of physicists, acousticians, biologists, ecolo‐ gists, and engineers. CMST currently has CMST Seminars The Centre for Marine Science & Technology (CMST) 12 academic research staff, four technical conducts world‐class consulting, research, development and CMST holds weekly seminars, with speakers from interstate and and administrative support staff, and 20 education for the marine industry and for government overseas, as well as CMST staff. PhD students. We also have a large and agencies. Please note that the Seminar time has been changed to make very dear community of true and trusted parking easier for external attendees. casual staff, on whose brains and hands The schedule of seminars is listed on our website: For further information contact: www.cmst.curtin.edu.au/seminars Centre for Marine Science and Technology we rely at busy times. Parnum GPO Box U1987, Perth WA 6845, AUSTRALIA CMST is involved in many large, multi‐ Iain If you would like to receive email updates regarding CMST seminars, Phone: +61 8 9266 7380 Fax: +61 8 9266 4799 simply send an email to the following address: year, collaborative, and—last but not Email: [email protected] Image: [email protected] least—fun projects. CMST built, and since 16 cmst.curtin.edu.au 1 Continued from page 1, and seabed biodiversity and geomor‐ clearance in several ports and led an international benchmarking phology using multibeam echo‐sounders. We have also been study on the accuracy of ship motion codes in shallow water, that Post‐Graduate Students and their Theses 1978 ‐ 2015 studying the effects of seismic exploration on whales, turtles, confirmed our ship clearance modelling as world’s‐best practice. Year fish, squid, lobsters, scallops, plankton etc., in collaboration with There are many attests to the quality of our research. Several Name Degree Thesis title completed Supervisor other Australian universities and funded by the offshore petro‐ members of staff act as the Australian representatives on inter‐ Andrew Woods PhD Crosstalk in stereoscopic displays 2014 Alec Duncan leum industry as well as the Fisheries Research and Develop‐ national committees to standardise underwater acoustic meas‐ Daniel Wilkes PhD The development of a fast multipole boundary element method for coupled 2013 Alec Duncan acoustic and elastic problems ment Corporation (FRDC). urement, modelling and reporting. Some staff have won fellow‐ A key area of expertise is the modelling of sound propagation ships. Many students are supported by domestic and interna‐ Grant Pusey PhD Characterisation of long‐range horizontal performance of underwater acous‐ 2011 Alec Duncan tic communication Sasha Gavrilov under water. As the Australian marine acoustic environment is tional, industry and government scholarships. The relevance of Daniel Veen PhD A smoothed particle hydrodynamics study of ship bow slamming in ocean 2011 Tim Gourlay unique due to its acoustically dense calcareous seabed, CMST our research is manifested in the number of media interviews waves Kim Klaka has had a continuous stream of sound propagation projects for and reports—sometimes exceeding 100 per year. Binghui Li PhD Acoustic observation of ice rifting and breaking events on the Antarctic ice 2010 Sasha Gavrilov shelf using remote hydro acoustic listening stations Alec Duncan industry and government, including several PhD theses. We’re living in interesting and challenging times currently with CMST staff were key contributors to the Sydney‐Kormoran our economy slowing and government cutting funds. As a result, Miles Parsons PhD An investigation of active and passive acoustic techniques to study aggregat‐ 2010 Rob McCauley ing fish species Project, which conducted a detailed 3D imaging survey of the the academic sector has recently undergone great changes re‐ Matthew Legg PhD Non‐Gaussian and non‐homogeneous Poisson models of snapping shrimp 2010 Alec Duncan two World War II shipwrecks HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormo‐ shaping its academic staff portfolio as well as support services. noise ran, which sank each other and are now located at a depth of For a self‐funded research centre like CMST such changes are Yoa‐Ting Tseng PhD Recognition and assessment of seafloor vegetation using a single beam echo 2009 Sasha Gavrilov 2500 m, 200 km off the WA coast. Several spin‐off research pro‐ unsettling and challenging—at least temporarily until “the sys‐ sounder Alec Duncan Rob McCauley jects on deep‐sea marine biology and corrosion have resulted tem regains homeostasis”. CMST has sailed through turmoil in Iain Parnum PhD Benthic habitat mapping using multibeam sonar systems 2008 Sasha Gavrilov the past and always managed to arrive back in port—safe and from this trip. A 3D exhibition is planned at the WA Museum and Alec Duncan partner institutions. sound with dry feet, ready to set sail again. What makes CMST Rudy Kloser PhD Seabed biotope characterisation based on acoustic sensing 2008 John Penrose CMST further specialises in modelling and measuring ship special are its people and our unparalleled team spirit. I am both Peter Henley PhD An improved operator interface for underwater remotely operated vehicles 2006 John Penrose under‐keel clearance, ship motions in waves and stability of off‐ proud and humbled to be leading this exceptional team of staff Susan Rennie PhD Oceanographic processes in the Perth Canyon and their impact on productiv‐ 2006 Rob McCauley shore structures. CMST has developed guidelines for under‐keel and students. Christine Erbe, Director CMST ity David Sterling PhD Performance of prawn trawl gear 2005 John Penrose gratory routes of baleen whales. The bio‐ and fisheries. Matthew Legg developed Ahmad Zakaria PhD Numerical modelling of wave propagation using higher order finite‐ 2004 John Penrose difference formulas Biology at CMST logical stream benefited greatly from Alec statistical models for sounds produced Kim Klaka PhD Roll motion of a yacht at zero Froude number 2004 John Penrose In its early days, under John Penrose's Duncan’s underwater acoustic modelling by snapping shrimp. Following comple‐ Alec Duncan PhD The measurement of underwater acoustic noise radiated by a vessel using 2004 Alexander Kritski leadership, CMST focussed on physics expertise and Justy Siwabessy’s expertise tion of their PhD’s at CMST, Iain Parnum the vessel's own towed array John Penrose and engineering.