Oceans Institute

An international team of scientists has developed ways to measure and compare the impact of “darkwaves” – when extreme weather events or human activities reduce underwater light for extended periods, affecting the stability of marine ecosystems.

The winners of the 2025 UWA Vice-Chancellor's Research Awards, which recognise the diverse career paths of researchers and support staff and celebrate their impact, were announced at a ceremony last night.

Kelp forests dominate temperate coastal rocky shores worldwide where they create a habitat for many marine species, store nutrients and capture underwater carbon as efficiently as tropical rainforests capture atmospheric carbon.