TESS About us
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The Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) is based at 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.
Outstanding research
TESS research addresses the pressing, complex, trans-disciplinary and interconnected issues of Sustainability Science and Sustainable Development – across the tropical world.
JCU was 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. We look forward to the challenge of maintaining this record when the Australian Research Council releases the new approach to research evaluation.
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.
TESS in a snapshot
Researchers - TESS researchers currently number over 100, drawn from four JCU Colleges and affiliated members from other institutions.
Publications - Our collaborations are global. Our publications reach high-impact journals, such as Science and Nature, with over a quarter of these in the top 10% most cited publications worldwide.
Facilities - JCU has 14 well equipped field stations and analytical facilities close to World Heritage reef and rainforest areas and a range of drier tropical savannahs.