Current Initiatives

Leading-edge coral reef research centre

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies undertakes world-best integrated research for sustainable use and management of coral reefs.

Funded in July 2005 under the Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence program this prestigious research centre is headquartered at James Cook University, in Townsville. The Centre is a partnership of James Cook University (JCU), the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), The Australian National University (ANU), the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), The University of Queensland (UQ) and the University of Western Australia (UWA).

The Centre of Excellence cements Australia's leading contribution to coral reef sciences, and fosters stronger collaborative links between the major partners and 24 other leading institutions in nine countries. According to ISI Essential Science Indicators, four of the Centre's major research partners rank in the top 20 institutions world-wide for citations for coral reef science with JCU ranking 1st (among 1644 institutions in 103 countries) (http://esi-topics.com/coralreef/inst/c1a.html). Collectively, the Centre creates the world's largest concentration of coral reef scientists.

The Centre Director is Professor Terry Hughes (JCU), who is also a Federation Fellow (2002-2012).  Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg (UQ) and Professor Malcolm McCulloch (UWA) are the Associate Directors.

The Centre of Excellence's initial focus on 5 research programs has been expanded to 8 programs, each one under the stewardship of Program Leaders from James Cook University, the University of Western Australia and the University of Queensland:

Program 1: Evolutionary and environmental change (Malcolm McCulloch, UWA)
Program 2: Understanding and managing coral reef biodiversity (Sean Connolly, JCU)
Program 3: Marine reserves and reef connectivity (Garry Russ, JCU)
Program 4: Genetic, molecular and physiological processes (Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, UQ)
Program 5: Resilience of linked social-ecological systems (Terry Hughes, JCU)
Program 6: Conservation planning for a sustainable future (Bob Pressey, JCU)
Program 7: Policy development, institutions and governance of coral reefs (Simon Foale, JCU)
Program 8: Genomics and metagenomics of coral reefs (David Miller, JCU)

The Centre of Excellence takes a leading role in multi-national research programs. It is the largest single institutional contributor to the Global Coral Reef Targeted Research Program, funded by the World Bank, and is an Institutional Member of the Resilience Alliance. The Centre of Excellence has strong links to the Census of Marine Life project, and to coral reef management agencies worldwide, particularly the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in Townsville.


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James Cook University University of Queensland University of Western Australia The Australian National University