The CSIRO Marine National Facility (MNF) provides researchers with world‑class ocean research capabilities, high quality marine data and expertise built up over more than 40 years. Centred around CSIRO research vessel (RV) Investigator, designed and built to operate flexibly both within and between scientific disciplines, the MNF also provides the Australian research community with access to a suite of advanced scientific equipment and instruments, as well as expert technical and voyage planning support.
Here, we outline the current platform and our desire to meet your future research capability needs. We also explore the opportunities for established and early career Australian researchers and their international collaborators, as well as students, to get onboard RV Investigator. We cover the goldilocks pathways of access, from small piggyback projects, medium supplementary projects, through to primary applications. If you are an Australian researcher, you can take your science to sea and we will explain how. And did we mention it’s free?