Southern Cross University has become the first regional university to join the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) as an associate member, connecting the expertise and facilities of its National Marine Science Centre with SIMS' collaborative network of marine researchers, universities and government agencies across NSW.
The relationship creates new opportunities for researchers to collaborate across temperate and subtropical marine environments, share infrastructure and build on areas of complementary expertise.
Southern Cross University researchers are already working across some of the most pressing areas of marine science, from marine ecology and oceanography to aquaculture, biogeochemistry, and coastal and estuarine systems.
It could also strengthen the University's engagement with the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) , Australia's national ocean observing network. Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) hosts the NSW IMOS node, creating potential for Southern Cross University researchers to contribute regional expertise and capability to research and monitoring along the NSW coast.
SIMS Director and CEO Professor Martina Doblin said Southern Cross University's regional location and research capability added a valuable new dimension to the SIMS network.
"SIMS's purpose is to initiate and support collaboration to accelerate ocean solutions, so having Southern Cross University join us as an associate member has the strategic intent of building opportunities to work together on coastal and marine issues."
Professor Tim Smith, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Southern Cross University said the value of the relationship would flow in both directions.
"By bringing those strengths together, we can make a greater collective contribution to the challenges facing Australia's oceans and coasts."
The move comes as Southern Cross University deepens its involvement in Australia's marine research community, including joining the National Marine Science Committee as a Tier 2 partner.
