Geoecology
Geoecology describes the study of the earth's surface, the diverse physical processes found there and the connections between them. As the name suggests, Geoecology lies at the nexus between earth systems and biological systems - it is often concerned with landscapes and the landforms, sediments and soils within them but also, and crucially, the interaction of plants and animals in directing processes and shaping habitat. Geoecology combines aspects of Geomorphology, Soil Science, Natural Hazards, Environmental Management and Ecology. As a consequence, graduates gain skills essential for management of natural resources, including rural rivers and lands, and highly altered landscapes, including urban environments and mining areas.
Geoecology is offered as a coherency (major) within the Bachelor programs of Arts, Science, Environmental Science, and Environmental Management. It is also suitable as a component of other specialised programs, including Resource and Environmental Management, GIS, Climatology, Ecology, Environmental Geology and Museum Studies.
Graduates of the Geoecology program are in a wide range of workplaces including: environmental and geotechnical consultancies, local government (environmental officers), state government departments (Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources; Environment and Conservation), National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney Water, mining companies (environmental officers), teaching (primary and secondary) and research.
Geoecology is a teaching and research group comprising staff, postdoctoral fellows, postgraduate (PhD and Masters) and Honours students within the discipline of Environmental Science. Research topics are diverse, encompassing theoretical, useful and applied aspects of Geoecology. Examples of recent projects include:
- assessment of styles of coastal rivers in NSW (with the NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources);
- the distribution of metal contaminants in rivers draining mine sites in the Northern Territory;
- quantifying soil formation processes and rates in the Blue Mountains of NSW;
- investigating the effect of drought on sand dune mobility in the Simpson Desert;
- re-assessment of tsunami deposits on the NSW coastline;
- dating ice sheet retreat in east Antarctica.
