User Profile

Prof Rob Brander

Have a question for Dr Rip? Email rbrander@unsw.edu.au

Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf: Rockfalls and Cliff Collapse

In early August, a large section of cliff along Sydney’s Bronte Beach collapsed and fell onto the beach, taking a section of a public staircase with it. The rockfall occurred dangerously close to the busy Eastern Suburbs coastal walk and has...

Prof Rob Brander

September 2025

News

Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf: The danger of rock platforms

The Easter holiday weekend this year was one of the worst on record for coastal drowning in NSW, with six people tragically losing their lives. All were swept off rocks, and a breakwall at Wollongong Harbour, and some people were fishing. Questions...

Prof Rob Brander

May 2025

Science & Nature

Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf: What’s that beacon?

Ultimately though, when it comes to beach and rock platform safety, anything helps. You can find NSW ERB locations on the Surf Life Saving website

Prof Rob Brander

December 2024

Science & Nature

Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf: Flash Rips and Mass Rescues

Earlier this summer a lot of media attention was given to a mass rescue of over 20 people in a flash rip at Sydney’s Maroubra Beach. While the actual number of people rescued was exaggerated, it does raise the question: what exactly is a flash...

Prof Rob Brander

February 2024

Dr Rip's Science of the Surf

Dr Rip’s Summer Beach Safety Tips

Last summer 54 drownings occurred along the Australian coast – all of them at locations unpatrolled by lifeguards or lifesavers. That’s an incredible statistic. The safest place to swim is always between the red and yellow flags, but the problem...

Prof Rob Brander

January 2024

Dr Rip's Science of the Surf

How sea level rise will affect beaches and surf

Last month I mentioned the impact that sea level rise might have on our beaches and surf and suggested that the news might not be so good. It’s worth exploring that a little more as the reality is that it’s not all doom and gloom. Sea level is...

Prof Rob Brander

December 2023

Energy Transition

Ask a Surf Scientist: Will wind farms affect waves or beaches?

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about the impacts that the proposed offshore wind farm will have on our surf and beaches. There’s a lot of concerns about the issue floating around out there (pun intended!) and while it’s important...

Prof Rob Brander

October 2023

Science & Nature

Dr Rip’s Prediction: It’s going to be the ‘Summer of Sand’

If you’ve gone to the beach lately, you’ve probably noticed there’s a LOT of sand. Beaches are wider than we’ve seen for years and judging from the massive sand banks, there’s more coming – it’s going to be the ‘Summer of Sand’...

Prof Rob Brander

October 2023

Science & Nature

Dr Rip presents The Sands of Time, Part 2

Last month I wrote about the marvels of the beautiful golden stuff that makes up our beaches. Ah, but it’s not always golden as beaches come in a wide range of colours. Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay claims to be the whitest sand beach in the world...

Prof Rob Brander

September 2023

Dr Rip's Science of the Surf

The Sands of Time, Part 1

I don’t think we appreciate beach sand as much as we should. This thought went through my mind years ago while walking across the black sand on New Zealand’s Piha Beach. It was a sunny day and the sand felt nice and warm. Hot, even. In fact...

Prof Rob Brander

August 2023

Dr Rip's Science of the Surf

‘It’s one of the best wave-monitoring networks in the world’

There’s plenty more to explore so if you are into waves, definitely go check out the website!

Prof Rob Brander

June 2023

Dr Rip's Science of the Surf

The Magic of Wave Power

You often hear surfers talking about waves sometimes feeling more ‘powerful’. Is this really true? Absolutely. It all has to do with basic wave physics. There are three basic points to understand about ocean waves. First, it’s important to...

Prof Rob Brander

April 2023

Dr Rip's Science of the Surf

Don’t rush in

You probably heard about some of the terrible beach drownings this summer involving fathers trying to save their child, usually caught in a rip current. These ‘bystander’ drownings involve any member of the public, be they family, friend or...

Prof Rob Brander

March 2023

Dr Rip's Science of the Surf

‘The Think Line should be ingrained in our beachgoing culture’

There has been a lot of media attention this summer regarding the tragic drownings along the NSW coast, particularly those occurring on unpatrolled beaches. Invariably authorities plead for beachgoers to only swim between the flags on beaches...

Prof Rob Brander

February 2023