AIMS at JCU

20/09/2026

🎉 Congratulations to AIMS@JCU Research Fellow Dr Sarah Lawless, recipient of a 2026 Paul Bourke Award for Early Career Research!

Presented by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, the Paul Bourke Awards recognise outstanding early career researchers in the social sciences.

Sarah works at the intersection of political ecology and environmental governance, with a particular focus on tropical coastal regions. Her research has developed practical approaches to help researchers, policymakers and practitioners advance equity, rights and justice in fisheries, climate and conservation policy.

Sarah is also the first social scientist appointed by AIMS as an AIMS@JCU Research Fellow, marking an important milestone for social science within the partnership. Through her role as AIMS@JCU Research Fellow – Ocean Governance, she is helping build social science capacity by mentoring emerging researchers and supervising AIMS-supported postgraduate students.

Her work has also included collaboration with the AIMS Indigenous Partnerships team, including research and policy guidance relating to blue carbon and marine tenure rights.

A fantastic recognition of Sarah’s contribution to environmental governance and social science.

Congratulations Sarah! 👏🌊

Read more about Sarah and the 2026 Paul Bourke Award recipients via the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia -

The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia has announced the winners of the 2026 Paul Bourke Awards, recognising four of the nation's most excepti ...

17/08/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Dr Gemma Galbraith, who has been honoured with a Queensland Tall Poppy Science Award for 2026!

The annual Young Tall Poppy Science Awards, created by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS), recognise outstanding researchers who combine world-class scientific excellence with a passion for public engagement and STEM advocacy. Held in each state and territory, the program honours the achievements of exceptional early-career scientists from all disciplines, supporting them to become role models, leaders and science ambassadors.

Gemma is one of 58 Tall Poppies awarded nationally this year and one of just 12 from Queensland.

Gemma says:

“It’s incredibly humbling to be recognised in this way and to me reflects the amazing scientific opportunities and mentorship that I have been afforded in my career so far. I’ve been lucky enough to work with so many great people across AIMS, JCU and my wider collaborator network who have always encouraged my curiosity, backed me to try new methods, and supported me to come out of my shell for effective science communication.

I’m blown away by winning a QLD Young Tall Poppy, which I think will provide an incredible platform to elevate deep-reef research, advocate for inclusive STEM pathways, and ensure our discoveries drive real-world marine management.”

A huge congratulations to Gemma on this fantastic achievement! 👏🌊

27/07/2026

📢 AIMS@JCU 2027 HDR Scholarships

Interested in undertaking collaborative marine science research with AIMS and JCU? Contact us for eligibility information and application guidance!

11/06/2026

✨ 2026 AIMS@JCU Seminar Day ✨

What a fantastic day celebrating the incredible research being undertaken by AIMS@JCU students.

This year’s Seminar Day showcased an outstanding range of student work, including seminar presentations, speed talks, posters and photography entries. The quality of presentations was exceptional, and it was wonderful to see such engaging, thoughtful and impactful research shared throughout the day.

A huge congratulations to all students who presented, participated and contributed to making the day such a success — and a special congratulations to our award winners! 🏆

Thank you also to our judges, keynote speaker, session contributors, staff and attendees for supporting the event and helping create such a welcoming and engaging day.

26/02/2026

✍️ Pomodoro Sessions are back!

Need uninterrupted writing time? We’re kicking off our fortnightly AIMS@JCU Pomodoro sessions, alternating between AIMS and JCU.

A simple productivity method: 25 mins focused work > 5 min break > Repeat!

Bring your laptop. We’ll provide the timer (and good vibes).

30/01/2026

✨Building on more than 20 years of collaboration and impact✨

As the year gets underway, we’re looking ahead to another exciting year at AIMS@JCU, continuing a partnership that has supported students, researchers and marine science for over two decades.

Throughout 2026, we’ll be bringing our community together through morning teas alternating between AIMS and JCU, a writing retreat, R-Course, Student Seminar Day, scholarship opportunities, awards, and a range of other activities that support connection, capability building and collaboration.

We’re proud of what has been built over the past 20+ years — and even more excited about what’s ahead. Keep an eye out for upcoming event announcements.

Image: © AIMS | Andre Rerekura

20/01/2026

Applications are now open for two 3.5-year PhD scholarships in boosting coral resilience, commencing in 2026

Learn more:
👉https://aims.jcu.edu.au/phd-scholarships/

👉Closing date for initial application: 30th January 2026

18/12/2025

🌍 AIMS@JCU Alumni | Where are they now?

We’re delighted to shine a spotlight on Dr Bettina Glasl, an AIMS@JCU alumna whose research journey has taken her from Australia to Europe!

🔬 Where Bettina is now
Senior Scientist
Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS)
University of Vienna, Austria

🧭 Career journey since AIMS@JCU
After completing her PhD, Bettina was awarded a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship from the Austrian Science Fund, enabling her to relocate to Vienna and join the laboratory of Prof. Michael Wagner. In 2024, she joined CeMESS at the University of Vienna as a Senior Scientist, where her research focuses on sponge–microbe interactions.

🤝 The AIMS@JCU impact
“The connections I made during my time at AIMS@JCU have been invaluable to my career. The collaborations I started with AIMS researchers during my PhD are still going strong. AIMS@JCU provided an incredible, nurturing and inspiring environment in which I was able to grow as a researcher, and I am grateful to have been part of it.”

Learn more about Bettina’s work
👉 https://lnkd.in/gjP8zt_T

📸 Photo credit: CeMESS / Thomas Suchanek

21/11/2025

🎉 Congratulations, Dr Alzayat Saleh!

AIMS@JCU is proud to celebrate our Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Alzayat Saleh, who has been named the 2025 Early Career Researcher Open Access Champion at the JCU Open Access Week Awards.

A fantastic achievement and well-deserved recognition! 👏📚✨

06/11/2025

Join us for the final AIMS@JCU Morning Tea for 2025! 

We’re excited to welcome special guest speaker Dr Gemma Galbraith. Gemma will share her journey “Connecting the dots from PhD to Postdoc” — from the UK’s estuaries to the reefs of Papua New Guinea and the Great Barrier Reef.

Date: 24 November 2025

Time: 9:30am

Location: Australian Institute of Marine Science, Cape Cleveland.

Come along for great conversation, a cuppa, and an inspiring talk!

RSVP by 14 November! (Essential for catering) – email [email protected]