Dr Robin Beaman ~ Research Fellow
Earth & Environmental Science
- About
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- Interests
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- Professional
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- Ocean mapping
- Research
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- Digital elevation modelling
- Teaching
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- Geographic Information Systems
- Experience
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- 2009 to 2024 - Research Fellow, James Cook University (Cairns, Australia)
- 2009 - Hydrographic Surveyor, LADS Flight, Royal Australian Navy (Cairns, Australia)
- 2005 to 2008 - Postdoctorate/Research Officer, James Cook University (Cairns, Australia)
- 2001 to 2005 - PhD student, University of Tasmania (Hobart, Australia)
- 2002 to 2003 - Reef ecology/marine mammal lecturer, Society Expeditions (Pacific/Antarctica)
- Research Disciplines
- Socio-Economic Objectives
My role as a marine geologist is to drive the ocean mapping required to unlock the secrets of Australia's underwater landscape. Ocean mapping science can help reveal the geological origin of the seafloor and explain the distribution of important seabed habitats and marine life.
My research goal is to understand the long-term geological and physical processes that have influenced key geomorphic features of the seabed, particularly for the deep Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea.
Research projects range from the study of submarine canyons, underwater landslides, submerged reefs, paleo-channels, algal bioherms, cold-water corals, mesophotic (twilight) coral ecosystems, seamounts, tsunami modelling and habitat mapping.
These projects use geographic information systems, multibeam and singlebeam echosounders, lidar, sidescan sonar, shallow seismic profilers, photogrammetry, underwater camera imagery, satellite imagery and sediment sampling instruments.
- Honours
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- Awards
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- 2014 - QSEA Environment and Sustainability Award for Project 3DGBR
- 2014 - QSEA J. M. (Mac) Seriser Award for overall excellence in Project 3DGBR
- 2007 - Australian Defence Medal
- 2001 to 2005 - Australian Postgraduate Award
- 2002 - Antarctica Service Medal, United States of America
- Fellowships
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- 2009 to 2012 - Queensland Smart Futures Fellowship
- Publications
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These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.
- Journal Articles
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- Betzler C, Hübscher C, Lindhorst S, Lüdmann T, Hincke C, Beaman R and Webster J (in press) Seismic stratigraphic and sedimentary record of a partial carbonate platform drowning, Queensland Plateau, north-east Australia. Marine Geology, 470.
- Ulm S, Mcniven I, Summerhayes G, Wu P, Bunbury M, Petchey F, Hua Q, Skelly R, Lambrides A, Rowe C, Lowe K, Reepmeyer C, Maclaurin C, Woo K, Harris M, Morgan S, Turner-Kose K, Slater S, Connelly J, Kneppers M, Szabó K, Fairbairn A, Haberle S, Hopf F, Bultitude R, Ash J, Lewis S, Beaman R, Leon J, McDowell M, Potter M, Connelly B, Little C, Jackson S, McCarthy J, Nothdurft L, Zhao J, Bird M, Felgate M, Cobus B and Walmbaar Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (in press) Early Aboriginal pottery production and offshore island occupation on Jiigurru (Lizard Island group), Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Quaternary Science Reviews,
- Wright R, Beaman R, Daniell J, Bridge T, Pall J and Webster J (2023) Benthic communities of the lower mesophotic zone on One Tree shelf edge, southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research, 74 (13). pp. 1178-1192
- Hinestrosa G, Webster J and Beaman R (2022) New constraints on the postglacial shallow-water carbonate accumulation in the Great Barrier Reef. Scientific Reports, 12 (1).
- Horowitz J, Opresko D, Molodtsova T, Beaman R, Cowman P and Bridge T (2022) Five new species of black coral (Anthozoa; Antipatharia) from the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, Australia. Zootaxa, 5213 (1). pp. 1-35
- Puga-Bernabéu Á, López-Cabrera J, Webster J and Beaman R (2022) Submarine landslide morphometrics and slope failure dynamics along a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic margin, north-eastern Australia. Geomorphology, 403.
- Crabtree S, White D, Bradshaw C, Saltré F, Williams A, Beaman R, Bird M and Ulm S (2021) Landscape rules predict optimal superhighways for the first peopling of Sahul. Nature Human Behaviour, 5. pp. 1303-1313
- Ekins M, Horowitz J, Beaman R and Hooper J (2021) A new carnivorous sponge (Porifera) from the Coral Sea. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 62. pp. 205-215
- McNeil M, Nothdurft L, Dryriw N, Webster J and Beaman R (2021) Morphotype differentiation in the Great Barrier Reef Halimeda bioherm carbonate factory: internal architecture and surface geomorphometrics. The Depositional Record, 7 (2). pp. 176-199
- Daniell J, Manoy T, Beaman R, Webster J and Puga-Bernabéu Á (2020) Shelf-edge delta and reef development on a mixed siliciclastic–carbonate margin, central Great Barrier Reef. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 90 (10). pp. 1286-1304
- Book Chapters
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- Webster J, Dechnik B, Sanborn K, Yokoyama Y, Braga J, Renema W, Humblet M, Beaman R, Nothdurft L, Webb G, Zhao J, Murphy R, Gallagher S, O’Leary M and Paumard V (2022) Coral reef development and sea-level changes over the past 50,000 years: new evidence from the north-west shelf of Australia. In: Coral Reefs and Sea-Level Change: Quaternary Records and Modelling. International Association of Sedimentologists, pp. 215-273
- Puga-Bernabéu Á, Webster J, Beaman R, Thran A, López?Cabrera J and Daniell J (2020) Submarine landslides along the mixed siliciclastic-carbonate margin of the Great Barrier Reef (offshore Australia). In: Submarine Landslides: subaqueous mass transport deposits from outcrops to seismic profiles. Geophysical Monograph, 246. Wiley, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 313-337
- More
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 76+ research outputs authored by Dr Robin Beaman from 1994 onwards.
- Current Funding
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Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.
Geoscience Australia - Contract Research
Queensland Coastline Capture Project.
- Indicative Funding
- $1,284,500 over 11 years
- Summary
- The objectives are: (1) Using panchromatic and multi-band digital imagery acquired using both aircraft and satellites to provide interpretation and capture of reefs throughout the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Specifically, identifying and capturing those reefs that expose at lowest astronomical tide (LAT). (2) to identify and capture other reef structures that are apparent from the imagery that will contribute to the knowledge of the extent and structure of the GBR. The Project will provide valuable data across Government of the GBR that will increase the general knowledge of reef location and will provide valuable data across Government of the GBR that will increase the general knowledge of reef location and structure, as well as maximising Australia's control of the GBR and realising the full extend of offshore jurisdiction.
- Investigators
- Robin Beaman in collaboration with Mark Alcock and Peter Lennon (College of Science & Engineering, Geoscience Australia and Department of Natural Resources and Mines)
- Keywords
- Great Barrier Reef; Marine Management; Geomorphology; Law of the Sea
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RIMReP) - Contract Research
GBR Marine Park morphology mapping
- Indicative Funding
- $96,245 over 1 year (administered by Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority)
- Summary
- This research will generate the most accurate and up-to-date 3D depth model for the GBR Marine Park, at the 30 m pixel resolution, using all the available source bathymetry data. This fundamental dataset will then be used to derive morphology layers, as per the proposed structure of the National Seafloor GeoMorphology (NSGM) mapping scheme, being developed by Geoscience Australia.
- Investigators
- Robin Beaman (College of Science & Engineering)
- Keywords
- Great Barrier Reef; Geomorphology; Marine Management; Bathymetry
BHP Billiton Group Operation Pty Ltd - Research Grant
Predictive Modelling of Reef-Island Geomorphology using High-Resolution Mapping and Environmental Datasets for Improved Conservation and Management
- Indicative Funding
- $69,750 over 3 years (administered by Queensland Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing)
- Summary
- Reduced turtle nesting and hatching success at Raine Island - priority management concerns - have been strongly linked to geomorphological changes. The proposed research will make use of a suite of quality geomorphological and environmental data collected at Raine (and rarely available for remote undeveloped cays) to develop a robust data-supported predictive morphodynamic model that will: a) significantly improve understandings of the future geomorphology Raine Island: and b) underpin decisions and evaluations of management actions undertake to conserv both the island and the animals that depend upon it - including adaptive management options such as sand redistribution and beach re-profiling.
- Investigators
- Scott Smithers, Robin Beaman and Jeff Pickford (College of Science & Engineering)
- Keywords
- Great Barrier Reef; Reef Island; Geomorphology; Terrain Modelling; GIS; Protected Area Management
- Collaboration
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The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.- 5+ collaborations
- 4 collaborations
- 3 collaborations
- 2 collaborations
- 1 collaboration
- Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)
Connect with me
- Phone
- Location
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- A2.128, A2 (Cairns campus)
- Advisory Accreditation
- Primary Advisor
- Find me on…
My research areas
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