Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) 2010 Technical Awardee

Congratulations to VMSC's Technical Officer, Rod Watson, the recipient of the AMSA 2010 Technical Award for outstanding technical support to students and researchers working at our Queenscliff laboratories.

Rod Watson has been employed as the consortium's Technical Officer since the inception of VMSC in 1990 (then named the Queenscliff Marine Station). During that time Rod has supported over 210 postgraduate students conducting research over a diverse range, including marine biology, ecology, ecotoxicology, botany, aquaculture, fisheries ecology, physiology, ornithology, geomatics, marine protected areas, introduced species, oceanography and marine chemistry.

Rod has a wide ranging knowledge of Port Phillip Bay and the surrounding areas and habitats. His advice to researchers and students on suitable field work sites and species location is invaluable - an advisor and counsellor, technical supporter, boat driver, dive buddy, species collector, fieldwork assistant and much, much more. Rod also works extensively with researchers from member institutions, as well as visiting national and international scientists - all researching a variety of fields within the marine sciences.

Rod's dedication and input over the past twenty years in his position of VMSC Technical Officer, have immensely value added to the knowledge of Port Phillip Bay, its marine life, and the research that has been generated out of the VMSC laboratories at Queenscliff.

Congratulations Rod