Mathematics vital to environmental management

Mathematics, statistics and supercomputing are fundamental tools in managing Australia's unpredictable ecological systems, according to a new UQ professor.

Professor Hugh Possingham, who accepted a joint position in the Mathematics and Zoology and Entomology Departments in July this year, said factors such as rainfall, complex landscapes and animal ecology should be modelled as the basis for any resource management plan.

"Without models, we can't predict and without predictions, we can't manage," he said.

"The traditional theoretical view of plant and animal populations was that they behaved in a uniform way like gas particles in a jar but this wasn't the case at all. Their movements in space and time are highly complex, somewhat random and with advances in computing, we can now begin to predict their future behaviour.

"Modelling the spatial dynamics of kangaroos in semi-arid Australia is extremely important for management of much of Australia, especially Queensland.

"Kangaroo meat may one day become a staple meat source for Australians and the world.

"If computing modelling had been available 100 years ago, many of our current environmental problems such as salinity wouldn't have happened. We would have been able to predict the effects on the landscape of actions such as tree-clearing."

Professor Possingham's other projects include nature reserve system design (including work with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Environment Australia) and working with Western Mining Corporation on the dynamics of invertebrates in mound springs.

His research overlaps with the work of many academics at the University including zoologists (Associate Professor Hamish McCallum and Professor Gordon Grigg), botanists (Dr David Lamb), mathematicians (Professor Kevin Burrage and Associate Professor Phil Pollett), entomologists (Dr Myron Zalucki) and geographical scientists (Professor Geoff McDonald and Dr Stuart Phinn).

Formerly Professor in the Department of Applied and Molecular Ecology at the University of Adelaide, Professor Possingham said he was attracted to work at UQ because of the "can-do" approach of senior academics including the Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Hay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Paul Greenfield and executive deans of respective faculties.

"Queensland policy-makers seem really keen to invest in applied research. Queensland is still a growing state and I believe its landscape can be changed for the better. In South Australia, much of the focus is on repairing the mistakes of the past," he said.

"UQ is a forward-thinking, progressive University with a future focus and a lot of resources. I also believe academics don't move enough. Moving to other universities keeps organisations alive and innovative."

For more information, contact Professor Hugh Possingham (telephone 07 3365 9766) or Shirley Glaister in the Communications Office (telephone 07 3365 2339).