The Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) is based at James Cook University (JCU), Australia's leading tropical research university.
Our mission is to promote cutting-edge ecological and environmental research in the tropics, and the wise management, conservation and sustainable use of tropical terrestrial and coastal ecosystems, in Australia and internationally.
Latest news
TESS's team says: Bring the science home and let's share the benefits
There is a global shift of forest management to local levels to better reconcile local livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. We argue that achieving such outcomes will require embedding science in landscape-scale management systems.
Read the article
TESS’s Robyn Glade-Wright uses giant human embryo—made from discarded plastic bottles
Made from discarded plastic bottles—to underscores the growing threat of micro-plastics in our environment and bodies.
Watch the video
Political Discourses at the Heart of Sustainability Issues by Tess's team
The landscape sustainability discourses studied here suggests that landscape approach “learners” must focus on ways to remedy poor governance if they are to achieve sustainability and multi-functionality.
Read the articleEcological and environmental research for the Tropics
145
Researchers
TESS researchers currently number over 100, drawn from four JCU Colleges and affiliated members from other institutions.
1,150
Publications
Our collaborations are global. Our publications reach high-impact journals, such as Science and Nature.
8
Facilities
JCU has well equipped field stations and analytical facilities close to two World Heritage reef and rainforest areas and a range of drier tropical savannas.
Outstanding Research
TESS research addresses the pressing, complex, trans-disciplinary and interconnected issues of S3D – Sustainability Science and Sustainable Development – across the tropical world
JCU is the only Australian university to receive the highest ranking of 5 (well above World Standard) in Environmental Science and Management in the Australian Government’s Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) assessment for every round.
JCU's unique location enables researchers and students from Australia and overseas to work in a diverse physical environment unparalleled by any university in the world. Nowhere else is it possible to visit reef, rainforest and savanna in a single day, returning to world-class laboratory facilities in a vibrant and attractive tropical city.
