Redmap shortlisted for Eureka moment

Two University of Tasmania projects – one studying the complex biocycles in our oceans and the other mapping the distribution of marine species – have been shortlisted for the prestigious Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, which celebrate excellence in science.

Distinguished Professor of Economic Geology Ross Large, from the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits (CODES), and IMAS Associate Professor Gretta Pecl led the successful teams, which have been announced as finalists.

Professor Large led a collaborative team, including local geologists and palaeontologists from South Australia’s Flinders University – together with a group of international researchers – which has revealed the critical role of the trace element selenium in the cycle of life and death in the oceans over the last 600 million years.

Associate Professor Gretta Pecl and her team – including national coordinator Dr Jemina Stuart-Smith, communications officer Yvette Barry and senior technical advisor Peter Walsh – have been shortlisted for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science for their Redmap Australia project.

Redmap (Range Extension Database and Mapping) encourages citizen scientists around Australia to upload photos and sightings of marine life not commonly found at their local fishing, diving and swimming spots. Each photo is then verified by a taxonomic expert. These community observations help scientists track which species may be moving away from their usual home range in response to warming seas.

Assoc Prof Pecl said the shortlisting was a welcome acknowledgement of the significant contributions many fishers, divers, boaters and scientists around Australia had made towards understanding the effects of marine climate change.

“Redmap Australia is an innovative collaboration between over 80 scientists, thousands of citizen scientists and 15 institutes around the country, which is providing an early indication of how our marine ecosystems are changing so we are better prepared to adapt to these changes,” she said.

The University of Tasmania won Eureka Prizes in 2013 and 2014 for its dingo research and Reef Life Survey projects respectively.

The 2016 awards will be announced at a gala dinner in Sydney on 31 August.

Click here for the full shortlist and more information about the awards,