51³Ô¹Ïapp
UNSW Canberra

Environmental geography

PhD opportunities
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Investigating the biggest issues facing our planet

Human actions and human-driven climate change are fundamentally altering the Earth’s surface. As global warming continues and as the world becomes progressively more populated, industrialisedÌýand urbanised, the environmental impacts of human activity only increase.Ìý

EnvironmentalÌýGeographyÌýexaminesÌýbothÌýtheÌýphysical processesÌýonÌýEarthÌýas well asÌýhuman-environmentÌýinteractions. Drawing from the natural andÌýsocial sciences,ÌýPhysical and EnvironmentalÌýGeographersÌýseek to understand the applied and conceptual challengesÌýfacing our planet.

Associated schools, institutes & centres

Impact

We investigateÌýnatural and anthropogenic processesÌýand responses. FromÌýecological degradationÌýtoÌýlow-lying coastal transformation,Ìýurban green infrastructureÌýand sustainable agricultural practices, weÌýseek toÌýunderstandÌýtheÌýhuman impactÌýonÌýourÌýnatural environment. We useÌýlong-term records, participatory perspectives to urban and rural development,ÌýGeographic Information SystemsÌý(GIS)ÌýandÌýRemote SensingÌýtoÌýassess humanÌýinteractions withÌýthe natural world.ÌýÌý

Our research isÌýshowcased in high impact, peer-reviewed journals that influence policy—from local to global scales in rural sector economic development, smart urban food systems, environmental protection, conservation of biodiversityÌýand coastal planning.

Competitive advantage

  • WeÌýhaveÌýa global impact, evidenced by UNSW’s favourable 2020 global ranking –Ìý#13 inÌýRemote Sensing. Our engagement with theÌýÌýand theÌýÌýto build research and teaching capacity in African institutions further demonstratesÌýour role inÌýUNSW’s Global 2025 Strategy.Ìý
  • Our many collaborations extend to countries including China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana,Ìýand South Africa.

Our researchers
Brian Lees

Brian Lees

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Hanson Arthur

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  • WeÌýcollaborate with partners across the globeÌýincluding:ÌýÌý

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    • Sierra Leone Agricultural Research InstituteÌý
    • FourahÌýBay College, University of Sierra LeoneÌý
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    • Nop, S.,ÌýThornton, A.Ìý(2020)Ìý.ÌýCitiesÌýVol.103ÌýÌýIF: 3.85; Scopus SNIP:Ìý1.91;ÌýSCImagoÌýSJR Q1.

    • Cochrane, L., Lewis, S.,ÌýMastawesha, ME.,ÌýThornton, A.,Ìýand Welbourne, D. (2019)Ìý.ÌýJournal of Arid EnvironmentsÌýVol. 175ÌýÌýIF:Ìý1.82; Scopus SNIP:Ìý1.02;ÌýSCImagoÌýSJR Q2.

    • Thornton, A. (ed) (2020)ÌýUrban Food Democracy and Governance in North and SouthÌýPalgrave MacMillan. ISBN 978-3-030-17186-5

    • Islam,ÌýM.A.,ÌýPaull,ÌýD.J.,ÌýGriffin,ÌýA.L., andÌýMurshed,ÌýS. (2020)Ìý.ÌýInternational Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction,ÌýVol. 49, pp. 101667 - 101667,Ìý

    • Guo, Y., Jia, X., andÌýPaull D.Ìý(2018)Ìý,ÌýIEEE Transactions on Image Processing, vol. 27, pp. 3036Ìý- 3048,Ìý

    • Welbourne, D.J., MacGregor, C.,ÌýPaull, D., andÌýLindenmayer, D.B. (2015)Ìý,ÌýWildlife Research, vol. 42, pp. 414 - 414,Ìý

    • Joseph, V.,ÌýThornton, A., Pearson, S.,ÌýPaull., D.Ìý(2013)Ìý,ÌýNatural Hazards,Ìývol. on-line June 2013, pp. 675 - 694,Ìý

    • Oliver TSN; Tamura T; Murray-Wallace CV, 2020, '', Marine Geology, vol. 421, 

    • Carvalho RC;ÌýOliver TSN; Woodroffe CD, 2019, '', Geomorphology, vol. 341, pp. 65 - 78, 

    • Tamura T;ÌýOliver TSN; Cunningham AC; Woodroffe CD, 2019, '', Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 46, pp. 4705 -Ìý4714, 

  • Physical and Environmental Geography teaches undergraduate and postgraduate coursework in a broad range of topics dealing with real-life environmental change issues and the great global challenges of our time.
    • With funding from the University of Western Australia, we held experimental workshops at Gulu University (Uganda) with the Mayor of Gulu, the Vice-Chancellor of Gulu University, town planners, and other stakeholders to conduct mapping experiments to explore smart city urban design possibilities. We have been invited to continue this work in other Ugandan cities. Ìý
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    • Recent research funded by the Australian Alps Liaison Committee investigated the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to measure and monitor the streambank impacts of feral horses. This work has made an important contribution to the body of science seeking to protect the unique natural environment of the Australian High Country and its vulnerable natural resources.Ìý
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    • Other recent research has contributed to the management and conservation of biological diversity on Australia’s extensive Defence estate. DAMASCAS (Defence Automated Monitoring and Survey using Cameras and Sound) funded by the Defence Support Group, has developed protocols for cost-effective and humane monitoring of multiple faunal groups at landscape scales.