Sep 29, 2026 | Global change, Reef condition, Research
When you swim through the azure waters of the Great Barrier Reef, there is one entity on the seafloor that’s almost impossible to miss: the giant clam. Its huge, fluted shell frames a soft mantle shimmering with electric blue, green and gold. As the world’s... 
Jun 9, 2026 | LIRS Reports, Reports
The Lizard Island Research Station’s 2025 Report is available here and includes: 2025 in Review by Directors Dr Emily Howells and Dr David Abrego; Fellowships & Grants: Details of the 4 doctoral and 2 postdoctoral Fellowships awarded for work to commence in 2026,... 
Apr 23, 2026 | Newsletter
Tropical cyclones are a feature of northern Australia, and the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) region typically experiences 3 or 4 cyclones each summer season, varying from Category 1 (lowest intensity) to Category 5 (highest). Since Yasi in 2011, one of the most powerful... 
Mar 30, 2026 | Observation, Posts
ABC Science Show host Robyn Williams AO recently had a most informative discussion with Sean about rich human history on Lizard Island. You can listen to the 12-minutes conversation on the ABC Listen Website here. 
Mar 26, 2026 | Facilities, Global change
A brief note relaying that Cyclone Narelle passed Lizard Island to the north on Thursday, 19 March, 2026, with no structural damage to the Australian Museum’s Lizard Island Station, nor the nearby Resort, and minimal damage to the island’s vegetation. Researchers have... 
Mar 19, 2026 | Fellowships, Reef condition
Dr Wyatt Million was awarded the 2025 Maple-Brown Family Foundation Fellowship. A good understanding of coral tolerance to ocean deoxygenation is required to predict how ocean deoxygenation will change the species composition, coral cover, growth, and success of... 
Mar 18, 2026 | Fellowships, Reef condition
Dr Mike McWilliam was awarded the 2024 Maple-Brown Family Foundation Fellowship, funding postdoctoral research conducted at Lizard Island Research Station in October – November 2024. The primary aims of Mike’s project were to explore the relationship between coral... 
Dec 16, 2025 | Newsletter
Early summer can be a spectacular, if not critical time, for coral reefs. We’re talking about the natural phenomenon of coral spawning, a spectacle of awe and wonder, described as an underwater snowstorm by those lucky enough to experience. If conditions are right,... 
Sep 16, 2025 | Fellowships
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR 2026 The Lizard Island Postdoctoral Fellowships program has operated since 2008 and 56 awards have been made to date. It is funded by the Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation and its donors. Three fellowships are offered for 2026: The Isobel...
