In the drylands, the landscape processes that govern water distribution are the ultimate underpinning of all habitat.
I’m a drylands process geomorphologist: I specialise in the landscape evolution and fluvial behaviours of Australia’s rangelands. My particular research interests are the rivers of the Lake Eyre Basin and the Bulloo-Bancannia catchment. I’ve been working in these locations since my Honours work in 1984. I’ve always been interested in geomorphology and sedimentology. My early career work (regional mapping for the Northern Territory Geological Survey) coincided with volunteer work with the Arid Lands Environment Centre, where I learnt about the challenges and rewards of sustainable rangelands management. My doctoral work examined the fluvial processes and landscape history of Fowlers Creek, western New South Wales, including using OSL geochronology to determine the degree of post-European change in fluvial landscapes. Since 2005 my research goals have been to document and analyse the under-researched landscapes of the Australian drylands (that's 75% of the mainland), and my professional life aims to develop the research into management-ready information for rangeland stakeholders.