What I’m doing now

Last updated: July 2026

I work 4 days, with Fridays at home with the smallest one. Looking after two kids is no joke, so I am generally unable to say yes to that fun opportunity, be involved in that interview, or be part of that cool project.

I continue to work as a Senior Lecturer in Climate Science and Science Communication at the School of Geography Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (SGEAS)/School of Biosciences at the University of Melbourne doing the things listed below.

Teaching

In semester 1 I teach Extreme Weather and Climate, which is excellent fun. We use LEGO-powered rotating tanks to understand synoptic systems, we forecast the weather, take observations, and hear from a dazzling array of guest lecturers. This year I also delivered a week on trust in science and science communication for first year science students, ensuring every science student as at least SOME exposure to communication skills.

In semester 2 I teach with the wonderful UnimelbSciComm team, helping over 100 research students communicate their work more clearly with each other and the world.

Research

I am loving being part of the ARC Special Research Initiative Linkage project Parched with colleagues from La Trobe University, looking at how historical and recent droughts cultures differ across Victoria. The books is in its final stages, we’re nearly there!

I’m also helping the University of Newcastle’s Historical Weather Data Sets project, who are looking for more historical weather records in the New England/New South Wales region

Historical archives are also part of my role as a CI in the Natural Hazards Research Australia-funded project Unlocking risk: Enhancing hazard risk assessment through historical archival reanalysis.

I am co-supervising three great PhD students: Ruchit, Jarrad and Caitlin.

Outreach and communication

A great project I’ve been involved in since 2024 is Climate Kids, lead by Dr Lily O’Neill at Melbourne Climate Futures. If your kids have questions about our climate, Dr Lily and I are here to answer them!

I am now a Climate Council Fellow, which means I help out with climate science questions and communication when I can.

A the end of 2024 I finished up at Einstein A Go Go, and now co-host Lost in Science, recorded at 3CR and broadcast nationally across the Community Radio Network. It’s so enjoyable talking about science for people across all of Australia!

I’m also on Instagram and TikTok, if you like sporadic videos about climate science, science communication, and life as an academic.

I chair the engagement committee for the School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and am always looking for speakers for our seminar series. I am an editor for the European journal Climate of the Past, as well as an associate editor for the Bulletin of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society.

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This Now page inspired by Derek Sivers‘.