Associate Professor Nathan Brooks-English
PhDFlora, Fauna & Freshwater Research Cluster Lead
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences
Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre
The consistent theme of my research is the study of how environmental variables affect Earth-surface processes (climate, transport, etc.) and natural materials (biota, earth and water) over multiple scales of time and distance.
Currently, I'm using dendrochronology, stable isotopes, and pines of Tasmania to reconstruct past rainfall and model the response of drought and floods to El Niño Southern Oscillation and other mulitdecadal climate phenomena (Indian Ocean Dipole, Pacific Decadal Oscillation). In the past, my colleagues and I have investigated the link between ecophysiology, climate, and isotopic variation in the spines of columnar cactuses, including the tropical species Trichocereus pasacana in Bolivia. This research develops and explains a novel climate proxy that yields high–resolution information about plant ecology, water relations and past climate that will be useful in tropical and subtropical regions with few annually resolved and centuries-long terrestrial climate proxies. My team's research also includes innovative vegetation rehabilitation methods on steep. rocky ecosystems in central Queensland.
My current work on climate and trees of North Queensland is covered here:
http://rdontheroad.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/those-old-trees-could-help-forecast-floods-and-droughts/
I'm also the manager of the Tropical Dendrochronology Laboratory, administrator of the Australasian Dendrochronology Page on Facebook (link below).
Universities Studied At
The Colorado College
University of Arizona
Universities Worked At
The Colorado College
University of Arizona
James Cook University
Awards
2012 Discovery Early Career Research Award, Australian Research Council.
2012 Sessional Teaching Staff Award, James Cook University.
2009 – 2011 Director's Postdoctoral Fellowship, Los Alamos National Laboratory.
2005 – 2008 Environmental Protection Agency Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellow.
2005 Errol Montgomery Prize for Best Overall Talk, Geodaze Symposium.
2004 – 2005 National Science Foundation Graduate Teaching Fellow in K-12 Education.
2004 Keith Katzer Graduate Scholarship.
2004 William G. McGinnies Graduate Scholarship in Arid Lands Studies.
2002 School of Renewable Natural Resources Staff Award of Excellence.
Media Citations
- 2025 ABC Radio Canberra (Fri 10 Jan 2025 at 9:00am), ABC Radio Perth (Drive Fri 10 Jan 2025 at 6:30pm), ABC Radio Sunshine Coast (Mon 13 Jan 2025 4pm), ABC Central Queensland (Tue 14 Jan 9:00AM) Seashell conservation.
- 2025 The Conversation (co-authored with Robert Muir, Jr.) This summer, please leave the sea shells by the seashore. In publication.
- 2023 Cairns Post (Quoted in) Why FNQ residents have called for endangered bird survey, Published Saturday 11 Nov 2023.
- 2023 ABC Radio North, Environmental Impact of Rock Stacking. Broadcast Thu 20 Jul 2023 at 10:10AM. https://www.abc.net.au/northqld/programs/mornings/mornings/102605600 1:04:55 to 1:09:40
- 2022 ABC Radio National Ockhams Razor podcast, Finding kindness on the backroads of Bangladesh. Broadcast Sun 21 Feb 2021 at 6:45am. https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/ockhamsrazor/finding-kindness-on-the-backroads-of-bangladesh/13164530
- 2021 ABC Capricornia FM, Morning with Paul Culliver. Interview promoting new Environmental Science short-course on FutureLearn.com. Broadcast Wed Nov 10, 2021, 8:37AM.
- 2009 Gruppe 5 Filmproduktion, National Geographic Channel, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) America Before Columbus [National Geographic TV Movie]. Invited Expert on packrat midden and dendrochronology of Chaco Canyon ruin complex, New Mexico, USA. Appearance from 33:45 to 36:28. Directed by Cristina Trebbi.
Previous teaching
Casual Lecturer - James Cook University
Professional Memberships
Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ)
Central Queensland Minesite Rehabiliation Group (CQMRG)
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 3705 Geology
- 3701 Atmospheric Sciences
- 4199 Other Environmental Sciences
- 3703 Geochemistry
- 3007 Forestry Sciences
- 3108 Plant Biology
- 4104 Environmental management
- 4106 Soil Sciences
- 4105 Pollution and contamination
Current Capacity
Environmental management - Environmental assessment and monitoring
