Reefs and Robots: Innovations and Imperatives in an Expanding Toolbox for Coral Reef Science (Alternative title = Blunders of a fish ecologist in electrical engineering!)
Coral reef science is evolving rapidly, with emerging technologies opening new frontiers for research and conservation. Among these, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) provide a unique opportunity to access and explore deep and mesophotic reefs—ecosystems that have remained hidden and poorly understood. I will showcase recent projects that demonstrate the potential of micro-ROVs to reveal new biodiversity, map habitats, and monitor reef change from otherwise difficult to study coral reef ecosystems.
Yet, the use of new technology always comes with challenges. Cost, accessibility, technical refinement, and data integration remain pressing issues. Importantly, ROVs and other robotic innovations are not replacements for existing methods, but complementary tools that can strengthen our collective capacity to study and protect all coral reefs.
I will emphasise the importance of best practice and a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, where ecological, technological, and local expertise work together. By expanding our toolbox of techniques and new technologies, we can generate new knowledge, strengthen reef science, and better safeguard coral ecosystems in a changing world.
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- 1526 Cape Cleveland Rd
- Townsville, Queensland
- Australia 4810
- Building: Main Building
- Room Number: Lecture Theatre
- Contact Event Host
- Co-sponsored by AIMS
Speakers
Dr Gemma Galbraith of AIMS@JCU Postdoc
Reefs and Robots: Innovations and Imperatives in an Expanding Toolbox for Coral Reef Science
Biography:
Dr Gemma Galbraith is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow based at James Cook University (JCU) and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Townsville. Her research focuses on coral reef fish ecology, with specific interests in mesophotic ecosystems, seamounts, and the roles of these deep and distinct coral reef habitats in supporting reef biodiversity and connectivity.
With over a decade of experience in coral reef monitoring and field ecology, Gemma has led and contributed to surveys and expeditions across a range of tropical reef systems, including the inshore Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea, Papua New Guinea, and the Caribbean. She utilises both diver-based in-situ methods and remote video techniques including Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to explore and study reef systems beyond the limits of traditional SCUBA.