Waterfront: Greening Seawalls

Reef Design Lab has been working with Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) since 2015 on the Living Seawalls research project, investigating how 3D printed geometry can be used to create habitat for native intertidal species that live on seawalls.

Join us for an on board conversation with Alex Goad from Reef Design Lab, Melanie Bishop from Macquarie University and Dr Maria Vozzoabout from SIMS, about the project and possibilities for Victoria’s waterways.

Dr Maria Vozzo is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science. Maria’s research interests are in habitat restoration and rehabilitation, especially in areas highly impacted by urban activities. She completed her PhD at Macquarie University during which she investigated mechanisms that influence habitat provisioning by the native Sydney rocky oyster in Sydney Harbour. As part of Living Seawalls project, Maria has been responsible for coordinating and overseeing fieldwork, arranging site permissions and liaising with Councils and other stakeholders.

Associate Professor Melanie Bishop is a marine ecologist at Macquarie University. Her research has a particular focus on innovative solutions for restoring, rehabilitating and enhancing estuarine and coastal biodiversity in urban settings. She is co-leader of the Green Engineering Working Group of the World Harbour Project (https://www.worldharbourproject.org/workgroups/green-engineering/) and the Sydney-based Living Seawalls program (https://www.sims.org.au/page/130/living-seawalls-landing). Her research has been recognised with a number of awards and honours, including the Jim Piper Award for Research Leadership (2017), finalist for the Eureka Award for Emerging Research Leader (2013), the Brian Robinson Fellowship (2012), a NSW Young Tall Poppy Award (2011) and NSW Scientist of the Year (Water, Environment and Climate Change; 2010).

Presented by Open House Melbourne, Reef Design Lab and SIMS for Waterfront – part of Melbourne Design Week 2020, an initiative of the Victorian Government in collaboration with the NGV.