DNA reveals the past and future of coral reefs
New DNA techniques are being used to understand how coral reacted to the end of the last ice age in order to better predict how they will cope with current changes to the climate. James Cook Univer
From 2005 to 2022, the main node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies was headquartered at James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland (Australia)
Abstract: During my seminar, I would like to introduce myself, give an overview of my background in the context of the project, and list the hurdles which I expect to face with suggestions on how do I intend to overcome them.
My background is unusual for someone interested in a position in spatial planning. My current work in plasma fusion physics involves a number of disciplines – planning of experiments, developing new diagnostic tools (connected with optimization and risk analysis processes), processing large, complex data sets, and comparing them with theory and models. I will introduce my current research and show some examples of the use of programming platforms, data visualisation, and linking a model with an experiment.
After presenting my current work, I will pick the main features of the proposed operational model for the project and the interactive software that will be needed. I will then outline how my skills match with these key parts of the project. The software will consist of code, a database engine, and a GIS interface. I will comment on my experience with these three disciplines – my programming skills, experience with databases, and expertise with geodetic software.
At the end, I will mention other aspects of the work and how I hope to approach them: my experience with teamwork and ability to blend with a new team, the scientific challenges, and the negotiations with the conservation managers. I will comment on my publication activity and address how I expect to deal with a new topic. At the end, I will conclude my motivation for shifting from my subject into conservation planning.
Biography: I have completed my Master and Ph.D. degree in plasma physics at the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, one of the top world universities. I have been working in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion research since 1998. I started as a Master student in the Institute of Plasma Physic (IPP Prague) at the Czech Academy of Sciences (AS CR) on the CASTOR tokamak, and continued as a PhD student and for part of my post doc at the same place. Moreover, I have an extended collaboration with other fusion laboratories in Europe: RFX-mod reversed field pinch in Padova, Italy, TJ-II stellarator in Madrid, Spain, TEXTOR tokamak in Julich, Germany, and FOM Institute of Plasma Physics in Rijnhuizen, Netherlands. After that, I was attached to the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) in Gandhinagar, India, at the ADITYA tokamak by the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India (DAE) in the scope of new cooperation and know-how transfer among the Indian research institutes and AS CR. After that, I was working in the Australian National University as the prestigious Australian Endeavour Award Holder. Now, I am at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague as a teacher of physics and a researcher.
Apart of my research activities, I devote part of my work to education of new scientists. I was a teacher of experimental physics at the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University (CTU) in Prague. I was involved in Summer schools in IPP Prague, in IPR Gandhinagar, and in CTU Prague. I contributed to training of students from Czech universities and from abroad who came to gain experience and to collect data for their Bachelor, Master and PhD theses, and supervising my own students. I have published her work in number of reviewed journal papers, conference proceedings and presented at international conferences.
New DNA techniques are being used to understand how coral reacted to the end of the last ice age in order to better predict how they will cope with current changes to the climate. James Cook Univer
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