PhD student among next generation of marine experts
When University of Queensland PhD student Emily Flanagan was selected for a national sea-training voyage, she wasn't sure how her research on prawn aquaculture would translate to life at sea.
The national tertiary sea-training initiative brings together CSIRO, the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, and the Australian and New Zealand International Scientific Drilling Consortium (ANZIC).
Emily from the School of the Environment was one of 20 students from across Australia chosen to sail aboard the CSIRO research vessel Investigator as part of the Collaborative Australian Postgraduate Sea-Training Alliance Network (CAPSTAN).
"Opportunities to undertake hands-on research training at sea are quite rare, so it felt like a huge privilege to learn from researchers across different areas of Australian marine science," Emily said.
“My role in the training program was hands-on and included sampling activities, equipment deployments, onboard scientific training and voyage operations alongside researchers.
"Being at sea means students are embedded in the research process and contribute to projects using advanced scientific equipment and working with live data.”
Despite feeling unsure on how her research would be applied in the training program, Emily was surprised at how interconnected everyone’s research was.
“Even though people came from very different disciplines the trainers did an incredible job of bringing their fields together,” she said.
“This collaborative approach really helps inform crucial ocean research for Australia.”
Image: CTD Sampling, CSIRO
Image: CTD Sampling, CSIRO
For her part, Emily’s knowledge of marine invertebrates proved particularly valuable to the researchers.
“My research is in prawn nutrition, looking at how diet influences the growth, health and production efficiency of black tiger prawns for aquaculture,” she said.
“I was able to add benthic species surveys to the sediment work we conducted which really excited the geologists because they normally sieve out the ‘giant shells’ and other ‘macro debris’ which I could create an ecological story with.”
Dr Sarah Kachovich, Program Manager of the Australian and ANZIC said CAPSTAN gives students a rare chance to experience life and research at sea, working alongside leading scientists.
“Programs like this are essential for building the next generation of researchers – giving participants the practical skills and confidence to contribute to major scientific projects in Australia and around the world,” she said.
Data from the voyage will feed into several larger research projects, spanning harmful algal bloom dynamics in South Australian coastal waters, continental slope geology, and marine biodiversity across the Great Australian Bight.
For Emily, her experience in the CAPSTAN voyage doesn’t stop at sea.
"Spending weeks at sea together creates a pretty unique sense of community.
“I've come away with friendships and professional connections that I think will stay with me throughout my career.
"It's strengthened my interest in applied and collaborative research, and in building a career that connects industry, environment, and broader marine science questions,” she said.
Photo credit: Sarah Kachovich, ANZIC
Photo credit: Sarah Kachovich, ANZIC
Photo credit: Christine Hanson, UWA
Photo credit: Christine Hanson, UWA
Photo credit: Maren Preuss, CSIRO.
Photo credit: Maren Preuss, CSIRO.
Photo credit: Lucy Rowland
Photo credit: Lucy Rowland
Photo credit: CSIRO
Photo credit: CSIRO
Photo credit: Sarah Kachovich, ANZIC
Photo credit: Sarah Kachovich, ANZIC
The CAPSTAN program is a maritime education and training initiative of Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) and the Australian and New Zealand International Scientific Drilling Consortium (ANZIC).
RV Investigator is part of the Marine National Facility, national collaborative research infrastructure funded by the Australian Government and operated by CSIRO on behalf of the nation.
CAPSTAN partners CSIRO and the Australian and New Zealand International Scientific Drilling Consortium (ANZIC) receive funding for this activity from the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).
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