Research staff
Dr Christine Erbe
Dr Christine Erbe
| Position | Senior Research Fellow |
|---|---|
| Faculty | Faculty of Science & Engineering |
| School | School of Science |
| Department | Dept of Imaging & Applied Physics |
| Campus | Bentley Campus |
| Location | 301.136A |
| Phone | +618 9266 7543 |
| C.Erbe@curtin.edu.au |
Brief Summary
Christine holds an MSc in physics (University of Dortmund, Germany) and a PhD in geophysics (University of British Columbia, Canada). She has worked in industry (starting as a secretary and book keeper for an IT company, growing into a private consultant and ending as Director of JASCO Australia), in government (underwater noise research & regulation, Fisheries & Oceans Canada), and in high-school education (very briefly), and recently moved back into academia as Director of CMST at Curtin University. Christine’s interests are underwater sound (ambient, anthropogenic & biological), sound propagation, signal processing and noise effects on marine fauna. Several times a year, Christine is invited to speak on underwater noise at international symposia. She’s a reviewer for 11 scientific journals and several international research grant schemes. She’s a member of the Animal Bioacoustics Technical Committee of the Acoustical Society of America, and she’s the Australian Government representative on the International Standardization Organization (ISO) working group on standardising underwater noise measurements of vessels.
Memberships, Awards and Training
|
Grad. Dip. Ed. |
2007, Distinction; Department of Education (mathematics + science, senior years), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia |
|
Ph.D. |
1997, Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences (geophysics), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada |
|
M.Sc. |
1993, 1st class standing, major: physics, minor: engineering; Department of Physics, University of Dortmund, Germany |
|
B.Sc. |
1989, major: physics, minor: chemistry & mathematics; University of Dortmund, Germany |
Employment History
|
2011 – |
Director, Centre for Marine Science & Technology, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia |
|
2007-2011 |
Director, JASCO Applied Sciences (Australia) Pty Ltd |
|
2001-2006 |
Self-employed Environmental Consultant |
|
1999-2001 |
Research Scientist, Institute of Ocean Sciences, Fisheries & Oceans Canada |
|
1998-1999 |
Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, BC, Canada |
|
1993-1998 |
Research Assistant, Dept. of Earth & Ocean Sciences, University of British Columbia, Canada |
|
1989-1993 |
Research Assistant, Institute of Accelerator Physics and Synchrotron Radiation, University of Dortmund, Germany |
|
1987-1989 |
Secretary and Accountant, Quantum Software GmbH, Germany |
Research Interests
- Man-made noise in the marine environment, characterisation + classification
- Ambient noise
- Sound propagation modelling in the ocean
- Propagation of impulsive sound (e.g. seismic airgun) versus continuous sound
- Audiology of marine mammals, fish + birds
- Marine mammal vocalisations, characterisation + classification
- Automatic detection and identification of signals in noise
- Impact of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals, fish, invertebrates, marine birds: behavioural disturbance, acoustic masking, physiological effects
- Software modelling of bioacoustic impact
- Mitigation procedures and techniques
- Environmental management + policies
Specialty Areas
- Underwater acoustics
- Modelling + field measurements
- Marine mammal bioacoustics
- Anthropogenic noise impact on marine ecosystems
- Digital signal processing
- Automatic signal detection and classification
Publications
Journal Articles (Research)
2012
- Erbe, C. 2012. “Effects of underwater noise on marine mammals.” Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 730: 17-22.
- Wartzok, D., C. Erbe, W. M. Getz, and J. Thomas. 2012. “Marine mammal acoustics exposure analysis models used in US Navy Environmental Impact Statements.” Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 730: 551-556.
- Erbe, C. 2012. “Modeling cumulative sound exposure over large areas, multiple sources, and long durations.” Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 730: 477-479.
- Erbe, C., and C. McPherson. 2012. “Acoustic characterisation of bycatch mitigation pingers on shark control nets in Queensland, Australia.” Endangered Species Research 19: 109-121.
- Erbe, C., A. MacGillivray, and R. Williams. 2012. “Mapping cumulative noise from shipping to inform marine spatial planning.” Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 132 (5): EL423-EL428.
Conference Articles (Research)
2012
- Erbe, C. 2012. “Streamlining the environmental impact assessment process of underwater noise from petroleum exploration & production operations..” In SPE/APPEA International Conference on Health, Safety, and Environment in Oil and Gas Exploraton and Production., Sep 11, 2013, Perth, Western Australia: Society of Petroleum Engineers, Inc..
