What does a mangrove forest, coral reef and a sea wall have in common? They all reduce coastal erosion! However, only the mangrove forests and coral reefs provide habitat for biodiversity, and nursery for fish species in addition to protecting our coastal communities. 

As an Ecological Engineer, Dr Alice Twomey is identifying how to substitute current coastal infrastructure such as seawalls, with natural solutions such as coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves. We know that coastal ecosystems can reduce erosion and flooding, but there is currently little guidance for Coastal Engineers to design these. Alice is determined to bridge this gap through her research by collecting data along the red coasts of Western Australia and the Croc-filled waters of Northern Queensland. She's a real coastal Indiana Jones! As an engineer working in ecology, Alice is passionate about promoting STEM pathways, especially in non-traditional fields. 

In 2021 Alice received her PhD in Coastal Engineering and Marine Ecology at The University of Queensland (UQ) and was delighted to share her passion as one of the Queensland Flying Scientists. Alice is currently working as a Research Fellow in the School of the Environment at UQ.