International fellowship supports researcher monitoring water health from space

JCU TropWATER’s Dr Paula Cartwright recently spent eight weeks working with scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar on advancing remote sensing technologies to track key indicators of water health from space.

Dr Cartwright, who works with port industries to monitor short- and long-term changes in water quality, was awarded this opportunity with leading experts in remote sensing after receiving the Australia India Institute fellowship for women in STEM.

While TropWATER scientists have worked extensively in the fields of remote sensing and water quality – including mapping and monitoring floods and tracking changes in mangrove health – this project uses new satellite technologies to monitor water health at higher resolutions than previously possible.

“We set out to improve methods to track and manage water quality, specifically around coastal ports in the Great Barrier Reef region,” she said.

“Using high resolution satellite imagery, validated by on-ground data, we were able to assess water health remotely, in a far more robust and detailed way. This method is cost-effective and is a big step in helping industries manage their environments sustainably.”

Dr Cartwright said the fellowship was professionally and personally deeply rewarding.

“Through this fellowship, I built meaningful relationships and laid the groundwork for lasting collaborations,” she said. “I gained insight into regional environmental challenges and approaches, while sharing knowledge from my own research.”

“These exchanges not only enriched my own perspective but also opened the door to collaborative research opportunities.”

This international collaboration will strengthen current remote sensing projects and has inspired ideas for potential future research, such as exploring remote techniques to understand light availability in turbid waters across the coastal Great Barrier Reef.