Environmental Science experts

Murdoch University’s environmental science experts work in the areas of environmental management and policy with relevant aspects of environmental systems and engineering. Often Murdoch’s environmental scientists perform research in conjunction with colleagues in conservation biology, marine science, chemistry, energy studies and extractive metallurgy.

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	Dr Martin Anda Sustainable development, governance and environmental technology in Australian Indigenous communities Environmental engineer Dr Martin Anda is an expert in liquid and solid waste recycling, and energy efficiency in buildings and human settlements. He says that if only 10 per cent of Perth’s homes were eco-renovated with insulation and solar panels, the equivalent of one new coal or gas-fired power station could be saved and demand reduced on existing ones. Dr Anda’s research through the Environmental Technology Centre and Remote Area Developments Group is linked to the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, the Sustainable Tourism CRC, Environmental Biotechnology CRC and the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.

	Dr Catherine Baudains Sustainability through better education practices and programs Credited for her work in developing education strategies such as the TravelSmart Workplace Program, Dr Catherine Baudains’ focus is on creating a more sustainable future through improved environmental education practices. She is currently working on the WA Sustainable Schools Initiative, investigating the role of urban gardening in habitat provision and conservation, developing environmental and lifestyle education programs, and workplace travel plans. Dr Baudains is a lecturer in environmental education for Sustainability at Murdoch, and a project leader of Program 4 (Policies and Action for Woodland and Forest Restoration) for the State Centre of Excellence for Climate Change, Woodland and Forest Health.

	Associate Professor Peter Dingle Indoor air quality; toxic chemical use; air pollution and health; environmental education; environmental management systems and industry. Dr Peter Dingle is an Associate Professor and leading researcher in Health and the Environment at Murdoch University. Dr Dingle has spent the past twenty years as a researcher, educator and communicator, has more than 100 scientifically reviewed papers, written 7 books which have sold over 25000 copies each, and a team of researchers breaking new ground and hundreds of students collecting data each year. He conducts ongoing research into diet and nutrition, lifestyle and environmental impacts on health, well being and productivity. Dr Dingle is one of the rare speakers who conducts and presents his own professional research. He is internationally recognised and often quoted by other speakers. Dr Dingle is currently developing 2 more community programs with his PhD students (Seniors Smart and Eat Smart) and maintains his own website dedicated to his business of health and environmental promotion.

	Professor Neal Enright Fire and plant ecology; management of shrublands and forests Professor Neal Enright is a plant ecologist expert in fire ecology and management of Australian shrublands and forests, plant species co-existence in high diversity ecosystems, and the population dynamics of woody plants. Currently, he is collaborating with Western Australia’s Department of Environment and Conservation to address the impacts of increased fire frequency in the biodiverse sandplain shrublands near Eneabba, north of Perth. He co-authored the Report of the Inquiry into the Victorian Bushfires of 2002-03 (2003) and co-edited Ecology of the Southern Conifers with R. Hill (1995).

	Professor Goen Ho Water recycling and sewage treatment; water conservation and accounting Professor Goen Ho specialises in conserving and reducing water use at the household, community and industrial levels. Most recently he implemented large-scale water saving initiatives at the BP Oil Refinery in Kwinana, and at Newmont's 5 gold mining and refining operations across Australia and New Zealand. He also specialises in sewage recycling using subsurface irrigation of vegetation, recycling greywater from laundries, bathrooms and land developments. He also plans to expand a water accounting tool he developed, which is currently being used by Western Australian Department of Water and the Water Corporation, nationally and internationally. The tool was created to complement new energy and carbon counting schemes.

	Associate Professor Frank Murray Environmental management, climate change air pollution in Asia A recognised air pollution and climate change expert, Associate Professor Frank Murray is the technical editor of the first comprehensive review of urban air quality management at a country level across Asia. He is currently collaborating with government agencies across Asia to identify and manage the impacts of air pollution and climate change. Professor Murray has worked with the World Health Organisation in Geneva, United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi and Bangkok, the Asian Development Bank, the Clean Air Initiative for Asia in Manila and the Stockholm Environment Institute. He was also lead author of the atmosphere chapter of GEO4, UNEP's state of the world environment report published in 2007.

	Dr Jaya Nair Waste management; recycling wastewater for urban and rural reuse Dr Jaya Nair is an expert in waste management, and is currently developing Australia’s first food waste-fuelled biogas plant to tackle environmental degradation and landfill issues. Dr Nair specialises in urban and rural organic waste management, recycling treated solid waste and the microbial quality of treated waste for reuse in horticulture. She also specialises in developing integrated approaches to organic liquid waste treatment including vermifiltration, wastewater hydroponics, composting and vermicomposting of solid waste.

	Associate Professor David Newsome Geotourism, sustainable tourism and recreation management in protected areas Sustainability expert and senior environmental science lecturer David Newsome specialises in assessing the impact of recreation and tourism in protected areas such as national parks and nature reserves. He is also an expert in soils and geomorphology, particularly the sandplain regolith in Western Australia and the management of human-wildlife interactions. David is lead author of Natural Area Tourism: ecology, impacts and management, Wildlife Tourism and co-edited Geotourism.