Research
Environmental science
Understanding and protecting the natural world
Environmental science at UWA uses interdisciplinary research to find solutions to the challenges and pressures facing our environment, and to support sustainable development. Through teaching and research, we are developing advanced knowledge of how air, water, terrestrial and marine environmental systems respond to human impacts. Our researchers are improving environmental quality through innovative projects with practical application and are developing novel management technology.
Our work integrates an understanding of physical, chemical and biological processes within the environment, supported by state-of-the-art sensing and measurement technology. Strong links with industry and government organisations have enabled us to develop and trial solutions to issues of pollution and environmental degradation.
1st in Australia and 22nd in the world for Agricultural Sciences (ARWU 2023)
2nd in Australia and 38th in the world for Environmental Science and Engineering (ARWU 2023)
Key research areas
- Soil and land management
- River and estuary health
- Environmental biotechnology
- Environmental dynamics and ecohydrology
- Environmental sensing and data analytics
Study with us
Explore your options with a range of postgraduate and research opportunities available.
Centres
We have developed close working relationships with local and national business and industry partners dedicated to furthering our environmental knowledge and conservation. Our partnerships bring together a unique combination of expertise in physical, chemical and biological aspects of the environment.- NESP Resilient Landscapes Hub
- CSIRO
- State Government of Western Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management
- Centre for Engineering Innovation - Agriculture and Ecological Restoration
Key Staff
- Head of School
- Department Head Environmental Science
- Academic Staff
- Research Staff
- Emeritus, Honorary and Adjunct
Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Networks and Observatories
Ecosystems provide us with essential services such as carbon sequestration, water, clean air and biodiversity. Crucially we need long-term ecosystem observatories to monitor the health and productivity of our key natural and managed systems. We provide intensive ecological observatories as part of a national network (Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network and OzFlux) that improves understanding of how ecosystems (and the services they provide) respond to climate change and disturbance to provide a fundamental basis for their future management.
Our observatories are based throughout Western Australia, including:
- Litchfield
- Boyagin
- Ridgefield
- Howard
- Sturt
- Whroo
- Yanco
- Collie
- Gingin
- GWW
- Leap
- Wombat
- Howard Springs
- Riggs Creek
