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2020 ACRS Mid-Career Researcher Medal
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2020 ACRS Mid-Caee Reseache Medal
Prof. Andrew Hoey
In 2020, the Australian Coral Reef Society awarded Professor Andrew Hoey from the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies with the ACRS Mid-Career Researcher Medal for his outstanding contribution to the science and management of Australian coral reefs.
Prof. Hoey has an outstanding track-record, with over 150 scientific papers on the ecology and conservation of coral reefs, and he is a leading authority on the functional ecology of herbivorous fishes on coral reefs. Prof. Hoey was the lead editor of the scholarly book “The Biology of Parrotfishes”.
The judging committee recognised Prof. Hoey’s research impact, with his pioneering use of stationary underwater video cameras combined with algal assays to obtain direct measures of herbivory on coral reefs. Through this and other innovations, Prof. Hoey has contributed significantly to the fields of ecology and management of coral reefs of Australia and beyond. In recent years, his research has also provided new insights into how biological communities and ecosystem processes respond to shifts in habitat structure and degradation. Prof. Hoey was a core member of the Australian Coral Bleaching Taskforce that documented the effects of the 2016/17 bleaching episode on the Great Barrier Reef.
In addition to his academic accolades, Prof. Hoey has demonstrated a relentless dedication to supporting the Australian and international coral reef science communities. He has been an active member of the ACRS council for the past 11 years, and its president in 2016-17. He regularly provides expert advice to several government agencies and was an expert witness for the Senate Inquiry into “The Impacts of Climate Change on Marine Fisheries and Biodiversity”.
Prof. Hoey has earned an excellent reputation as a mentor of young scientists. He has advised 17 PhD candidates to completion receiving several commendations including the 2018 JCU Primary Advisor of the Year. He has also chaired the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies’ postdoctoral committee (2014-15), and since 2012 he is an active member of the CSIRO STEM Professionals-in-Schools program.
