Can We Save the Reef? An Analysis of Threats to the Great Barrier Reef in an Era of Global Climate Change 7 views

In my work for my undergraduate thesis, I explored the importance of protecting biodiversity in the sociotechnical portion and utilized bioinspiration for the design of state-of-the-art technology. My sociotechnical research examined conservation efforts used to protect the Great Barrier Reef and analyzed their effectiveness in the midst of unprecedented global climate change. In my technical research, I worked with my team to design and build a micro-aerial vehicle inspired by the flight mechanics of a dragonfly, and produced a preliminary design titled ICARUS I. My technical work emphasizes the importance of my sociotechnical work because it is due to biodiversity that we can utilize bioinspiration in designing new technology. My research emphasizes the importance of protecting the environment from harmful impacts stemming from the design process, and of repairing past harms as we develop the technology to do so. In my STS research, I analyzed conservation efforts currently being enacted in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and their effectiveness in the midst of the current global climate change. Using actor network theory as a framework, I examined the many actors in the Great Barrier Reef crisis, such as climate agencies, the fishing industry, coastal Australians, and Crown of Thorns Starfish (COTS) activity, and their effects on the reef’s health. Conservation efforts to protect the reef against various threats to the reef- farmland runoff, COTS outbreaks, coral bleaching, and harmful fishing practices- were considered. Because the root cause of many of these threats to the reef is global climate change, the main focus of the research is whether conservation efforts undertaken by Australia alone are enough to save the reef, or if more global climate change action is necessary to protect such an important habitat. The goal of the technical portion of my thesis was to design and manufacture a quad-winged unmanned aerial system that mimics the flight mechanics of a dragonfly through independent wing actuation. This design aims to solve a common problem with established micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs): the inability to perform stable hovering and rapid maneuvering in tight spatial conditions. Additional goals of the project include installing an on-board camera for surveillance capabilities and performing backwards flight maneuvers. I worked with my team to provide proof-of-concept for four-wing actuations through simulation and a bench test of a preliminary system, ICARUS I. We faced design challenges such as minimizing the weight of the wings while maximizing their lift and designing a lightweight electrical system in the form of a custom printed circuit board. Our work on ICARUS I demonstrated the power of bioinspiration as a tool for solving engineering problems and provided a strong proof of concept for future developments in the field of MAVs.

BS (Bachelor of Science)

Great Barrier Reef; Conservation; Climate Change

English

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2026-05-08