aLEXANDER WYATT

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2009 Fulbright Western Australia Scholarship

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“Coral reefs may be lost within this century unless science can support more effective management In order to manage reefs we need to understand how oceanographic processes affect them and the forces that are leading to their degradation.”

Alexander Wyatt has won one of two 2009 Fulbright Western Australia (W.A.) Scholarships. The W.A. scholarship is supported through a fund established by donations from the W.A. government, W.A. based universities, companies, foundations and individuals.

Alexander will use his Fulbright to undertake collaborative research and training in coral reef oceanography and ecology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, one of the world's leading oceanographic institutes.

“The aim of my project is to increase scientific understanding and therefore aid the management of coral reefs subject to increasing pressure and degradation, particularly Western Australia's iconic Ningaloo Reef,” Mr Wyatt said.

“As part of my Ph.D., I am investigating the relationship between oceanographic processes and coral reef ecosystems.”

Alexander will be working with Associate Professor Leichter of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Professor Leichter's laboratory is undertaking similar work in French Polynesia.

“The laboratory of A/Prof. Leichter's at Scripps is the only group in the world conducting similar work to that of my Ph.D. Working with Professor Leichter will provide me with the unique opportunity to further my understanding of the reef-ocean connection,” Alexander said.

“It will also give me the opportunity for on-going collaboration in an area of research with increasing social and economic implications for Australian and US communities, particularly in the face of accelerating global climate change,” Alexander said.

Alexander has a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Ocean Systems and a BSc (Honours) in Marine Biology from the University of Western Australia. Since commencing his Ph.D. he has won numerous awards, including three Ph.D. scholarships (Australian Postgraduate Award, CSIRO and Samaha Scholarships), an Australian Coral Reef Society Fellowship, a Wildlife Preservation Society University Student Grant, and Janice Klumpp and Grant for Research Student Training awards from UWA. He has also received several travel awards and conference prizes, including an Australian Marine Sciences Association International Student Travel Prize.