PUBLIC SEMINAR: Students introductory PhD seminars on marine environments

Curious. Cutting-edge. Community.

For our Series One, we’re exploring global problems and local solutions. Join us as we explore the impact of our behaviour on marine environments.

Two of our PhD students will present their cutting-edge research, backed by some of our world-leading experts in marine biology.

Date: Friday 14th February 2020
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm, followed by drinks in the UniBar
Location: Benham Lecture Theatre, Benham building, North Terrace campus
Cost: FREE, RSVP not required but please add to your diary
Contact: Dr Jasmin Packer 8313 5576 email: j.packer@adelaide.edu.au

Speakers and panel

Qiaz Hua

Qiaz Hua is a PhD student under Bronwyn Gillanders and Zoe Doubleday. Qiaz is an Honours graduate from the National University of Singapore, with experience in entomology and environmental biology. Well aware of the growing climate crisis and a timely discovery of her love for the intelligent octopuses, Qiaz came to Adelaide to study how octopuses respond to climate change.

Her research on octopus physiology combines molecular and marine biology. This will be highlighted in her introductory PhD seminar, Population Genetic Structure and Molecular Responses of Octopuses for Conservation and Management.

Image: Qiaz Hua

Solomon Ogunola

This will be Solomon’s introductory PhD seminar about Microplastics in crustacean and mollusc species from the Australian coastal waters.

The ubiquitous presence of microplastics has been reported in aquatic ecosystems around the world, raising environmental and human health concerns. This study aims to assess if microplastics are found in the tissues of Australian crustaceans and molluscs, whether they are transferred from mussels to crabs, and the relationship between microplastics and mussels. This is the first empirical research in Australian coastal waters that investigates microplastic ingestion by benthic crustaceans and mussels. This study will expand our understanding of ingestion of microplastics by benthic communities and have important implications for marine pollution research globally.