Professor Craig Simmons
Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor/Director National Centre Groundwater Research and Training
National Centre for Groundwater Res & Training
Professor Craig Simmons FTSE is a leading groundwater scientist, recognised for major national and international contributions to groundwater science, science leadership, education and policy reform. Director of the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, he is one of Australia’s foremost groundwater academics and has been a significant contributor to global advances in the science of hydrogeology for many years. He is Deputy Chair and member of the Australian Government’s Statutory Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development (IESC). He is also a member of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Roundtable on Unconventional Hydrocarbon Development. Professor Simmons is Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor of Hydrogeology and Schultz Chair in the Environment at Flinders University. He is an Honorary Professor at The Australian National University (ANU). Professor Simmons is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. He is Deputy Chair of the Academy's Water Forum. Professor Simmons’ work has been recognised by numerous national and international research and teaching awards including the Anton Hales Medal for outstanding contributions to research in the Earth Sciences by the Australian Academy of Science and an Australian Award for University Teaching. He was named the 2015 South Australian Scientist of the Year and the 2017 Australian Water Professional of the Year. He is a 2017 Convocation Medallist of Flinders University and a 2017 Biennial Medallist of the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand. Professor Simmons is Scientist in Residence at The Advertiser. Professor Simmons has served as an Editor and Associate Editor for numerous major international journals including Water Resources Research, Journal of Hydrology, Hydrogeology Journal, Groundwater, Environmental Modeling and Assessment, Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Australian Journal of Water Resources, Vadose Zone Journal and Heliyon.
GAICD Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors (2013, Australian Institute of Company Directors)
PhD in Science: Hydrogeology (1997, Flinders University/CSIRO)
BSc Double Major in Theoretical and Experimental Physics (1994, University of Adelaide)
BE Electrical and Electronic Engineering with First Class Honours (1993, University of Adelaide)
2017 Convocation Medallist, Flinders University (for ‘substantial and outstanding contributions to leadership and the advancement of knowledge, professional practice and community service in groundwater science, education, management and policy’)
2017 Biennial Medallist, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (MSSANZ) (for ‘exceptional research contributions to modelling and simulation’ across all disciplines)
2017 Fellow, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (FMSSANZ)
2017 Australian Water Professional of the Year (Australian Water Association Award honouring an individual who has displayed passion and commitment to the water industry, while also demonstrating leadership and influence)
2016 Premier's Water Medal for Water Professional of the Year SA
2015 South Australian Scientist of the Year (recognises an individual who demonstrates outstanding excellence in any field of scientific endeavour and has made a significant national or international contribution to their field of research)
2014 Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE)
2013 Finalist, Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science (Australian Museum prize in recognition of an Australian individual who has demonstrated an outstanding role and impact on science)
2013 Water Industry Alliance Smart Water Award in Leadership
2013 American Society of Civil Engineers Best Paper Award
2011 Flinders University Researcher of the Year
2011 Fellow, Royal Society of South Australia
2011 Australian Academy of Science, Anton Hales Medal for Distinguished Research in the Earth Sciences
2008 Staff Award for Outstanding Contribution to Flinders University
2007 American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2007 Editors’ Citation for Excellence in Refereeing for Water Resources Research
2005 – 2006 Tall Poppy Science Award, Australian Institute of Policy & Science, for outstanding achievements in science
2002 Australian Award for University Teaching
2002 Distinguished Lecturer, Fred L. and Frances J. Oliver Centennial Lectureship in Texas Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Texas at Austin
Director, National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training
Simmons has diverse and interdisciplinary research interests and expertise in essential areas of groundwater hydrology, hydrological science, environmental science, earth science, geoscience and applied physical and engineering sciences. These include: variable density groundwater flow phenomena; salt lake hydrology, saline disposal basins; salinization and salinity phenomena, salt interception, groundwater discharge to River Murray, floodplain hydrology; surface water–groundwater interaction; wetland hydrology; groundwater–dependent ecosystems; hydrometeorology; submarine groundwater discharge, seawater intrusion, coastal hydrogeology; aquifer storage and recovery; fractured rock hydrogeology, regolith hydrology; contaminant hydrology; urban hydrology; unconventional gas, energy and mining; stochastic subsurface hydrology; porous media flow phenomena; groundwater flow and solute transport modelling;benchmarking and testing groundwater models; laboratory scale flow tank and column experimentation of groundwater processes; and history and philosophy of science.
2017 - Chair, Board of Airborne Research Australia.
2016 - Member of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Water Quality Advisory Committee.
2015 - Deputy Chair, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) Water Forum.
2015 - Steering Committee, SA NRM Research and Innovation Network.
2015 - Member, US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Roundtable on Unconventional Hydrocarbon Development.
2015 - Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), SA Division Committee.
2015 - Chair, Roundtable for Oil and Gas Projects in South Australia, Working Group 3: Efficient and fit-for-purpose water use in the Cooper-Eromanga basins.
2014 Chair and Organiser, Australian Groundwater Leaders Dinner. A meeting of CEO’s and senior leaders from Commonwealth/State government, industry and research organisations in Australia with groundwater and related portfolios, interests and expertise to discuss current challenges and future opportunities for groundwater in Australia (December 8, Canberra).
2014 - Executive Committee, International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), Australia.
2014 Member of the Victorian Government On-shore Natural Gas Technical Reference Panel, Victoria.
2013-2014 Member of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority Basin Plan Expert Panels to review sustainable diversion limits.
2013 - Member of the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment (QLD), Agency Reference Group.
2013 - Chair, Research Subcommittee of the Statutory Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development ($200M Commonwealth Government Initiative).
2013 - Alternate / Deputy Chair and Member, Statutory Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development ($200M Commonwealth Government Initiative).
2013 - Member of Roundtable for Unconventional Gas Projects in South Australia.
2012 Selection Committee, Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (5th Award 2012).
2012 Catalyst/Co-author, National Groundwater Strategic Plan, for Council of Australian Governments.
2012 Chair, Interim Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining ($200M Commonwealth Government Initiative).
- Environment
- Groundwater
- Minerals/Mining
- Water Resources
MEDIA AND EDITORIAL BOARDS
SCIENTIST IN RESIDENCE - THE ADVERTISER
2015 - Scientist in Residence at The Advertiser
2016 - Advertiser Articles: Grounds for competitive advantage, Nuclear Reaction
EDITORIAL BOARDS - CURRENT
2017 - Editorial Board, Heliyon, Elsevier’s broad scope, quality open access journal.
2015 - Editorial Board, Australian Journal of Water Resources, Engineers Australia Journal.
2015 - Associate Editor / Member of the Editorial Board of the international journal Water Conservation Science & Engineering.
2012 - Associate Editor / Member of the Editorial Board of the international journal Vadose Zone Journal. Published by the Soil Science Society of America.
2012 - Member of the Editorial board of the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary book series “Multiphysics Modelling”, published by CRC Press.
2011 - Associate Editor / Member of the Editorial Board of the international journal Environmental Modeling and Assessment (ENMO).
2008 - Associate Editor / Member of the Editorial Board of the international journal Groundwater, the official journal of the United States National Ground Water Association.
2008 - Associate Editor / Member of the Editorial Board of the international journal Journal of Hydrology.
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