A new state-of-the-art krill aquarium and research facility, being built in the Hobart suburb of Taroona, will be named after pioneering marine biologist, Dr Isobel Bennett.
Dr Bennett AO (1909 - 2008) was a distinguished researcher who, among other things, undertook early studies of Australian plankton and wrote about the shores of sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island when she joined the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE) in 1959.
The new facility is being built in collaboration with the University of Tasmania and will provide scientists with the systems required to conduct research on Antarctic krill and other vitally important Southern Ocean species.
It will interface directly with RSV Nuyina's containerised aquaria, providing a globally unique end-to-end research aquarium logistics system which extends live specimen research long after the duration of a single Antarctic voyage.
"This facility will give us a step change in capability for the research we can do, not only on Antarctic krill but also on the related species in the ecosystem that are critically important for supporting the recovering populations of great whales, seals and seabirds," the Australian Antarctic Division's Krill Research Systems Manager, Rob King, said.
"We've had a purpose-built aquarium for Antarctic krill for the last 23 years at the Australian Antarctic Division in Kingston.
"It really was a prototype facility. It was the first of its kind to warm the water for filtration, which increased its capability. Now we've proven that works, we've run out of space because it works so well and we don't have the floor area. This new aquarium will give us 18 seperate research labs where we currently only have three."
Due to be completed in 2028, the research centre will be known as the Dr Isobel Bennett Southern Ocean Research Aquarium.
"Dr. Bennett was one of Australia's most distinguished and prominent marine scientists who achieved a notable research record," the Australian Antarctic Division's Head of Division, Emma Campbell, said.
"Her early work on plankton and studies ranging from the sub-Antarctic to the Great Barrier Reef paved the way for so many of todays' marine scientists.
"Australia leads the world in live Antarctic krill research and this facility will maintain that position."
The Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, officially announced the name at the site on Wednesday 16 October, 2024.
