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Prof. Kerry Peter Black
kerrypeterblack@gmail.com;
Degrees
BSc (Physics) Melbourne University, Australia
BSc Honours (Marine) Melbourne University, Australia
MSc (Coastal Engineering) University of Hawaii, USA and Melbourne
University, Australia
PhD (Coastal Marine Group) University of Waikato, New Zealand
Main
appointments
● Head, Research and
Consulting Division, Victorian Institute of Marine Science
●
Senior
Research Scientist, National Institute of Water and Atmosphere
●
Professor,
University of Waikato Department of Earth Sciences
●
Director
and Founder, ASR Ltd (Marine consulting)
●
Director
and Founder, Surf Pools Ltd (Inland surfing pools)
●
Owner
and Manager, Sanctuary in Lombok (Eco-resort, Lombok)
●
Adviser
(Government Committees, Panels)
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Background
Science
Dr Black's bold leadership through 40 years of pure research has inspired
both his peers and his students. He has an exceptionally long scientific
publication list in highly respected journals, books and conference
proceedings. He has supervised many graduate degrees as Professor of
Oceanography and Numerical Modelling at Waikato University, New Zealand.
His
scientific credentials are confirmed by appointments as Acting Director of
an Australian Research Institute, Professor at Waikato University, and a
senior research scientist in the esteemed National Institute of Water and
Atmosphere in New Zealand. Black has been granted several million dollars
of research funds over a long and successful career in science. He ranks in
the top 8% of scientists globally (“www.ResearchGate.com”).
He
has been uniquely supported by the Australian Research Council in continuous
research grants over several decades and subsequently by the NZ Foundation
of Research Science and Technology. He has published over 400 scientific
documents and written or been the subject of hundreds of popular articles,
television interviews, radio interviews and newspaper articles.
Black
is the founder of the research discipline (and subsequent application
through technology developments) of "offshore coastal protection
reefs". Black edited the world's first scientific journal on offshore
reefs for coastal protection and recreation ("surfing reefs"),
and has twice been convener of the international conference on coastal
protection reefs.
Dr
Black's expertise in shallow and inner shelf physical processes is
renowned, with his highest international status being for micro-scale
sediment transport and beach dynamics. His research includes publications
on plumes, numerical models of physical processes, wave transformation and
estuarine, river and shelf hydrodynamics. He has adapted his numerical modeling skills to many multi-disciplinary marine
biological investigations to investigate fish recruitment, scallop dredging
and the dispersal of the larvae of marine species. His productivity and
publications have been sustained over 30 years, sometimes with over 40
papers and substantial technical reports in a single year.
Black
identified mechanisms for sand bar formation (known now as "Diffusion
Bars") and was the first scientist to publish successful modelling of
micro-scale sediment dynamics at intra-wave time scales. He published new
mechanisms for shelf sediment sorting, plus pioneering research on rip
currents and wave transformation in the 1970's and sediment modeling in the early 1980's. In larval research during
the 1990's, he discovered that open ocean Great Barrier Reefs can retain
larvae for longer periods than previously thought possible and explained
the mechanisms for this important phenomenon that sustains reef
eco-systems. His seminal theories have now been fully confirmed.
He
mediates in science as a former Associate Editor of the highly respected
Journal of Coastal Research and through his many appearances as an expert
witness. He attracted up to 15 MSc and PhD students in each year as the
chief or second supervisor while appointed at the University of Waikato.
All of his MSc students were externally examined by university professors
who awarded the students A-grades for their research theses. At the same
time, he was the founding director of the NIWA Centre of Excellence in
Coastal Oceanography, while he taught numerical modelling and coastal
oceanography for graduates at the University.
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Applied
Science and Technology
Dr
Black has undertaken hundreds of consultancies for a broad range of
top-quality clients. Since 1997, Dr. Black has
managed and was senior shareholder in two R&D based companies in New
Zealand ASR Ltd and Surf Pools Ltd. He sold his interests in ASR Ltd to an
American consortium of investors in 2009.
ASR was based on investigations and consultancies for marine and freshwater
systems. Surf Pools was focused on the development of high quality inland
surfing pools. Surf Pools was the research group behind the development of
large inland surfing pools in the USA. Unfortunately, the American team
failed at the start of the Global Financial Crisis and these pools were
never built. However, $3 million was spent on R&D under Dr Black's
guidance, and the technology has now been fully developed. (Sanctuary Beach
recreates the best and most successful elements of these two companies.)
Dr
Black has patented seven inventions and co-developed three novel scientific
marine instruments. His global exposure as an applied scientist is
confirmed by several hundred popular articles about his work (magazine,
television and radio). In relation to seminal surfing reef successes, one
popular magazine article surprisingly said, "there is God, there is
Mother Nature and there is Kerry Black". Black is an ambassador for
popular science.
For inland surf pools, he has developed 4 patents, ranging from pool design
to wave generator systems. On the coast, he invented and patented the
"Wave Rotation" method for coastal protection,
He has developed patented methods to construct offshore reefs, and
developed new designs of reefs to optimize beach protection benefits.
Proving
his world leadership in offshore coastal protection, he was granted the
coveted task of designer for the world's first multi-purpose reef for
coastal protection and recreational amenity by the Gold Coast City Council.
In
the numerical sciences, he is the creator and author of the respected and
comprehensive "3DD Suite of Physical Process Numerical Models".
Such software is highly technical and there are only a few such packages in
the world. The 3DD Suite has been sold commercially worldwide.
Conservation
and AID ethics
His
strong conservation ethics and belief in helping people is confirmed by
many of his life's activities. Black has led three large NZAID (formerly
NZODA) assignments in India and Indonesia to develop fish farming and
improve the economic position of poor people. He is currently consulting
for the Asia Development Bank on coastal protection projects in India.
In
Indonesia, he has completed a reef in Lombok (Indonesia) for fisheries
improvement (January 2015. The funding and local support came from Wildlife
Conservation Society. "I really wanted to build this reef using local
materials, as the fishermen are struggling due to over-fishing", said
Black.
Dr
Black owns two eco-resorts in Lombok where he is undertaking a range of
regeneration and eco-system conservation projects
(www.sanctuaryinlombok.com), including the reef project. He hosts students
each year at the property to help with this important work and employs up
to 70 locals. Although the level of education is very low, he
preferentially employs staff and workers from the local villages to ensure
that the benefits of the resort are spread through the local community. He
has retained a warm relationship over more than 15 years and brings in
medical assistance, books and teachers to help with development. His many
professional guests are invited to assist the villages also.
back
to THE
PEOPLE
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