Chandra is an Associate Professor for the Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research in the School of Science.
Background
Chandra draws from her complementary roles at Edith Cowan University and Oceans Blueprint in a creative approach to making positive change in conservation science. Current and past roles include:
- 2018 – present: Director, Oceans Blueprint – Combines marine science and visual media to improve accessibility of science that is integral to the health and function of our societies.
- 2018 – present: Research Advisor (Quantitative), Graduate Research, Edith Cowan University.
- 2011 - 2018: Deputy Director/Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Marine Science and Technology, Curtin university.
- 2003-2011: Research Fellow, Centre for Marine Science and Technology, Curtin University.
- 2002: Research Associate, Centre for Whale Research (WA), Inc., Exmouth, Australia.
- 1999-2003: Lecturer/Tutor (Casual), Department of Biological, Environmental and Chemical Sciences, Charles Darwin University.
- 1998-2001: Research Associate (Casual), Department of Biological, Environmental and Chemical Sciences, Northern Territory University.
- 1999: Research Coordinator, The Environmental Learning Center, Wabasso, Florida, USA.
- 1996-1998: Chemical Analyst (Casual), D.B. Environmental Labs, Rockledge, Florida, USA.
- 1992-1994: Research Assistant (Casual), New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, New Mexico, USA
Professional Associations
- Current‐2022. WA Marine Parks (Ambassador)
- Current‐2020 - IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, Australia‐New Zealand & South East Indian Ocean Region (Co-Coordinator)
- Current‐2007 - International Whaling Commission, Southern Hemisphere Blue Whale Photo‐ID Catalogue Project (SHBWPC). (Oceania Regional Coordinator)
- 2002 - Australian Marine Sciences Association, Northern Territory branch (President)
- 2014-2011 - Leadership Group, Australian Sustainable Development Institute, Curtin University (Member)
Awards and Recognition
- 2015 - Curtin University Media Award for Science & Engineering
Research Areas and Interests
Chandra is a marine ecologist and bio-acoustician working in a wide range of conservation and management topics. Overall, Chandra’s career in marine related research spans 25 years, in which she has worked in a diversity of fields including mangrove forest restoration, marine fauna ranging from crustaceans to baleen whales, and impacts of human activities on marine wildlife. As a recognised expert in her field, Chandra regularly advises national and international governmental and non-governmental organisations and industries on innovative research methods, analytical approaches, and the status, threats and management of wildlife. She coordinates and manages a wide range of projects and supervises honours, masters, and PhD students. Chandra has co-authored two book chapters, over 60 peer-reviewed papers; over 50 conference/workshop presentations; and over 90 technical reports. She has also been on television, radio, or in newspapers over 80 times.
Areas of interest include:
- Wildlife ecology & conservation
- Ecological and population modelling
- Evaluation of human impacts on marine fauna
- Bioacoustics
Some long-term projects Chandra has been involved in include:
- Dolphin Watch – A multi-partner citizen science program launched in 2009 that aims to provide a better understanding of Swan Canning Riverpark’s Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (co- investigator)
- Southern Hemisphere Blue Whale Photo-ID Catalogue – a large inter-regional southern hemisphere blue whale photo-identification program (coordinator of the Indonesia/Australia/New Zealand region)
- SouWEST – South-western Whale Ecology Study – a long-term multi-partner project aimed at improving the conservation status of whales in southwestern Australia through improved scientific foundation for species protection (co-investigator)