Corals roll with the punches
A new study suggests corals may be able to cope with climate change in the coming decades better than previously thought—but will still struggle with ever-faster rates of climate change. Lead aut
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University Townsville
Queensland 4811 Australia
Phone: 61 7 4781 4000
Email: info@coralcoe.org.au
Scientist Jennifer Donelson has been awarded one of Queensland’s most prestigious science prizes – the Queensland Young Tall Poppy award – for researching the impact of climate change on marine fish.
Dr Jennifer Donelson, a Research Fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, was announced as a recipient of the award at a ceremony in Brisbane last night.
“I am honoured to receive this award. It recognises the importance of promoting science among the broader community, which is critical to managing the challenges our planet’s ecosystems face,” Dr Donelson said.
“How species will cope with climate change over many years, not just how today’s animal populations respond to environmental change, is essential for future conservation and management.
“I have discovered that when fish develop in warmer water from early life they can improve performance slightly, but not entirely. However, the more generations that experience the warm conditions the greater the improvement that occurs.
“This provides hope that some fish populations may be able to tolerate a warmer ocean, providing time for society to bring rapid climate change under control.”
James Cook University continues to feature prominently in the annual awards. JCU is one of 10 Queensland universities, but over the past three years, its researchers have won 6 of the 28 available awards (more than one in five of the awards).
The Queensland Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy, Leeanne Enoch has congratulated the winners of the Young Tall Poppy awards.
“Their achievements and passion for engaging Queenslanders with science is truly remarkable and commendable.
“Queensland is home to a large pool of scientific talent and it is appropriate that we acknowledge these rising stars who are not only leading ground-breaking research but also passionately communicating how their research outcomes will affect the well-being of Queenslanders,” Leeanne Enoch said.
Background:
The prestigious annual Young Tall Poppy Science Awards program is run in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS). It aims to recognise the achievements of Australia’s outstanding young scientific researchers and communicators.
Winners of Young Tall Poppy Science Awards help promote the study of, and careers in, science among school students and teachers, as well as an understanding and appreciation of science in the broader community.
Photos of Dr. Donelson are available at: http://bit.ly/2bcxg3l
Dr Jennifer Donelson
Phone: 0402 062 046
Email: jennifer.donelson@my.jcu.edu.au
Kylie Simmonds
Communications Manager
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University
Phone: +61 (0)7 4781 6067, +61 (0)428 785 895
Email: kylie.simmonds1@jcu.edu.au
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Partner Research Institutions
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University Townsville
Queensland 4811 Australia
Phone: 61 7 4781 4000
Email: info@coralcoe.org.au