EarthWatch Institute: RECOVERY OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
I was happy to be involved with an EarthWatch Institute initiative lead by Dr. David Bourne and Dr. Yui Sato from the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
Two Earthwatch expeditions are organized each year to the Orpheus Island Research Station, a remote island within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, with a team of volunteer citizen scientists to monitor reef recovery from recent cyclonic activity, seasonal changes in reef health, as well as the impact of light, temperature, and water quality on coral disease progression. Scientists are particularly interested in the recovery of corals from black band disease outbreaks.
Connecting with volunteers from the general public, in a citizen-based scientific effort to illustrate the importance of our research within these unique ecosystems, is an energizing experience.
Find more information at the Earthwatch Intitute website here and here, including a nice video that summarizes the type of work conducted at Orpheus Island Research Station.
