A research outpost in the northern Great Barrier Reef is now home to Southern Cross University researchers Dr Emily Howells and Dr David Abrego.
The partners in life and marine science have taken the reins of the internationally-renowned Lizard Island Research Station (LIRS) , on Lizard Island (Jiigurru), in the coveted roles of co-directors, described by many as one of the best jobs in the world. Fortunately, the duo will retain links with Southern Cross University to the delight of students and staff.
"This is an opportunity to live and work in paradise and facilitate science which we are passionate about. The Australian Museum's Lizard Island Research Station is our favourite place on the Great Barrier Reef and we knew this job would not come up again: it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we had to apply," said Dr Howells.
With their seven-year-old daughter in tow, the pair is replacing outgoing long-time co-directors Dr Anne Hoggett and Dr Lyle Vail who are retiring after three decades, a remarkable couple who also raised their child on the island.
Should they match their predecessors' 34-year run, the running joke is that Emily and David will be living and working at Lizard Island until 2059.
"It's a dream job for us to be able to come to Lizard Island Research Station as co-directors, working together to support and amplify the incredible research, education and scientific communication work that happens here. Our goal is to continue the station's incredible reputation built by Anne and Lyle, and we hope to leave the Great Barrier Reef better for the next generation," said Dr Abrego.
Dr Howells and Dr Abrego have conducted research at LIRS multiple times, including as academics from Southern Cross University's National Marine Science Centre.
Melbourne-born Dr Howells's expertise is in the responses of corals to climate warming. Dr Abrego, originally from Mexico, is an expert in the critical symbiosis of coral and algae severed by bleaching.
A focus of their recent work, as part of the University's partnership with the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP), has been related to understanding how corals vary in their heat tolerance and what that means for adaptation to climate change.
They met as students at James Cook University and spent five years together studying reefs off the southern Persian Gulf where corals withstand 36-degree waters during summer. The pair discovered this extreme heat tolerance can be passed onto corals from cooler waters in a single generation via selective breeding. This 'assisted evolution' can, theoretically, accelerate coral adaption to keep pace with rapid warming.
Australian Museum (AM) Chief Scientist Professor Kris Helgen said the AM looked forward to the role Dr Howells and Dr Abrego will play as co-directors in building on the AM's reputation of scientific excellence and actively promoting LIRS as a leading voice for reef science and conservation.
"LIRS is one of the world's leading tropical marine field research stations, visited annually by hundreds of international marine scientists from around the world. Dr Howells' and Dr Abrego's unique experience as coral reef researchers and educators in Australia and overseas makes them well suited to continue the development of LIRS that's been led by outgoing co-directors Dr Anne Hoggett and Dr Lyle Vail," Professor Helgen said.
Fortunately for the Southern Cross University community, Dr Howells and Dr Abrego will retain partial appointments to continue their existing research, PhD supervision and teaching appointments at the University's National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour.
"I coordinate and teach 'Reefs', a third-year unit in the Bachelor of Science degree," said Dr Abrego.
"Being based at LIRS provides unique opportunities to enhance the learning experience of our students and I look forward to fully developing these in the very near future with the support of both Southern Cross University and the Australian Museum."
