2024 Laureate Profile: Professor Michael Kearney

Administering Organisation: The University of Melbourne

Fellowship Project Summary

FL240100088 -Predicting how Australia’s pests will respond to climate change

Professor Kearney aims to forge new collaborations between ecological and physical scientists to understand and predict how Australia's major mammal and insect pests will respond to climate change. The project will generate economic value through more reliable predictions of pest outbreaks, saving millions of dollars each year through reduced crop loss and damage. It will also produce social benefits including strengthening public confidence in the scientific influence of plans such as the Federal Government’s National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy. The long-lasting impact of Professor Kearney’s work will be achieved through integration with forecasting tools and policy development, and by training the next generation of STEM researchers in interdisciplinary methods to support improved climate impact services into the future. 

Australian Research Council Funding: $3,703,331