Join us for an exclusive day on stunning Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) in Moreton Bay, where you'll have the unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at UQ's renowned marine research hub, the Moreton Bay Research Station.

On this family-friendly day out, we'll take you on a deep dive into the marine conservation work happening at the Research Station.

You can partake in interactive experiences such as a touch tank featuring marine creatures and live experiments. Our researchers will give enlightening talks on whales, environmental change, and the health of marine life in the Bay.

This event will run from 9:30am–2pm:

  • 9:30–10:30am: Morning tea and official welcome

  • 10:30am–2pm: Plan your day with a range of activities

Schedule of optional activities:

Time

Activity

Location

9:30–10am

Morning tea

Downstairs patio

10–10:15am

Welcome to Country

Grass opposite the Station

10:15–10:25am

Welcome to Moreton Bay Research Station and overview of the program of activities

Grass opposite the Station

10:30–11am

Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) demonstration

MBRS courtyard

10:30–11am

Researcher talk: do marine invertebrates have plastic for dinner? (Dr Benjamin Mos)

Downstairs lecture room

11–11:30am

Ground penetrating radar demonstration – Australian Archaeology

Grass opposite the Station

11–11:30am

UQ Science Demo Troupe show

MBRS courtyard

11–11:30am

Researcher talk: Ocean Optics – decoding the colour patterns and visual systems of marine life in Moreton Bay (Associate Professor Karen Cheney)

Downstairs lecture room

11:30am–12pm

Researcher talk: lessons from wire rush – how peatlands record environmental change on Minjerribah (Professor Patrick Moss)

Downstairs lecture room

11:30am–12pm

Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) demonstration

MBRS courtyard

11:30am–12:30pm

Kids workshop by CoralWatch: corals are cool and crucial

MBRS Library

12–12:30pm

Researcher talk: the songs of humpback whales – what we know and what we don’t (Professor Mike Noad)

Downstairs lecture room

12–12:30pm

UQ Science Demo Troupe show

MBRS courtyard

12:15–12:45pm

Ground penetrating radar demonstration – Australian Archaeology

Grass opposite the Station

12:30–1pm

Researcher talk: floods smother Moreton Bay in mud, nutrients and plastics (Dr Alistair Grinham)

Downstairs Lecture room

1–1:30pm

UQ Science Demo Troupe show

MBRS courtyard                       

1–2pm

Cultural talk and artifact display – indigenous knowledge sharing

Grass in front of the station

All day activities:

Activity

Location

South East Queensland Underwater Ecological Survey Teams (SEQUEST) display and demonstrations and Marine Society UQ (MSUQ) stall

Upstairs lecture theatre

Marine stalls (CoralWatch, Centre for Marine Science, Cetacean Ecology Group, Sandbox)

Upstairs kitchen and balcony

Touch tank

MBRS courtyard

Water sensory network buoys, dive gear and boat display

MBRS courtyard

Cephalopods, seahorses and clownfish display

Wet lab

Artificial oyster reef displays

Wet lab

Tabletop demos by Science Troupe

MBRS courtyard

Getting there: 

Travel to and from the island is not included in the ticket cost. See information on ferry times and costs here.

Walking from Dunwich to Moreton Bay Research Station:

Please note this program may be amended – please check back closer to the event for the full details. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

To check out what we got up to on last year’s open day, watch the video.

About Alumni and community events

UQ alumni and community events take place in-person and online, across the globe, throughout the year. UQ alumni are invited to join the UQ ChangeMakers platform to access early event registrations, benefits and discounts.

Join UQ ChangeMakers

$35 per adult, $20 per child (under 18 years of age)

Venue

UQ Moreton Bay Research Station, 37 Fraser Street, Dunwich, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)