The Biological Oceanography team at the School of Environmental Systems Engineering of University of Western Australia focuses primarily on oceanic research in marine phytoplankton. Our aim is to understand the biogeochemistry of plankton as they interact dynamically with the chemistry and physics of their fluid medium, and to link this understanding to a broader grasp of regional and global-scale processes and fluxes. However our interests and expertise range from the study of algal blooms in fresh water, to microzooplankton grazing, and the modeling of the interaction of plankton with the global climate. The world's oceans and fresh waterways are under increasing environmental threat as human activities impinge on our marine and aquatic environment. From the local to the global scale, this means it is crucial to understand the biological dynamics of such systems and their broader role in global cycles. It is the tiny planktonic systems which are often the least understood components of such systems. Our aim is to understand the biogeochemistry of plankton as they interact dynamically with the chemistry and physics of their fluid medium, and to link this understanding to a broader grasp of regional and global-scale processes and fluxes. Multidisciplinary research at the School of Environmental Systems Engineering (SESE) of University of Western Australia is conducted within eight research groups making a significant contribution to both fundamental scientific knowledge and providing solutions to environmental problems. Research groups complement each other with a diverse range of expertise, working on projects locally, nationally and internationally and often in collaboration with external parties. Investigations are conducted using field measurements, remote sensing, numerical modelling and laboratory experiments. University of Western Australia owns exceptional laboratory facilities including the Environmental Research Laboratory, the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and the Hydraulics Laboratory.