Classroom on the reef

Providing almost instant access to reefs and pristine marine ecosystems, the station hosts a diverse range of vital research projects that are crucial in maintaining the health of coral reefs, and marine ecosystems across the world.

From studying coral disease, bleaching and genetics, to discovering how reefs recover from severe weather events, the research done at the station is cutting-edge. And with wet and dry labs on-site - along with accommodation facilities - it’s easy to see why students and researchers are passionate about spending time at the unique facility.

Station manager Jenni Calcraft believes the research station gives students and researchers unparalleled opportunities to gain crucial insights into marine science, and also develop their research skills in the field.

“It’s good for the students to see and experience what field work actually involves, and to connect theory to the practical aspect of marine science,” Jenni says.

An estimated 1,100 species of fish are found in the waters around Orpheus Island, along with 340 of the 350 known species of reef coral.

The intertidal location of the research station is also home to mangrove systems, reef flats and shipwrecks, which host a rich array of marine life.

The station itself has world-class research facilities such as climate-controlled research rooms, wet laboratories, and a versatile saltwater aquarium system.

For students studying Marine Science and Science at JCU, the research station provides a valuable learning tool that helps develop in-depth knowledge of marine ecosystems.

Students have become immersed in many vital research projects, including an examination of coastal erosion, the habitat use of sharks and rays, a trial of seagrass restoration techniques, and even manta ray tracking.

“We’re using drones to look at the manta rays that are visiting the research station. There’s a pattern underneath the belly of every manta ray – it’s almost like a fingerprint,” Jenni says.

“There’s a database where photos are submitted, and if you ID a new manta ray, you get to name it, so we’re always out in the water trying to get pictures whenever we see manta rays.

“We’re really trying to understand the manta ray population better, because we have quite a big population here. We’re trying to recognise our local area as an important shark and ray aggregation area, and manta rays are part of that.”

The research station is located at Pioneer Bay on the western side of Orpheus Island, and has been run by JCU since 1978.

Up to 60 people can be accommodated at the station, which has a fleet of eight vessels, a fully air-conditioned lecture facility, a library and a commercial-quality kitchen.

Internship opportunities and work-integrated learning are available at the station, so students can gain practical and industry-relevant skills, and school students regularly visit as part of field trips.

People can even gain a view of life on the station without stepping foot there, thanks to Classroom on the Reef, which provides live streaming cameras from the station into Pioneer Bay and Rocky Beach.

As she prepares for another week of activities and research on her island workplace, Jenni is confident the station will continue to inspire marine science students well into the future.

“There are students who will say that seeing the field station on our social media was one of the reasons why they came to JCU, to experience the reef at a field station in the Great Barrier Reef,” she says.

“There’s so much that goes into a student’s decision to come to JCU, but it is a great engagement tool, and once they get here, they’re immersed in it. They’re connecting with people and place. It’s a whole different experience when you’re actually living in it.”

To learn more about the Orpheus Island Research Station, visit its website, and stay up to date with current research on its Facebook and Instagram pages.