Great Victoria Desert Council has officially opened the Tjuntjun Desert Research Station, a $6.5 million world-class facility that will serve as the primary hub for scientific research into Australia's largest desert ecosystem and the impacts of climate change on arid environments.
The research station, located in the heart of the Great Victoria Desert, provides accommodation and laboratory facilities for up to 30 scientists conducting long-term studies on desert ecology, hydrology, meteorology, and biodiversity. The facility represents a major investment in understanding and protecting Australia's arid zone.
"The Great Victoria Desert is one of the least studied ecosystems in Australia. This research station changes that - it gives scientists a base to unlock the secrets of how life survives in one of the world's harshest environments."
Research Focus Areas
The station supports diverse scientific investigations:
Research Programs
- Climate Science: Long-term weather monitoring and climate change impacts
- Ecology: Desert ecosystem function and species interactions
- Hydrology: Groundwater systems and water availability
- Biodiversity: Species surveys and population monitoring
- Fire Ecology: Fire regimes and vegetation response
- Soil Science: Desert soil processes and carbon storage
Station Facilities
The research station provides comprehensive amenities:
Laboratories
Climate-controlled labs for sample processing and analysis
Accommodation
30 beds in researcher quarters with common facilities
Field Equipment
Vehicles, camping gear, and scientific instruments
Partnerships
The station collaborates with leading institutions:
- Universities: UWA, Curtin, and interstate institutions
- CSIRO: Climate and land management research
- Traditional Owners: Integration of Aboriginal ecological knowledge
- International: Links with global desert research networks
Research Opportunities
Scientists can apply for station access:
- Annual research grants available
- PhD student support programs
- Collaborative research partnerships
Contact: (08) 9039 8000
Email: research@greatvictoriadesertcouncil.com
Advancing Desert Science
The Tjuntjun Desert Research Station is advancing our understanding of Australia's arid heart. Researchers and institutions are invited to collaborate.
Contact Research Coordinator
