We’re buzzing with excitement to welcome Stuart Lay to the Fortescue Marsh Biodiversity Project!
Stuart is a PhD student from The University of Western Australia with a passion for carabid beetles — those speedy, ground-dwelling insects that scurry across the Pilbara and still hold plenty of secrets. His research is all about uncovering new species, mapping where they live, and figuring out how land use affects them. He’s even diving into how these beetles “talk” to each other using sound — a quirky behaviour that scientists are only just beginning to understand.
And here’s where it gets even cooler: Stuart is heading to UC Berkeley to team up with world-renowned beetle expert Professor Kip Will. He’ll get hands-on with rare specimens and receive top-notch training to supercharge his research back home.
But it’s not just Stuart who benefits — next year, Professor Will is coming to WA to join the Fortescue Marsh team on a field trip, bringing his expertise straight to the heart of the Pilbara.
The Fortescue Marsh Biodiversity Project is a three-year collaboration between the Western Australian Museum, Fortescue, and the Foundation for the WA Museum. Together, we’re on a mission to uncover the wild wonders of the Pilbara and celebrate the incredible biodiversity of this unique region.
