Key points
- Dr Michael Grose’s passion for science has taken him to some extraordinary places.
- Michael studies the climate and how it changes, and makes projections for the future.
- His work helps the world act to mitigate the worst aspects of climate change and adapt to changing climate risks.
Climate researcher Dr Michael Grose can’t remember a time he wasn’t interested in science.
“So when I was a student at school I was always interested in science and research, and the topics of the natural world and how it works. I was able to follow my interests and turn that into a job, so that was fantastic,” he said.
“I did not always get top marks in every subject. But I was always interested in the topics and I always managed to do okay in the areas that I was really interested in.
“I think the best thing anyone can do is follow things they are interested in, things they are motivated to look at, and turn that into a career. Because that way you will have a job that is not only a great job, but something that you are interested in.”
Michael’s interests led him to an honours degree at University of Tasmania and south to Antarctica to research sea ice. He has worked in the Western Pacific Region, including Samoa, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste.
His PhD took him to the spectacular Kennaook/Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station in north-west Tasmania. This is where scientists collect some of the world’s cleanest air for information about the drivers of climate change. The air, which blows in across the Southern Ocean, is unaffected by local pollution.
“I've had some great adventures and experiences too, seeing some really interesting parts of the world," Michael said.
"Not many people get to go on an ocean voyage to the Southern Ocean or to the Antarctic ice-zone. So I was very lucky to see those things."
Michael joined Team CSIRO in 2012. He is currently a Senior Research Scientist in our Regional Projections Team in our Environment Business Unit.
He works from our Battery Point site in Hobart where researchers study oceanography, fisheries and climate. The site overlooks the River Derwent, where they can spot visiting dolphins and seals, and the RV Investigator when it’s at home.
“Here at the Hobart site there are a lot of different activities that go on in research and operations, it's an important site globally," Michael said.
Michael looks at the climate and how it changes, and makes projections for the future. This work will help the world act to avoid the worst aspects of climate change. And will help us adapt to changing climate risks like more heat waves, floods, bushfires and high sea-level events.
He was a Lead Author on a chapter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report, which world leaders use to inform their policies.
“Through that I was able to work with colleagues around the world. I was often on video calls late at night, talking to people in multiple countries and continents. To be one small part of that was a very rewarding experience," Michael said.
“Climate change is one of the pre-eminent challenges the world faces. Contributing to the knowledge base for us to make better decisions is something that I am very interested in. And it's a really important part of what we can do as scientists to contribute to the world.
“CSIRO is a really exciting place to work and it has a lot of great people you can learn a lot from. And it also supports you in your career to take things to the next level.”