What is CAPIM?
The Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification and Management - CAPIM - comprises a multidisciplinary research group to address the impact of pollution on waterways and what can be done to reduce risks to the community and the environment.
What does CAPIM do?
CAPIM provides innovative solutions for improving the health of waterways.
We gather and analyse evidence using multiple scientific methods and disciplines. We also identify pollutants and contaminants which are impacting eco-system health. As a result, our work has been able to influence priorities on major environmental management actions.
Since our establishment in January 2010, we have developed a number of pollution detection technologies in order to, detect acute pollution events especially in storm water drains; detect pesticides and endocrine disrupting chemicals, and; monitor water sediment quality.
In order to assess pollution and its affects upon aquatic ecosystems, CAPIM engages in ecotoxicology, biomarkers, fish histology, metabolomics, field based microcosms in freshwaters and estuaries, animal morphology, animal behaviour, contaminants in fish.
Who is involved in CAPIM?
Our consortium partners include The University of Melbourne, Department of Primary Industries (DPI Victoria), Melbourne Water, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and Environment Protection Authority (EPA Victoria).
Our primary research location is at the The University of Melbourne's Bio 21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute (Bio21 Institute) with additional nodes at The University of Melbourne's Department of Zoology and School of Chemistry, DPI Queenscliff, DPI Werribee and RMIT Bundoora. CAPIM has six major research streams across freshwater and estuarine environments currently employing 13 full time staff, and running nine postgraduate projects.
A CAPIM Project: Measuring Pollution Impacts to Animals in Real Time
On Thursday 3rd November 2011, Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips announced 12 projects to receive funding through the Victorian Government's Broadband-Enabled Innovation Program (BEIP). Due to this initiative, CAPIM commenced the autonomous live animal response monitors (ALARM) project to detect the affects of water pollution to animals, in real time.
Read more about this project HERE
"CAPIM is dedicated to providing innovative solutions
for improving and securing healthy aquatic ecosystems."
CAPIM's Vision:
"To improve aquatic ecosystem health by developing innovative approaches to pollution detection for inland waters and estuaries, and working with environmental management practitioners to reduce pollution impacts".
CAPIM's Objectives:
- To become Australia's pre-eminent aquatic pollution identification, research and management centre.
- To develop cost-effective, integrated waterway and estuary monitoring tools.
- To provide a forum for the transfer of integrated water pollutant information and knowledge
CAPIM is about real improvements to the environment through:
- Multidisciplinary and collaborative science between agencies and education institutes, with strong links to environmental management agencies.
- High quality "forensic" science to identify pollution impacts;
- developing novel pollution identification technologies for inland waterways and estuaries.
- developing cost-effective, integrated waterway and estuary monitoring tools.
- Providing a forum for the transfer of integrated water pollutant information and knowledge between agencies.
CAPIM is funded by The Victorian Science Agenda Investment Fund managed by the Department of Business and Innovation (DBI) (www.innovation.vic.gov.au) with partner funding contributed from Melbourne Water, Department of Primary Industries(Vic), and EPA(Vic).
CAPIM Staff and Students
Find out about CAPIM's industry and research partners.
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