Biography
Dr Robin Beaman
My role as a marine geologist and ocean mapping scientist is to reveal Australia’s underwater landscape. Ocean mapping helps to improve understanding of the geological origin of the seafloor, and explain the distribution of 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 submarine canyons, underwater landslides, submerged reefs, paleo-channels, algal bioherms, cold-water corals, mesophotic (twilight) coral ecosystems, seamounts and habitat mapping.
These projects use GIS, multibeam and singlebeam echo sounders, lidar, sidescan sonar, sub-bottom profilers, photogrammetry, underwater camera imagery, satellite imagery and sediment sampling techniques.
I want to share with you the excitement of scientific discovery in the ocean, and help to promote a more ocean-aware community through this website. Please contact me directly if you want more information about our research projects.
Rob’s Blog
Recent ocean mapping events within Australia’s marine region.
David Attenborough’s 99th birthday
Happy 99th birthday Sir David Attenborough. Here is us together on MV Alucia in Cairns, Australia during the filming of 'David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef' in 2014. Looking forward to seeing 'Ocean with David Attenborough'.Sir David and me onboard MV AluciaVideo
How to name a reef
How do you name a reef in the Great Barrier Reef? One way is to propose a name to the Queensland Government, responsible for naming reefs lying within Coastal Waters on the GBR. Here, we propose 'Monument Reef' for the spectacular 500m-tall detached reef discovered...
CSB on the Great Barrier Reef: Project update
On 28 March 2025, I presented a remote talk: 'Crowdsourced bathymetry on the Great Barrier Reef: Project update', at the IHO Crowdsourced Bathymetry Working Group Meeting 16, held in Wellington New Zealand.Vessel traffic in the Great Barrier ReefAdditional Media...