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Distinguished Professor

Sharon Robinson

(she/her)

Distinguished Professor

School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS)

Orcid identifier0000-0002-7130-9617
  • Distinguished Professor
    School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS)
  • +61 2 42215753 (Work)
  • Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future, School of Science; University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, 2522, Australia

BIO

Sharon Robinson is a Climate Change Biologist. and a 2024 Australian Laureate Fellow. She first visited East Antarctica in 1996 and has been on 14 expeditions to Antarctica, 12 with the Australian and Chilean National Antarctic Programs. She is a custodian for the only Antarctic State of the Environment Indicator concerned with Antarctic vegetation and is passionate about conserving Antarctic biodiversity. She is Deputy Director Science Implementation for the Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative for Excellence in Antarctic Science "Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future".

Sharon was educated in the UK. After completing her PhD at UCL in 1990, she held postdoctoral positions in the USA and Australia. Sharon was Executive Director of the Global Challenges program 2020-2022 and Challenge Leader for the Sustaining Coastal and Marine Zones within the program from 2018-2020. She is a member and lead author of the UN Environment Programme, Environmental Effects Assessment Panel; and a Faculty Member of Homeward Bound, helping to create a global network of women with a background in STEMM leading and solving our world’s greatest challenges. She is currently UOW's Dean Researcher Development.  

UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG APPOINTMENTS

  • Distinguished Professor
    Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS), Wollongong, Australia2022 - present
  • Dean of Researcher Development and Integrity
    Research and Sustainable Futures Portfolio, Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President (Research and Sustainable Futures), Wollongong, Australia2021 - 2023
  • Associate Dean Graduate Research
    Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President (Research and Sustainable Futures), Wollongong, Australia2016 - 2018
  • Sustaining Coastal and Marine Zones Challenge Leader and Executive Director (2020)
    University of Wollongong, Global Challenges Program, Wollongong, Australia2018 - 2020
  • Dean of Researcher Development
    University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia2023 - present
  • Executive Director Global Challenges Program
    University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia2020 - 2022

MEDIA

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ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Visiting Professor
    Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Chile2015 - 2016
  • Visiting Professor
    Universitat de les Illes Balears, Spain2003 - 2003
  • College of Experts
    Australian Research Council2013 - 2017
  • Distinguished Visiting Fellow
    University of Birmingham, Institute of Advanced Studies, Birmingham, United Kingdom2014 - 2014
  • Deputy Director Science Implementation
    Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future Program, Australia2020 - present

DEGREES

  • Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy, Plant Biochemistry
    University College London, Botany1987 - 1990
  • Bachelor of Science with Honours, Botany and Genetics
    University College London, Botany1980 - 1983
  • Graduate Certificate in Science Education (Biology)
    Kings College London, London, United Kingdom1985 - 1986

AVAILABILITY

  • Masters Research or PhD student supervision

SDGS

  • 13 Climate Action
  • 15 Life on Land
  • 5 Gender Equality
  • 17 Partnerships for the Goals

FIELDS OF RESEARCH (FOR)