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The Pacific Ocean is the deepest, largest ocean on Earth, covering about a third of the globe’s surface. An ocean that vast may seem invincible. Yet across its reach – from Antarctica in the south to the Arctic in the north, and from Asia to Australia to the Americas – the Pacific Ocean’s delicate ecology is under threat.
In most cases, human activity is to blame. We have systematically pillaged the Pacific of fish. We have used it as a rubbish tip – garbage has been found even in the deepest point on Earth, in the Mariana Trench 11,000 metres below sea level.
And as we pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the Pacific, like other oceans, is becoming more acidic. It means fish are losing their sense of sight and smell, and sea organisms are struggling to build their shells.
But by better understanding the threats to the Pacific, and the world’s other precious oceans, we can start the long road to protecting them. That’s why today, The Conversation launches Oceans 21, a global series exploring the complexity, beauty and vulnerability of our oceans.
The series comes to you from across our international network and has involved academics and editors from Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Africa, France, Spain, Indonesia, and of course, Australia.
It starts today with five ocean profiles deep-diving into the scourge of plastic pollution in the Pacific, ancient trade networks across the Indian Ocean, light and life in the Arctic, Atlantic fisheries and the Southern Ocean’s impact on the global climate.
Click through here to learn more about how we influence life in the ocean, and what we must do to ensure its survival.
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Nicole Hasham
Section Editor: Energy + Environment
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Jodie L. Rummer, James Cook University; Bridie JM Allan, University of Otago; Charitha Pattiaratchi, University of Western Australia; Ian A. Bouyoucos, James Cook University; Irfan Yulianto, IPB University; Mirjam van der Mheen, University of Western Australia
The Pacific Ocean produces oxygen, helps regulates the weather, provides food and livelihoods. It's a place of fun, solace and spiritual connection. But its delicate ecology is under threat.
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Stephen Duckett, Grattan Institute; Will Mackey, Grattan Institute
From heatwaves to droughts to storms, climate change poses one of the biggest health threats to Australians. Yet the federal government makes no mention of it in its strategic health planning.
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Australian soldiers in the trenches at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey in 1915.
State Library of Victoria/Wikimedia Commons
Martin Crotty, The University of Queensland; Carolyn Holbrook, Deakin University
When the honour of Australia’s revered soldiers is questioned, so, too, is the national self-image. But war is an ugly business, and we pay a price for tethering it so tightly to our identity.
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Roberto Musotto, Edith Cowan University; David S. Wall, University of Leeds
We unpacked a large cybercrime business network and found a group relying on business 101 tactics: VIP memberships, cheap trial offers and a customer base reluctant to spend.
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Merja Myllylahti, Auckland University of Technology
The pandemic hit media hard, but a new report shows New Zealand now has more independent news outlets than at any time in the past decade.
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Environment + Energy
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Wes Mountain, The Conversation
Oceans 21 is a Conversation international series examining the history and future of the world's ocean.
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Ceridwen Fraser, University of Otago; Christina Hulbe, University of Otago; Craig Stevens, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research; Huw Griffiths, British Antarctic Survey
The Southern (Antarctic) Ocean is our planet's primary storage of heat and carbon, and it's home to extraordinary life forms, from tiny algae and spineless creatures to penguins, seals and whales.
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Lachlan G. Howell, University of Newcastle; John Clulow, University of Newcastle
Breeding in captivity is expensive, and means the animal's gene pool will be sorely depleted. Using sperm and egg freezing and IVF techniques can reduce that.
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Philip Steer, Massey University
Almost a century ago, New Zealand and Australia were at the forefront of an environmental crisis that forewarned of humanity's global impact -- erosion. It left its mark on culture.
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Education
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Sue Thomson, Australian Council for Educational Research
Data are about to be released on how well countries teach Year 4 and 8 maths and science Results from the last cycle of testing in 2015 showed Australia's students achievement had flatlined.
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Cities
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Sian Thompson, UNSW; Bill Randolph, UNSW; Hazel Easthope, UNSW; Laura Crommelin, UNSW; Martin Loosemore, University of Technology Sydney
Identifying and fixing apartment defects can be challenging, especially as they're often the shared responsibility of all owners in the building. A new guide aims to help navigate the pitfalls.
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Arts + Culture
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Jen Webb, University of Canberra
The Inspector Morse prequel series reveals a less certain younger detective, finding his feet but not yet set in his ways.
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Matthew Wade, La Trobe University
Though Oliver Sacks wrote two memoirs before his death in 2015, a new film brings his joys, hardships and excesses into affectionate focus.
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Politics + Society
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
“Casual” employment will be defined and a universal standard spelled out for casuals to convert to full or part-time employment in industrial relations legislation introduced this week.
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Rebecca Ananian-Welsh, The University of Queensland
The centrepiece of the Richardson review's recommendations is an electronic surveillance act, which in theory, at least, is a good idea.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
A sweeping review of Australia's national security laws has recommended a new single legislative framework governing electronic surveillance activities.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Michelle Grattan discusses the political week that was with Professor Paddy Nixon
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Science + Technology
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Peter Ellerton, The University of Queensland
It’s no surprise the unexplained structures have the internet buzzing. But they haven’t entered the ranks of other great conspiracy material — and history helps explain why they probably won’t.
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Michael P.H. Stumpf, University of Melbourne
After more than a month of testing without a single positive case, the probability of coronavirus lurking in Victoria is vanishingly small.
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Health + Medicine
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Stephen Duckett, Grattan Institute; Will Mackey, Grattan Institute
From heatwaves to droughts to storms, climate change poses one of the biggest health threats to Australians. Yet the federal government makes no mention of it in its strategic health planning.
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Julie Jomeen, Southern Cross University; Catriona Jones, University of Hull; Claire Marshall, University of Hull; Colin Martin, Southern Cross University
Tokophobia goes beyond normal childbirth concerns and worries and becomes an intense and irrational fear of pregnancy and/or labour.
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Featured jobs
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— Melbourne VIC, Australia
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Featured Events & Courses
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8 week online course by BehaviourWorks Australia, Victoria, Australia — Monash University
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Online, Online, Victoria, 3145, Australia — Monash University
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Online, Melbourne, Victoria, 3145, Australia — Monash University
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