Sun, surf and sea is the ‘workplace environment’ for these scientists out on the Reef

Plenty of sun, plenty of sand, plenty of sea — life on a remote island working to save the Great Barrier Reef may strike some as a great job. A really, really, great job.

And for marine scientists Dr Emily Howells and Dr David Abrego, running the Australian Museum’s Lizard Island Research Station (LIRS) on Jiigurru/Lizard Island is a dream job.

But there is plenty to do, and challenges, and they are looking forward to it.

The island is located 270km north-east of Cairns on the northern end of the Reef, which is home to about 1600 species of fish, more than 350 species of hard coral and 4000 mollusc species.

The station (or LIRS) is a part of the Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI).

As co-directors, Dr Howells and Dr Abrego will be involved in everything and that list is long; from carrying out science programs and overseeing the research of visiting marine scientists from Australia and around the world to maintaining infrastructure (like boats and research labs) and working with local tourism operators, they will be busy.

“This is an opportunity to live and work in paradise and facilitate science which we are passionate about,” Dr Howells says.

“The AM’s Lizard Island Research Station is our favourite place on the Great Barrier Reef and we knew this job would not come up again — it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we had to apply.”

“It’s a dream job for us to be able to come to Lizard Island Research Station … working together to support and amplify the incredible research, education and scientific communication work that happens here,” Dr Abrego says.

“Our goal is to continue the station’s incredible reputation …. we hope to leave the Great Barrier Reef better for the next generation.”

MUSEUM’S HOPES

Professor Kris Helgen is the museum’s chief scientist and director of AMRI; she says they are looking forward to what doctors Howells and Abrego will bring to actively promoting LIRS as a leading voice for reef science and conservation.

“LIRS is one of the world’s leading tropical marine field research stations, visited annually by hundreds of international marine scientists from around the world.

“Dr Howells’ and Dr Abrego’s unique experience as coral reef researchers and educators in Australia and overseas makes them well suited to continue the development of LIRS ….,” she says.

THEIR BACKGROUNDS

Before their appointments, Dr Howells was a senior research fellow and Dr Abrego was a senior lecturer, both at the National Marine Science Centre at Southern Cross University.

They have a combined 27 years’ experience as coral reef scientists, spanning research, tertiary education, academic administration, science outreach, and service roles across the Pacific and Middle East.

Even while at LIRS, they retain their positions at Southern Cross University so they can oversee ongoing research and education projects.

Both Dr Howells and Dr Abrego have previously conducted scientific research projects at LIRS. A focus of their recent work has been related to understanding how corals vary in their heat tolerance and what that means for adaptation to climate change.

THE STATION

• Since its founding in 1973, LIRS welcomed more than 15,000 marine science students from all over the world.
• Around 100 research projects are conducted annually by about 400 scientists and support personnel.
• Since 1973 there have been 2700 scientific publications from work conducted at LIRS used by reef managers to conserve coral reefs; film crews also regularly use the island as a base for reef and climate documentaries.
• In 1978, the Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation was established to support research and education.
• Since its inception, the foundation raised more than $17 million to support science on the Reef.