The National Sea Simulator (SeaSim) at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) is a world-class marine experimental research facility located at Cape Ferguson, about 50km south of the CBD of Townsville, Queensland.
SeaSim’s advanced capabilities allow researchers to precisely control water quality parameters such temperature, pH, salinity, light, and water chemistry, enabling researchers to simulate various scenarios and examine the responses of marine organisms to environmental changes.
In 2021, the Australian Government announced a $36.3 million SeaSim expansion as part of the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) in recognition of the role that SeaSim plays in facilitating crucial research for marine research.
We are excited to announce that NCRIS funding will support the National Sea Simulator Access Program. National and international researchers will soon be able to apply for merit-based access to use the facility for their research.
If you’d like to be the first to know about upcoming calls for proposals and updates about the National Sea Simulator, sign up to our mailing list below!
To receive the latest information about SeaSim, the Access program, and more, subscribe to our email list!
Long-Term Monitoring Program Annual Summary Report of Coral Reef Condition 2023/24
Coral cover remains high while impacts of mass coral bleaching yet to be determined
Published 7th August 2024
NOTE - The most recent Great Barrier Reef Annual Summary Report of Coral Reef Condition is available via our Reef Reports Hub.
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There are many ways to measure the status of coral reefs. One of the most common is to use percent hard coral cover as an ‘indicator’ of reef condition because it describes the abundance of a critical ecosystem engineer on coral reefs. This measure describes the proportion of the seafloor that is covered in live hard coral. Percent hard coral cover is widely used by scientists worldwide and is a standard measure that applies to all locations. While it does not tell us anything about the diversity or composition of coral assemblages, it provides a simple and robust measure of reef health.
Percent hard coral cover can be estimated using various techniques. The technique used for this report is manta tow surveys, which are visual estimates of percent hard coral cover over the area covered by an observer during one 2-minute tow (~2000m2). The percent hard coral cover for a reef is then estimated as the average of the estimates from all tows around a reef and reported as broad categories (e.g., 0 = 0%, >0% – 10%, >10% – 30%, >30% – 50%, >50% – 75% and >75% – 100%; See video below).
A coral reef consists of more than just hard coral and contains a diverse array of other corals, sponges, algae, sand, rock and invertebrates. It is relatively rare for GBR reefs to have 75% to 100% hard coral cover and AIMS defines >30% – 50% hard coral cover as a high value, based on historical surveys across the GBR.
Other techniques for determining percent hard coral cover involve counting the number of points within sampling units (quadrats, photos), as used by LTMP in fixed site surveys, or the linear distance along a tape measure (line-intercept) that intersect live hard coral colonies. Adding up the total number of points of live hard coral cover and then expressing this as a percentage of the total number of points within a sample yields the estimates of hard coral cover. Data from both the fixed site and manta tow surveys conducted by the LTMP are highly correlated and show the same trends in hard coral cover estimates. However, manta tow estimates are generally lower than those obtained from fixed site surveys as they encompass the entire reef, including sandy back reef habitats that have low coral cover.
A visual guide to the different categories of coral cover used for reef surveys.
AIMS is a world leader in tropical marine science and conducts research supporting environmental sustainability and economic growth in Australia’s tropical oceans.
Our highly skilled and innovative science staff and valued support staff use state-of-the-art infrastructure, alongside strong national and international collaborative relationships to help to build Australia’s national marine science capability.
Together we can meet the challenges facing our marine estate.
Here are some helpful hints and tips to assist you with preparing your application, and an overview of what to expect during the recruitment process.
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To be appointed by AIMS on a Temporary, Fixed Term or Indefinite basis you will need to:
be an Australian Citizen, or
hold Permanent Resident status in Australia.
hold an appropriate visa with working entitlements if you are a non-Australian Citizens. The visa must allow for paid employment with AIMS from commencement and for the full term of the appointment.
AIMS may consider sponsorship for international applicants. If a position is eligible for consideration, it will be noted in the advertisement. You must be eligible to apply for a Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482) or another appropriate working visa as determined by the Department of Home Affairs. Visit the Australian Government’s Home Affairs website for more information on Australian citizenship and visa requirements.
Found an opportunity you are interested in? Review the role requirements and if you feel your qualifications, experience and professional/technical capabilities align we encourage you to apply. Your application must contain:
A current resume
Response addressing each of the key selection criteria for the position
A short cover letter (optional)
Make sure your resume is up to date and reflects your skills and experience relevant to the role you are applying for.
Selection criteria is found in the position description and outlines the skills, qualifications and abilities required by a candidate to perform the position. A response to each of these criteria’s is required as part of your application.
Applications must be submitted electronically via our website. Applications must be submitted prior to the specified closing date and time noted in the advertisement.
Completed applications are assessed on merit by a selection panel with knowledge of and/or involvement in the relevant area of work.
Shortlisted applicants progressing to the next stage will be contacted to arrange an interview time to attend either via video conference or in person.
Please be aware that due to the number of applications received and detail contained within these applications, this process can take several weeks.
If you are invited to attend an interview, it will be conducted by a selection panel which generally consists of the hiring manager and employees with knowledge of and/or involvement in the relevant area of work.
You can prepare for the interview by:
doing some research. Look over AIMS’ website to give more insight into what we do, review the job advert and position description, consider why you applied for the role and your interest in working for AIMS.
preparing to discuss specific examples of your experience and skills relevant to the key skills required for the role. Consider the STAR methodology.
thinking of any questions you would like to ask the panel about the role or working at AIMS. If you’re completing the interview via video conference, find a quiet place to do the interview where you are unlikely to be disturbed or distracted and have good internet connection.
As part of or in place of an interview, you may be asked to complete activities such as work sample text, a presentation or other recruitment activities.
Following an interview, AIMS will contact your referees to conduct an employment reference check as confirmation of your skills, abilities and experience. Referees’ details are requested in your application and will be confirmed at the interview.
All applicants will be advised in writing or from the panel chair the outcome of the recruitment process at the earliest possible date. This can take some time, as our recruitment stages are thorough. Until the successful applicant accepts the position, other interviewed applications remain active.
Individual feedback is available upon request from the hiring manager should your application be unsuccessful.
If you are successfully appointed to join the AIMS team, you can expect to undertake a pre-employment medical with an AIMS nominated medical provider to certify you are able to perform the inherent requirements of the role.
AIMS appreciates the value inherent in a diverse workforce. Employees who belong to a wide range of demographic groups can use their varying backgrounds, experiences and skills to help deliver innovative and creative science excellence while allowing staff to reach their full potential.
We are committed to maintaining a workplace where social identities such as age, gender, orientation, disability status, race, and more have no impact on an individual’s opportunity to succeed and thrive.
The National Sea Simulator is now taking applications for merit-based access to our facility, supported by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). Successful applications will receive access to SeaSim space and capability and full support from knowledgeable and skilled staff to conduct their research. Don't miss this opportunity to conduct your research in this world-class experimental research facility.
Crown-of-thorns starfish (also known as COTS) are a major driver of coral loss throughout the Indo Pacific, including the Great Barrier Reef. The native starfish eat living hard coral and when in large numbers, can decimate reef-building coral communities. Four waves of starfish outbreaks have been recorded on the Great Barrier Reef since the 1960s.
As part of the increased funding through NCRIS, researchers from around the world will soon be able to apply for funded access to The National Sea Simulator’s unique capabilities. The merit-based application process aims to undertake science of national and international significance.
If you’d like to be the first to know about upcoming calls for proposals and updates about the National Sea Simulator, sign up to our mailing list here.
Click below to learn more!
The National Sea Simulator (SeaSim) is purpose-built to support complex multifactorial research in a controlled aquarium-based environment. To leverage this technology and foster innovative marine research, SeaSim will award fully funded access for use of the facility through a competitive application process. Research proposals will be assessed by an independent committee, with access being awarded for exemplary research ideas.
The process for researchers to apply for the National Sea Simulator Access Program is outlined in detail below. Applications from Australian and international researchers are welcome, application rounds will run annually with a possibility of increasing in the future.
The following principles and approaches guide and prioritise use of SeaSim:
SeaSim capabilities will be focussed on enabling world-class research on issues of national and international significance.
Projects must be well developed and of high scientific merit.
Researchers must have a demonstrated track record in the field of research being proposed.
Projects must clearly demonstrate significant outputs and research impact.
Projects which are collaborative, large, complex or of longer duration (multi-year), develop future capacity, new technology or methods, and are aligned to the research themes outlined below will be considered favourably.
The SeaSim Access Program provides a pathway for researchers with exemplary research ideas to gain funded access to the facility. During the call for applications period, we encourage researchers who have a research idea to contact the SeaSim team (seasim@aims.gov.au) with an outline of their research proposal. We will set up a mutually agreed time to discuss the research idea and advise if it is a feasible experiment for our facility. Applications should be submitted via the application portal during the application period, they will then be reviewed by SeaSim staff to ensure the experiment is technically feasible.
An independent Science Technical Advisory Committee will assess all applications, based on international and national priorities and core research themes. The Science Technical Advisory Committee will make recommendations based on merit and priority of proposals for approval by the AIMS Chief Executive Officer. Once access to a grant for SeaSim use is awarded, the SeaSim team will work closely with the researcher/s to formalise an experimental design and schedule in timing for use. A formal SeaSim Collaboration Agreement must then be signed before progressing into building and running the experiment.
Australian Research Council (ARC) Funding Researchers seeking access to the SeaSim as part of an ARC funded project will be considered as meritorious and as such will be granted funded access to the SeaSim. Discussion on the nature of SeaSim requirements for ARC projects must take place prior to submission of the proposal to the ARC to ensure that the proposed work in the SeaSim is able to be undertaken both from a technical perspective and availability of space. ARC funded research leads will be required to enter their project via the application portal once ARC funding has been awarded.
Submitted proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:
Scientific quality and feasibility (weighting = 30%)
Capability and experience of the Project Team (weighting = 20%)
Alignment with, and relevance to, International and core Australian tropical marine research priorities (weighting = 20%)
Outcomes and research impacts (weighting = 20%)
Likelihood of achieving stated outcomes and research impacts (weighting = 10%)
Successful applicants will gain access to the facilities and equipment of the National Sea Simulator, as detailed below, on terms to be agreed between the applicant and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. This may include:
Experimental aquarium systems and advice
SeaSim laboratory facilities
Ancillary equipment (listed in collaboration agreement, linked below)
Onsite Accommodation (if available)
Assistance from SeaSim Technicians (to be agreed upon)
The National Sea Simulator support does not extend to specific project costs including travel, off site accommodation, consumables, salary costs, food, or freight.
Access to other AIMS services and facilities can be facilitated/negotiated, though fees may apply.
Laboratories (link provided)
Water quality analysis (link provided)
Workshop jobs
Collection of organisms (researcher must obtain own collection permit)
All operations and maintenance (from seawater intakes to discharge) within the SeaSim will be managed by our dedicated SeaSim Team. Operation and maintenance of civil structures, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and general lighting are supported by the AIMS Operations and Infrastructure Section.
SeaSim users will gain access to the facilities in which their experiment will be housed, including the capabilities in operating those facilities, technical design know-how and advice on experimental set-up, as well as experimental system monitoring data for the duration of their project. Access to SeaSim capacity will be based on time, space, and capability.
To ensure SeaSim maintains quality facilities and capabilities, a maintenance and development program will run in parallel with research. Some biological services may also be provided such as:
Biodiversity holding (e.g., acclimation of field collected specimens);
Isolation to prevent introduction of disease or even undesired strains of symbionts (e.g., some zooxanthellae strains in the case of some specialised coral experiments);
The effort required for these biological services will depend upon the type and scale of research projects being conducted and some preparatory time must be allowed prior to projects commencing.
The successful External User’s organisation will be asked to sign a Research Agreement with AIMS that outlines the terms and conditions which includes, but is not limited to the following:
AIMS is not responsible for and does not guarantee the outcomes or success of the External User’s experiments carried out at the SeaSim.
All Project Intellectual Property (“PIP”) relating to marine biodiversity husbandry, process and systems technology, will vest in AIMS and licensed (non-exclusive, royalty- free, irrevocable licence) to the External User for research purposes.
All PIP relating to research findings, will vest in the External User and licensed (non-exclusive, royalty- free, irrevocable) to AIMS for any purpose.
SeaSim boasts numerous technical capabilities including lighting, PH, tanks, temperature, and more!
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SeaSim provides a range of advanced lighting solutions, giving researchers unprecedented control over light spectrum, intensity, and photoperiod in experiments. Our custom-designed LED units can be programmed to replicate natural lunar cycles for reproductive studies – a crucial environmental variable in our out-of-season coral spawning program. Some lighting options include:
SeaSim Panel LEDs (Gen #2)
The Gen#2 LED panel, the workhorse of our facility, was custom designed in-house by SeaSim technicians to address the limitations of standard aquarium lighting solutions for experiments. Specifically engineered to provide an even and consistent light-field within our 50L experimental aquaria, the Gen#2 minimises light variability both within and between experimental treatments. Its LED array replicates the spectral quality of light found at ~5m depth in the water column, creating relevant environmental conditions for a broad range of marine organisms. Read more here.\
Specialist Lighting Solutions
Specialist lighting solutions have been developed to enable ecotoxicological studies on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is well established that UV radiation can play an important role in the toxicity of many PAHs. Specialised lighting systems have been developed to replicate the natural UV conditions of marine environments.
Off-the-shelf LED Solutions
For researchers that wish to manipulate spectral quality or reproduce specific light conditions from other studies, SeaSim can also equip experiments with commercial aquarium LEDs units such as the Hydra 64HD (AquaIllumination). These LED units represent a flexible and versatile package for researchers looking for moderate control over spectral quality and allow for delivery of narrow-band light if required.
Click here to read more about experimental lighting in SeaSim.
Research capabilities
Read more about SeaSim's research capabilities including climate change, physiology, ecotoxicology, and more!
