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SEX-SWAPPING STORY SCOOPS SCIENCE JOURNALISM PRIZE9 September 2003 The 2003 CRC Reef Marine Science Journalism Prize has been won by James Cook University PhD student Bridget Green, who uncovered the salacious story of the goby, a small reef-dwelling fish that can change sex if it gets stuck for a date. Bridget netted $1000 and a trip to Canberra to be awarded her prize by The Hon Peter McGauran, Minister for Science, at the opening of the Australian Science Festival on 14 August. Her story, titled ‘Reef Transvestites: Sex and the Science of Sex Change’ examines the sex life of the goby, which can change from male to female, or vice versa, in less than 30 days. If their mate leaves them or dies, the practical goby simply courts the next fish that comes along, regardless of its sexuality, because soon enough one of them will make the switch and become a serviceable sexual partner. Bridget’s story is based on work by Dr Philip Munday, a marine scientist from James Cook University. Dr Munday discovered the strange but practical sexual habits of gobies in a series of experiments at Lizard Island Research Station, where he partner-swapped 25 pairs of gobies into same-sex pairs. Many of the gobies quickly reacted by changing sex to form reproductively active female-male pairs. “Gobies are the first species we’ve found on the Great Barrier Reef that can change from female to male and then back to female again if their living arrangements require it,” Dr Munday says. Ms Melissa Lyne of the University of Tasmania won the Dorothy Paramore Highly Commended Award of $250 for her story on the biomedical benefits of coral reef organisms. Ms Dorothy Paramore is an artist who donated the proceeds from the sale of a painting from her Great Barrier Reef Series to benefit a student studying the reef. Melissa’s story focused on research by Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) scientist Dr Walt Dunlap examining how corals and other marine organisms protect themselves from harmful ultra-violet radiation. The annual CRC Reef competition for stories about science in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area is open to full-time students at Australian universities. This year’s competition was judged by journalists from News Limited and Australian Associated Press. To read Bridget and Melissa’s stories online visit: http://www.reef.crc.org.au/postgraduate/jward2003.html For more information: |
