Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology
College of Science and Engineering
I joined Flinders University in January 2017 as the Matthew Flinders Fellow in Global Ecology. I am the Director of the Global Ecology Laboratory and a Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, and I lead its Modelling Node here at Flinders.
From 2008-2015 I was at the University of Adelaide (Sir Hubert Wilkins Chair of Climate Change 2015-2016), and from 2004-2008 I was Senior then Principal Research Fellow at Charles Darwin University. I was an ARC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Tasmania from 1999-2004.
My research is mainly in the area of global-change ecology — how human endeavour and climate fluctuations have altered past, present and future ecosystems. My most important contributions have been in the area of applied ecology, biodiversity conservation, theoretical ecology, extinction dynamics, human demography, species responses to climate change, disease ecology, and applying ecological theory and modelling techniques to hindcast prehistoric ecosystems. My work has provided environmental policy advice around the world, and my papers are highly cited.
My most recent book, entitled The Effective Scientist — A Handy Guide to a Successful Academic Career (Cambridge University Press), is available online at CUP, Amazon, or Google. I have also co-edited a book with Dr Katherine Yates of the University of Salford entitled Offshore Energy and Marine Spatial Planning. My 2015 book with Professor Paul Ehrlich of Stanford University is entitled Killing the Koala and Poisoning the Prairie: Australia, America and the Environment (Chicago University Press).
My position is primarily research-focussed.
Current/recent research fellows:
Current/recently completed postgraduate student supervisions
Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence - JUN 2014
Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence - OCT 2014
Dean's Commendation for Master by Thesis Research Excellence - NOV 2016
Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence - JUN 2012
PhD conferred - MAR 2018
PhD conferred - AUG 2018
I have a strong commitment to and capacity for communicating the implications of my science to the broader public via traditional media (television, radio, newspaper, etc.). Also see the media influence of some of my top Altmetrics-score papers. I am an avid proponent of public engagement via social media and blogging (ConservationBytes.com, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), and I give many public lectures each year. I also contribute regularly to The Conversation.
I am also:
I can reached at +61 (0)400 697 665