Australia celebrates National Science Week this year from Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 August. The theme this year is ‘Deep Blue: Innovations for the Future of our Oceans’ and features The Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (Blue Economy CRC). Blue Economy CRC is a major initiative involving national and international collaboration between industry, government and research institutes with a focus on the development of sustainable marine aquaculture and renewable energy resources. The program is the largest of its kind in Australia and highlights many of the career opportunities that will be available to students in the future as a result of ongoing developments in science and technology.
Our guest speaker for Middle and Senior School Assemblies in Science Week this year is Dr Beth Fulton (pictured). Dr Fulton is an ecosystem modeller and senior principal scientist at CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere in Hobart, with a background in ecology, marine biology and mathematics. She has specialised in the development of ecosystem models and is currently leading the Blue Economy CRC Research Program #4: Ecosystems and Environment. Her work for a range of national and international organisations has informed understanding and management of the impacts of fishing and climate change on marine ecosystems and the development of sustainable aquaculture. Dr Fulton is also an Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Marine Socioecology at the University of Tasmania, where she is involved in collaboration on projects that focus on the development of sustainable options for the blue economy.
Her presentation will cover her role with the Blue Economy CRC, details of the project she is involved in, and her career pathway.
Students can access a recording of Dr Fulton’s presentation and interviews with Blue Economy CRC professionals through Carey’s National Science Week website available now on Canvas. The site is an invitation to students and their families to explore the world of oceans, the issues affecting them, and opportunities to engage in new and emerging sustainable economies through the work of organisations such as the Blue Economy CRC.
A number of Carey students also had the opportunity to interview professionals working with Blue Economy CRC, including scientists, engineers and specialists in policy development and social science. These interviews can be found on the Blue Economy CRC Resources page, as well as their homepage for students around the country to access and learn from for the duration of National Science Week. Well done to all students who participated.
Check out this interview by Carey's Kathy Xing with Professor Chris Carter at the University of Tasmania.
Julie Harris-Wetherbee
Leader of Learning – Science
