September 24, 2025
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) has officially joined ACCESS-NRI as a partner organisation, strengthening Australia’s climate, weather and Earth system modelling capabilities.
AAD joins current ACCESS-NRI partners including CSIRO, the Bureau of Meteorology, Monash University, The University of Melbourne, University of Tasmania, University of New South Wales, and the Australian National University.
“We are delighted to formally welcome AAD to our community. This partnership formalises the strong collaboration we already have with the Australian Antarctic Division through their interest in oceanic, ice-sheet and atmospheric modelling over Antarctica and the Southern Ocean,” says ACCESS-NRI Director Professor Andy Hogg.
The partnership reflects existing deep connections between the organisations. AAD researchers are users of ACCESS-NRI’s models, tools and data and active contributors to ACCESS-NRI’s Cryosphere, Atmosphere and COSIMA (Ocean and sea-ice) Community Working Groups. In addition, ACCESS-NRI has AAD representatives on its Scientific Advisory Committee and Board.
Dr Lenneke Jong from the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and member of the ACCESS-NRI Scientific Advisory Committee said: “The ACCESS-NRI collaboration provides digital infrastructure and modelling capability that are important to the research being undertaken to advance our understanding of Antarctica, the Southern Ocean and the global climate system.”
This partnership positions Australia at the forefront of Antarctic and Southern Ocean research, combining ACCESS-NRI’s world-class modelling infrastructure with AAD’s scientific expertise.
“The collaboration strengthens Australia’s position as a global leader in Antarctic science and climate modelling. Together, we will tackle some of the most pressing questions in climate science, from understanding ice sheet dynamics and sea level rise to predicting changes in Southern Ocean circulation and their global impacts,” says Professor Andy Hogg.
Image credit: Adele Morrison, ANU. Surface current speed in the 0.1° global model ACCESS-OM2-01, highlighting the East Australian Current and Antarctic Circumpolar Current.