Scott Smithers
Projects
3
Publications
25
Awards
0
Biography
Scott Smithers is a geomorphologist within the College of Science and Engineering.
Scott completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science at the University of Wollongong before beginning his research on coral reefs in his Honours year under the supervision of Professor Colin Woodroffe. Honours research focused on the surficial sediments and lagoonal sedimentation rates at Australia's only true coral atoll - the Cocos Keeling Islands. A PhD followed which examined the records of sea level preserved in the skeletons of corals known as 'microatolls'. Carbonate production, reef growth and sea level remain key research interests. Scott moved to James Cook University in 1994 to take advantage of its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and the community of world class coral reef scientists located in Townsville.
Scott is currently the co-vice chair of the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG) Working Group on ‘Reef and reef landform geomorphology: responses to climatic and environmental change’, and a member of ReefBudget - a Leverhulme Trust International Research Network ‘Developing rapid carbonate budget assessment protocols for coral reefs’.
Research
Research Interests
Since locating to Townsville I have continued my research on the Holocene development of coral reefs, including investigations of the impacts of environmental change on modern coral reef systems, and the recovery and interpretation of records of environmental change preserved within coral skeletons and reef deposits. Key areas of research include: 1) understanding spatial and temporal patterns and controls of reef growth and carbonate production; 2) the reconstruction of records of environmental change from coral skeletons, reef framework and sedimentary deposits as a context for understanding contemporary changes; and 3) understanding the geomorphological development and morphodynamics of coral reef islands. Unsurprisingly a large proportion of my research is focused on the Great Barrier Reef, but my research includes reefs in the Pacific (e.g. Torres Strait, Kiribati, PNG) and Indian Oceans (Maldives, Chagos, Singapore), as well as in the Caribbean Sea (Bahamas, Bonaire, Belize).
In addition to reef research I am also actively involved in projects examining tropical coasts more generally, fluvial and catchment studies, and geochemical and sedimentological reconstructions of paleoenvironmental conditions.
Projects
Expert technical advice regarding project water quality and catchment modelling (Old ID 31066)
03 Jul 2023 - 03 Feb 2026
Alluvial Gully Remediation in the Upper Burdekin Catchment (Old ID 27857)
14 Nov 2022 - 15 Jun 2026
GBRF EOI Island Monitoring (Old ID 27698)
01 Jun 2022 - 30 Jun 2024
Research Data
Teaching
Research Advisor Accreditation
Advisor Type
Mentor
Taught Modules
[EV1005] Environmental Processes and Global ChangeLecturer, Coordinator
2026
[EV1005] Environmental Processes and Global ChangeLecturer, Coordinator
2025
[EV3406] Coral Reef GeomorphologyLecturer, Coordinator
2025
[EV5406] Coral Reef GeomorphologyCoordinator, Lecturer
2025
Current JCU Research Students
Islands in flux: Tracing over a decade of shifting shorelines and rising tides in the Torres Strait.
Master of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
Developmental diversity of proximal reefs on the Great Barrier Reef during the Holocene: Causes and implications for conservation
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
Reconstructing the Holocene cyclone record of the central GBR
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
Alluvial gully erosion: Evolution, processes and management
Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies)
Completed JCU Research Students
Biogeochemical modelling of tropical marine ecosystems in the context of climate change
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2023
The character, dynamics and sources of sediments in Lake Dalrymple: insights and implications for reservoir management
Doctor of Philosophy (Science)- 2025
Juvenile hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) fare well with good welfare: assessing welfare of captive-raised turtles to infer postrelease survivability
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2024
Exploring Himawari-8 geostationary observations for the advanced coastal monitoring of the Great Barrier Reef
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2021
Using foraminifera to reconstruct Holocene cyclone occurrences at Middle Island on the central Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia
Master of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)- 2024
Output
Lewis, S.; Bainbridge, Z.; Smithers, S. (2021) A synthesis of the changing sources, transport and delivery of sand to the Burdekin River Delta: implications for the stability of the Bowling Green spit: A Report for Water Planning Ecology, Science and Technology Division, Department of Environment and Science. Townsville, QLD, Australia: [Report]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Lewis, S.; Bainbridge, Z.; Stevens, T.; Garzon-George, A.; Bahador, M.; Burton, J.; Rezaei Rasht, M.; James, C.; Smithers, S.; Olley, J. (2020) What’s really damaging the Reef?: Tracing the origin and fate of the ecologically detrimental sediment and associated bioavailable nutrients. Cairns, QLD, Australia: [Report]
Lewis, S.; Bainbridge, Z.; Stevens, T.; Garzon-Garcia, A.; Chen, C.; Burton, J.; Bahadon, M.; Rezaei Rashti, M.; Gorman, J.; Smithers, S.; Olley, J.; Moody, P.; Dehayr, R. (2018) Sediment tracing from the catchment to reef 2016 to 2018: Flood plume, marine sediment trap and logger data time series. Cairns, QLD, Australia: [Report]
The Reef Island Geomorphic Activity Assessment: A new approach to quantify cay geomorphic change
2025
Lazarus, Emily; Duce, Stephanie; Lewis, Stephen; Smithers, Scott (2025) 'The Reef Island Geomorphic Activity Assessment: A new approach to quantify cay geomorphic change'. Global and Planetary Change, 247 . [DOI]
Bainbridge, Zoe T.; Olley, Jon M.; Lewis, Stephen E.; Stevens, Tom; Smithers, Scott G. (2024) 'Tracing sources of inorganic suspended particulate matter in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon, Australia'. Scientific Reports, 14 . [DOI]
Patricio-Valerio, Larissa; Schroeder, Thomas; Devlin, Michelle J.; Yi, Qin; Smithers, Scott (2023) 'Meteorological Satellite Observations Reveal Diurnal Exceedance of Water Quality Guideline Thresholds in the Coastal Great Barrier Reef'. Remote Sensing, 15 (9).
Hutchings, Marissa J.; Hamann, Mark; Smithers, Scott G.; Daley, Emily; Birtles, R. Alastair (2023) 'Color pattern complexity in dwarf minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) of the northern Great Barrier Reef of Australia'. Marine Mammal Science, 39 (3):780-793. [DOI]
Smithers, Scott G.; Dawson, John L. (2023) 'Beach reprofiling to improve reproductive output at the world's largest remaining green turtle rookery: Raine Island, northern Great Barrier Reef'. Ocean and Coastal Management, 231 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
eReefs modelling suggests Trichodesmium may be a major nitrogen source in the Great Barrier Reef
2023
Ani, Chinenye J.; Smithers, Scott G.; Lewis, Stephen; Baird, Mark; Robson, Barbara (2023) 'eReefs modelling suggests Trichodesmium may be a major nitrogen source in the Great Barrier Reef'. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 285 . [DOI]
Patricio-Valerio, Larissa; Schroeder, Thomas; Devlin, Michelle J.; Qin, Yi; Smithers, Scott (2022) 'A Machine Learning Algorithm for Himawari-8 Total Suspended Solids Retrievals in the Great Barrier Reef'. Remote Sensing, 14 (14). [DOI]
Global declines in coral reef calcium carbonate production under ocean acidification and warming
2021
Cornwall, Christopher E.; Comeau, Steeve; Kornder, Niklas A.; Perry, Chris T.; van Hooidonk, Ruben; Decarlo, Thomas M.; Pratchett, Morgan S.; Anderson, Kristen D.; Browne, Nicola; Carpenter, Robert; Diaz-Pulido, Guillermo; D'Olivo, Juan P.; Doo, Steve S.; Figueiredo, Joana; Valero Fortunato, Sofia A.V.; Kennedy, Emma; Lantz, Coulson A.; McCulloch, Malcolm T.; Gonzalez Rivero, Manuel; Schoepf, Verena; Smithers, Scott G.; Rowe, Ryan J. (2021) 'Global declines in coral reef calcium carbonate production under ocean acidification and warming'. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118 (21). [DOI]
Bainbridge, Zoe; Lewis, Stephen; Stevens, Thomas; Petus, Caroline; Lazarus, Emily; Gorman, Jessica; Smithers, Scott (2021) 'Measuring sediment grain size across the catchment to reef continuum: improved methods and environmental insights'. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 168 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Luom, Thai Thanh; Phong, Nguyen Tan; Smithers, Scott; Van Tai, Tang (2021) 'Protected mangrove forests and aquaculture development for livelihoods'. Ocean & Coastal Management, 205 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Morgan, Kyle M.; Perry, Chris T.; Arthur, Rudy; Williams, Hywel T.P.; Smithers, Scott G. (2020) 'Projections of coral cover and habitat change on turbid reefs under future sea-level rise'. Proceedings Of The Royal Society B-biological Sciences, 287 (1929). [DOI]
Parnell, Kevin E.; Smithers, Scott G. (2020) 'Regional and local variability in coastal processes in Torres Strait, Australia, and its importance for climate change planning'. Journal of Coastal Research, 95 (sp1):616-620. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Johnson, J.A.; Perry, C.T.; Smithers, S.G.; Morgan, K.M.; Woodroffe, S.A. (2019) 'Reef shallowing is a critical control on benthic foraminiferal assemblage composition on nearshore turbid coral reefs'. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 533 . [DOI]
Harvey, Nick; Smithers, Scott (2018) 'How close to the coast? Incorporating coastal expertise into decision-making on residential development in Australia'. Ocean & Coastal Management, 157 :237-247. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Cooper, Michelle; Lewis, Stephen E.; Stieglitz, Thomas C.; Smithers, Scott G. (2018) 'Variability of the useful life of reservoirs in tropical locations: a case study from the Burdekin Falls Dam, Australia'. International Journal of Sediment Research, 33 :93-106. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Ryan, E.J.; Smithers, S.G.; Lewis, S.E.; Clark, T.R.; Zhao, J.-X.; Hua, Q. (2018) 'Fringing reef growth over a shallow last interglacial reef foundation at a mid-shelf high island: Holbourne Island, central Great Barrier Reef'. Marine Geology, 398 :137-150. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Ryan, Emma J.; Smithers, Scott G.; Lewis, Stephen E.; Clark, Tara R.; Zhao, Jian-xin (2018) 'The variable influences of sea level, sedimentation and exposure on Holocene reef development over a cross-shelf transect, central Great Barrier Reef'. Diversity, 10 (4):1-17. [DOI]
Smithers, Scott; Hopley, David; Mclean, Roger (2018) 'Holocene sea level on the Great Barrier Reef: reflections on four decades of debate and the legacy of the 1973 expedition to the northern great barrier reef'. Atoll Research Bulletin, 2018 (619):79-103. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Perry, Chris T.; Alvarez-Filip, Lorenzo; Graham, Nicholas A.J.; Mumby, Peter J.; Wilson, Shaun K.; Kench, Paul S.; Manzello, Derek P.; Morgan, Kyle M.; Slangen, Aimee B.A.; Thomson, Damian P.; Januchowski-hartley, Fraser; Smithers, Scott G.; Steneck, Robert S.; Carlton, Renee; Edinger, Evan N.; Enochs, Ian C.; Estrada-Saldivar, Nuria; Haywood, Michael D.E.; Kolodziej, Graham; Murphy, Gary N.; Perez-Cervantes, Esmeralda; Suchley, Adam; Valentino, Lauren; Boenish, Robert; Wilson, Margaret; Macdonald, Chancey (2018) 'Loss of coral reef growth capacity to track future increases in sea level'. Nature, 558 :396-408. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Wanger, Thomas Cherico; Ainun, Nur; Brook, Barry W.; Friess, Daniel A.; Oh, Rachel R.Y.; Rusdin, Andi; Smithers, Scott; Tjoa, Aiyen (2020) 'Ecosystem-based tsunami mitigation for tropical biodiversity hotspots' Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 35 (2) :96-100. [DOI]
Journal Contribution
ResearchOnline@JCU
Hopley, David; Smithers, Scott (2019) 'Geomorphology of Coral Reefs with special reference to the Great Barrier Reef' In: Hopley, David, and Smithers, Scott (2019) Geomorphology of Coral Reefs with special reference to the Great Barrier Reef. In: Hutchings, Pat, Kingsford, Michael J., and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove, (eds.) The Great Barrier Reef: biology, environment and management. CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, VIC, Australia, pp. 9-24(Eds.). The Great Barrier Reef: biology, environment and management. Clayton South, VIC, Australia : CSIRO Publishing.
Book Chapter
ResearchOnline@JCU
Pratchett, Morgan; Bridge, Thomas; Brodie, Jon; Cameron, Darren; Day, Jonathan; Emslie, Mike; Grech, Alana; Hamann, Mark; Heron, Scott; Hoey, Andrew; Hoogenboom, Mia; Lough, Janice; Morrison, Tiffany; Osborne, Kate; Read, Mark; Schauble, Chloe; Smithers, Scott; Sweatman, Hugh; Waterhouse, Jane (2019) 'Australia's Great Barrier Reef' In: Pratchett, Morgan, Bridge, Thomas, Brodie, Jon, Cameron, Darren, Day, Jonathan, Emslie, Mike, Grech, Alana, Hamann, Mark, Heron, Scott, Hoey, Andrew, Hoogenboom, Mia, Lough, Janice, Morrison, Tiffany, Osborne, Kate, Read, Mark, Schauble, Chloe, Smithers, Scott, Sweatman, Hugh, and Waterhouse, Jane (2019) Australia's Great Barrier Reef. In: Sheppard, Charles, (ed.) World Seas: an environmental evaluation. Elsevier, London, UK, pp. 333-362(Eds.). World Seas: an environmental evaluation. London, UK : Elsevier. [DOI]
Book Chapter
ResearchOnline@JCU