Two ANSTO scientists are finalists in the Australian Museum Eureka Prize, thanks to their outstanding research in climate change.
Debashish Mazumder and Atun Zawadzki are members of a team who have been named finalists for the 2019 NSW Environment, Energy and Science (DPIE) prize for environmental research, in the national eading science awards that reward excellence, innovation and leadership.
The pair studied stable isotope analysis, which found mangroves and salt marshes could reduce effects of climate change.
Their contribution was part of a study published in Nature magazine earlier this year.
Nuclear and isotopic techniques were among the research methods used to confirm that salt marshes stored more carbon as sea level rose. The findings provide some positive news about mitigating the effects of climate change and the importance of preserving wetland and salt marsh sites.
Environments, such as mangrove forests and saltmarshes, have been coined 'blue carbon' because of their ability to capture carbon and proximity to the sea.
The Blue Carbon Horizons Team, led by Associate Professor Kerrylee Rogers at University of Wollongong, included Macquarie University, ANSTO and international collaborators. They found coastal wetlands absorb more carbon as sea levels rise, potentially combating the effects of global warming.
ANSTO environmental researchers use isotopic analysis to gain insights into the source and fate of carbon and historical environmental conditions. They are also used in investigation of the food chain and to determine food provenance.
Data from 345 locations worldwide confirmed that a rise in the sea-level had increased the carbon stored in wetlands, and new data of the same effect was found on the shores of Lake Macquarie, NSW.
Environmental scientist Debashish Mazumder and radiochemist Atun Zawadzki said they were honoured to be named as finalists and hoped it would draw further attention to environmental challenges.
"Stable isotope analysis is a very powerful tool in environmental studies, such as this," Dr Mazumder said.
"These findings provide some positive news about mitigating the effects of climate change and the importance of preserving wetland and salt marsh sites.
"Our mangroves and saltmarshes can be part of the solution to climate change with their capacity to store carbon from atmospheric carbon emissions."
