"I got hooked!" says Jess Melbourne Thomas about her PhD
Jess Melbourne Thomas is a QMS student who learned to dive as a teenager with her father and her brother. From there, she found her way to marine science and its higher levels, developing - as part of her PhD - a model aiming to explore the uncertainties about changes to human-affected coral reef systems. She hopes that her work will help reef managers to make informed decisions for coral reef systems.
You have developed a model assisting with the management of coral reef systems. What is the importance of such a model?
The future of coral reef systems around the world is highly uncertain, and there's a pressing need for tools to assist reef managers in making decisions that will be robust across a range of potential reef futures. Simulation models like the one I've developed enable decision-makers to explore scenarios about different reef futures, and to compare the potential effectiveness of alternative management strategies. The aim of these models is to understand uncertainties about changes to reef systems, and to help develop management approaches that guard against some of these uncertainties.
What do you like in your PhD project?
Certainly, the opportunity to work in exciting places like Mexico and the Philippines! I've also really enjoyed the challenge of trying to model complex coral reef systems. I guess I've been very lucky to be able to work with a range of really talented people; I think that finding ways to integrate knowledge and approaches from different fields is one of the most exciting things about marine science.
In 2004-2006, you worked in Indonesia. What did your work entail? Does this work now help you in your research?
It was an amazing experience! I guess the main aspects of my work in Indonesia that have influenced my current research direction are (i) my role in coordinating ReefCheck surveys over a large spatial area, and (ii) seeing how local communities use and manage reef resources. Through running the ReefCheck surveys I got to see a whole range of reefs ranging from pristine sites, through to highly degraded reefs. This really got me thinking about the ways in which human activities affect reef function, and also how reefs are connected from local to regional scales so that degradation in one area can have flow-on consequences for other reefs. Experiences with local communities made me appreciate the challenges and tradeoffs that decision-makers face in trying to manage reef resources in developing countries.
You are supervised by Prof. Craig Johnson, and Dr. Beth Fulton. How did their supervision help you?
They have immense experience in marine ecosystem modelling. Their advice and support has been invaluable. The fact that Beth and Craig have a lot of contacts in related fields means that I have also been able to seek advice on specialist aspects of my project. I'm certainly inspired by the achievements and capabilities of both my supervisors. I've also been privileged to be part of the Modelling and Decision Support working group (which is part of the GEF funded Coral Reef Targeted Research program), and have collaborated with members of this group throughout my project.
Why did you choose to do a PhD in Hobart?
Hobart has a pretty impressive community of marine ecosystem modellers, and I was also attracted by the QMS program. The nature of my project has meant that I've escaped the Tassie winter to dive in tropical locations several times throughout my PhD – tough, hey!?
What are the advantages of being a QMS student?
For me, the two best things about the QMS program have been the opportunity to interact with leading researchers through the QMS taught units, and the great network of students who work on pretty varied projects but are always happy to share knowledge and experience.
What do you want to do after your PhD?
In the short term I will be working with members of the Modelling and Decision Support group and staff at the Tasmanian Partnership for Advanced Computing in Hobart to create an online version of the regional model which I've developed during my PhD. This online version will be available to users via a web portal, and will include detailed documentation about how to parameterise and run the model, as well as information on the model structure and example scenarios.
In the longer term I'm interested in using models and other tools to understand climate change impact on marine ecosystem function.
If you were to give a high school student advice in pursuing this career what would you suggest?
Go for it – with passion! Seek out and make the most of opportunities like volunteer fieldwork, summer schools and talking to people about their research.
Anaïs van Ditzhuyzen
