Academy Fellow Professor Terry Hughes from James Cook University has been awarded the 2018 A.G. Huntsman Medal in recognition of his innovative science for sustainable management of coral reef biodiversity.
The award, established by the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in 1980, is presented by the Royal Society of Canada to marine scientists of any nationality who ‘have had and continue to have a significant influence on the course of marine science thought.’ It is named in honour of Archibald Gowanlock Huntsman (1883 – 1973), a pioneer Canadian oceanographer and fishery biologist.
The award citation reads: ‘Terry Hughes is Distinguished Professor, Director, driving force, and intellectual leader of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.
Comprising over 300 researchers and students, this team of ecologists, social scientists, economists, lawyers and modelers is leading a worldwide shift in coral reef science, away from earlier qualitative and solely descriptive studies towards research that is quantitative, predictive, and specifically designed to inform regional-scale management of coral reefs and other marine ecosystems.
Dr. Hughes undertakes research that delivers environmental, economic, and social benefits to countries and communities that rely on coral reef biodiversity as a resource for fisheries and tourism.’
The award ceremony and public lecture will take place on 20 November 2018 at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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