The School of Earth and Environmental Science
The School Earth and Environmental Science at JCU brings together geoscience, environmental science and environmental management to understand Earth systems and the relationships between people, places and environments.
Our academic staff undertake research across a wide range of Earth and Environmental Science themes, from climate change and natural hazards to mineral systems, sedimentary basins, conservation, land use and environmental governance. Across these areas, we work collaboratively with Traditional Owners, communities, government, industry and other partners, bringing together different disciplines, perspectives and knowledge systems to understand environmental change and support better decision-making.
JCU has many world-renowned researchers who undertake cutting-edge research in their chosen field of earth and environmental science and management. We are at the forefront of research in a number of environmental science and management themes, including:
We investigate climate variability, extreme events and environmental risk to support adaptation, disaster preparedness, coastal management and community resilience.
Main researchers: Michael Bird, Rafael Carvalho, Stephanie Duce, Ben Jarihani, David King, Lisa Law, HanShe Lim, Helen McCoy-West, Paul Nelson, Scott Smithers, Phoebe Stewart-Sinclair
Affiliated research centre: Centre for Disaster Studies
We investigate biodiversity conservation, environmental contaminants, atmospheric pollution, land-use change and natural resource management to understand pressures on ecosystems and support effective management. Our research includes protected-area management, sustainable land use and Indigenous-led land and sea management across northern Australia and the tropics.
Main researchers: Amy Diedrich, Jenny Fisher, Alana Grech, Ben Jarihani, Lisa Law, HanShe Lim, Icha (Putu) Mustika, Paul Nelson, Cassandra Rowe, Phoebe Stewart-Sinclair, Alexandre Wadoux
Affiliated research centres: Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture (CSTFA); Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS); Tropical North Queensland Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (TNQ Drought Hub); ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures (CIEHF)
We investigate coral reefs, coastal ecosystems and marine environments to understand their structure, function and change through time, and their responses to climate change and other environmental pressures. Our research combines field science, monitoring, spatial analysis, palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, computational modelling and environmental management to support the conservation and resilience of tropical marine environments.
Main researchers: Rafael Carvalho, Stephanie Duce, Jenny Fisher, Alana Grech, Scott Smithers, Phoebe Stewart-Sinclair
Affiliated research centres: Australian Institute of Marine Science at James Cook University (AIMS@JCU); ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures (CIEHF); Centre for Disaster Studies
We investigate the geological processes that concentrate metals and form mineral deposits, applying mineral systems approaches to understand ore genesis, improve mineral exploration, and support sustainable resource development across Australia and beyond. Our research spans the full mineral resource life cycle, from fundamental studies of ore-forming processes through to exploration targeting, resource evaluation, and extraction challenges to support responsible development of northern Australia’s mineral resources. Our expertise is supported by the Economic Geology Research Centre (EGRU), which has a long history of collaboration with the resources sector and government agencies.
Main researchers: Youseph Ibrahim, Alex McCoy-West, Helen McCoy-West, Ioan Sanislav, Romain Vaucher, Daniel Wiemer
Affiliated research centres: Economic Geology Research Centre (EGRU); Advanced Analytical Centre
We use spatial data, mapping, remote sensing and modelling to monitor environmental change, guide resource management and understand landscape-scale processes.
Main researchers: Rafael Carvalho, Stephanie Duce, Alana Grech, Ben Jarihani, Phoebe Stewart-Sinclair, Alexandre Wadoux
Affiliated research centre: TropWATER
We use stable and radiogenic isotopes, trace element fingerprints and geochronology to investigate the origin, evolution and timing of geological, environmental, archaeological and planetary processes. Our research traces the movement of elements through natural systems, reconstructs past conditions and constrains the age of geological events, providing insights into Earth history and the evolution of natural systems across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales.
Main researchers: Michael Bird, Alex McCoy-West, Helen McCoy-West, Ioan Sanislav, Daniel Wiemer
Affiliated research centres: Economic Geology Research Centre (EGRU); IsoTropics Geochemistry Laboratory
We use fossils, plants, sedimentary and geochemical records to reconstruct past ecosystems, environments and climates, helping to place present-day change in a long-term context. We apply this holistic approach to multiple study areas, including Australian sites such as the Bowen Basin, as well as international locations such as Spain, Taiwan, the Falkland Islands and South Africa, across time periods including the Ordovician, Permian, Triassic, Eocene, Pleistocene and Holocene.
Main researchers: Michael Bird, Rafael Carvalho, Espen Knutsen, Alex McCoy-West, Cassandra Rowe, Scott Smithers, Romain Vaucher
Affiliated research centres: Economic Geology Research Centre (EGRU); Centre for Disaster Studies; ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures (CIEHF)
We investigate the composition, formation and evolution of Earth materials through field studies, petrography, mineralogy and geochemistry. Our research examines igneous, metamorphic and hydrothermal systems to understand crustal growth and recycling, magma generation, fluid-rock interaction and the processes that shape Earth's crust through time.
Main researchers: Youseph Ibrahim, Alex McCoy-West, Helen McCoy-West, Ioan Sanislav, Daniel Wiemer
Affiliated research centre: Economic Geology Research Centre (EGRU)
We study landforms, coastal and river systems, Quaternary environments and landscape change to understand how tropical environments evolve through time, bringing together environmental records, observations and, where appropriate, Indigenous knowledge of long-term change on Country.
Main researchers: Rafael Carvalho, Stephanie Duce, Ben Jarihani, HanShe Lim, Paul Nelson, Cassandra Rowe, Scott Smithers, Romain Vaucher, Alexandre Wadoux
Affiliated research centres: Centre for Disaster Studies; Tropical North Queensland Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (TNQ Drought Hub); Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS); TropWATER
We investigate soil formation, properties and spatial variability, including soil fertility, soil chemistry, erosion and land degradation, to understand how soils function and respond to environmental and land-use change. Our research combines field observations, laboratory analyses, spatial mapping and modelling to support sustainable land management, agriculture and environmental resilience.
Main researchers: Ben Jarihani, HanShe Lim, Paul Nelson, Alexandre Wadoux
Affiliated research centres: Tropical North Queensland Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (TNQ Drought Hub)
We combine field geology, microstructure and high-performance computational modelling to understand how and why the lithosphere deforms, from the crystal lattice to the continent scale.
Main researchers: Youseph Ibrahim, Alex McCoy-West, Ioan Sanislav, Daniel Wiemer
Affiliated research centre: Economic Geology Research Centre (EGRU)
We examine relationships between people, places and environments and how these relationships change through time, while supporting sustainable environmental decision-making through research on policy, governance, planning and land-use management. Our research brings together contemporary and historical perspectives, including Indigenous-led and co-designed approaches to caring for Country, to inform sustainable development, environmental management, community resilience and better outcomes for tropical and regional communities.
Main researchers: Amy Diedrich, Alana Grech, David King, Lisa Law, Icha (Putu) Mustika, Paul Nelson, Cassandra Rowe, Phoebe Stewart-Sinclair
Affiliated research centres: Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture (CSTFA); ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures (CIEHF); Centre for Disaster Studies; Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS)