Australian environmental and cultural historian focusing on Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Recent work includes 'Wild Sea: A History of the Southern Ocean' (NewSouth 2018, University of Chicago Press 2019). Also environmental histories of rural landscapes and rivers, environmental change, memory and history in rural communities, oral history and storytelling. Current projects: Australians in Antarctica for the National Library of Australia, an environmental history of Antarctic sea ice, and co-authoring a book on law and the world's oceans, seas and foreshores.
I’m delighted to have launched my new book, Ice Bound: The Australian Story of Antarctica, at the National Library of Australia on Wednesday 10 August 2022 with the assistance of Alasdair McGregor, Antarctic photographer and author of Frank Hurley: A Photographer’s Life, followed by an interview with the legendary Phillip Adams on Late Night Live. … More Ice Bound is out in the world
I was delighted and honoured to receive an invitation from the National Book Council Tasmania to give a presentation on my book Wild Sea on Thursday 19 May 2022. The welcome to country by Terrill Riley-Gibson was powerful and from the heart, and the audience was warm and enthusiastic. I loved the conversation about the … More National Book Council Tasmania talk
After many stops and starts due to COVID, Maps of the Pacific finally opened at the State Library of New South Wales on 13 November 2021. Congratulations to all involved. I’m delighted to have contributed to this wonderful exhibition. Maps of the Pacific | State Library of NSW Explore the beauty, art and science of mapping … More Maps of the Pacific exhibition opens
Things have been a bit quieter lately while I’ve been settling into my new life in Tasmania. However, I’ve managed to contribute to a few projects in recent months, including: . Expert contributor to audio guide for State Library of NSW ‘Mapping the Pacific’ exhibition, Sydney, July-October 2021 . N Bax, C Novaglio, KH Maxwell … More A few environmental history activities of late
The Australian Association for Maritime History has announced the winner of the 2019 Frank Broeze Memorial Maritime History Book prize, and Wild Sea was on the shortlist – yay!
Delighted to have contributed to Narissa Bax, Camilla Novaglio, Kimberley H Maxwell, et al, ‘Ocean resource use: building the blue economy’, a multi-disciplinary paper developed as part of the Future Seas project (www.futureseas2030.org). It has been accepted for publication in the Future Seas special issue in Reviews in Fish Biology & Fisheries to be published … More Building the blue economy
University of Chicago Press stand at the London Book Fair
Feeling very honoured to have Wild Sea shortlisted for the ACT Book of the Year 2019 and to receive a ‘Highly Commended’ award at the announcement by the ACT Minister for Arts, Creative Industries and Cultural Events on 6 February.
I spent an inspiring afternoon at the ANU today, where the School of History celebrated recent books produced by staff, students and visitors (like me). So many great books: Mark Dawson, Bodies Complexioned: Human Variation and Racism in Early Modern English Culture, c.1600-1750 (Alex Cook) Michelle Arrow and Angela Woollacott (eds), Everyday Revolutions: Remaking Gender, … More A celebration of history
Out of the blue 