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Taking
to the Seas
Professor Matthew England
Written by Mary Stewart
Physical
Oceanographer
Putting the seas on hold for the day, Matthew
spent most of the day in the comfort of his UNSW office, peer
reviewing a paper for the Journal of Climate. Matthew has
been at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) since 1995.
As an oceanographer, Matt’s job takes him off campus regularly,
onto the wild oceans of the world and to exotic terrestrial
destinations for scientific conferences.
Peer reviews
As a peer reviewer, his chief job is to determine whether
the paper is original and if it is a contribution to science.
“The peer review process is a very important part of science”
says Matt, “you don’t really get anything in return from reviewing
a journal, but it is a way to keep up to date with what is
happening in your field”. Matt did however benefit from reviewing
this international journal submission, focussing on how the
wind in the Southern ocean might affect the climate in the
North Atlantic. Although the paper was original, the scope
of the study was limited, enabling Matt to grab the opportunity
to expand on the research. This fresh opportunity for a future
study was the highlight of Matt’s work day, his expansion
into the research will not however go ahead for at least a
year.
Not all science is spent in the field
The second half of Matt’s day involved organising next years
work shop for the Southern
Annular Mode. The Southern
Annular Mode involves the air pressure systems between
Antarctica and 40°S, which varies through time. This variation
causes winds to move up towards Australia or down towards
Antarctica, and these winds have been observed gradually shifting
south due to climate change. Matt and other scientists are
trying to understand why the Southern Annular mode varies
this way. It is Matt’s job to organise this workshop, so after
the peer review he spent his time putting together the workshop
brochure and liaising with event organisers. “Not all science
is spent in the field” says Matt, “it is a very diverse career.”
Make your passion your career
Matt believes that for anyone looking into a career in science,
thoroughness and rigour are key personal attributes. He believes
it is also important that scientists think outside the square,
as being over cautious can “slow you down”. “You have to take
risks to be a success in science,” says Matt, so an “adventurous”
personality is always a bonus. Matt’s advice for students
out there is to determine what you love doing and try to make
a career out of your passion. Matt’s passion has always involved
oceans and marine life, having studied physics and maths in
high school, oceanography was his perfect calling.
Perhaps next years World Wide Day in Science will feature
Matt’s new research project.
Matthew England
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