Students win Science and Innovation Awards

Nov 03, 2005

A study into an unusual kind of fish and preventing algal blooms in waterways has led to two University of Wollongong PhD students being announced winners in the 2005 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Canberra last night (2 November).

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Mr Peter McGauran, presented the students Mr Nathan Miles and Ms Ann Mills their awards at a Parliament House ceremony. Winners receive up to $10,000 to complete a project of long-term benefit to Australia's agriculture, fisheries, forestry, food or natural resource management industries.

Nathan (School of Earth and Environmental Sciences) has undertaken a study into a remarkable group of fish, called diadromous fish, which must move between saltwater and freshwater to complete their lifecycle. His study is under the supervision of Associate Professor Ron West.

"Ninety-nine per cent of fish are unable to do this and are basically confined to either one or the other," Mr McGauran said.

Diadromous fish are potentially under threat, mainly due to high coastal population densities, poor land practices, land reclamation and river regulation. The research hopes to identify important migratory times and spawning requirements for the species so that environmental managers have the information to better manage them and their environments.

Mr McGauran said Ann's study aimed to increase our understanding of the science of nitrogen based nutrients within Australian waterways. Ann is completing her PhD in chemistry.

"Understanding how this cycle works would make it possible to predict and prevent the formation of algal blooms," he said.

Mr McGauran said that a system that is able to measure the air, water and sediment simultaneously while in the environment was developed by a team that Ann was involved in at UOW.

"Ann will now further develop this system in the field study which will be conducted in Lake Illawarra," Mr McGauran said.

She is undertaking her PhD under the supervision of Associate Professor Stephen Wilson and Dr Di Jolley.