University of Queensland marine researchers are confident that most of the significant data sets at Heron Island Research Station were backed up when the world-renowned facility was damaged by fire on March 30.
The Director of UQ’s Centre for Marine Studies, Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg said backed-up material included data on climate change’s impact on coral reefs (including coral “bleaching”), and a major international project largely funded by the World Bank and the Global Environment Fund.
“The fire hasn’t killed the enthusiasm of the staff, nor their will to rebuild an even better station,” Professor Hoegh-Guldberg said.
“It is the University’s intention to have this world-class research facility back in business - on a limited basis - within months, and fully operational within a year.”
Staff and researchers who were at the Great Barrier Reef station when the fire occurred early on Friday, March 30 were safely evacuated.
Some experimental equipment was lost, and because some of the lost equipment was customised it will take time to replace.
In the aftermath of the fire, students and researchers have been working with UQ to recover equipment and regain research momentum.
“Our researchers and students are strongly committed to their projects so the fire was traumatic for many people, including people who were not on the island at the time.
“However, there’s a determination to continue with internationally-significant research which assists understanding of tropical marine environments, and has impact in areas including species conservation and human health and wellbeing,” Professor Hoegh-Guldberg said.
Heron Island Research Station, in the southern Great Barrier Reef, is a world-class research and teaching facility and the most productive and prestigious marine research station in Australia. It has been established for more than 50 years and is internationally renowned for coral reef research, and student training in marine sciences.
The cause of the fire is being determined by an official investigation team.
Images of Heron Island and research it hosts: http://www.marine.uq.edu.au/Ohg/Images_Apr-07/images.htm
Pictures of the aftermath of the fire: http://www.marine.uq.edu.au/Ohg/Heron_Fire_www/www.heron_fire.htm
Information on World Bank/Global Environment Fund Coral Reef Targeted Research Project: http://www.gefcoral.org
Media contacts: Jan King 3365 1120/ 0413 601 248; Fiona Kennedy 3365 1088/ 0413 380 012 or Ove Hoegh-Guldberg 0401 106604 or oveh@uq.edu.au
