Academics

Search CPAS academic staff.

Headshot of Rini Astuti

Studies energy transitions, forest-carbon policies, and climate justice. They explore just transitions, critical minerals, and political ecology in forest/peatland landscapes, linking science, policy, and society for global environmental solutions.

rini.astuti@anu.edu.au

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Historian, author, broadcaster. Investigates medicine, law and society connections. Passionate promoter of vibrant public history. Expertise in medicine and law, medical fraud, obesity, cancer and public health.

laura.dawes@anu.edu.au
+61 2 6125 3846

Will Grant

Studies science, tech, and politics, focusing on social media, policy-making, and climate/environment communication challenges.

will.grant@anu.edu.au
+61 450105489

Headshot of Rachael Gross

Works on decolonial pedagogy, wildlife conservation, and community development. They research human-nature relationships to shape inclusive environmental policies and supports Indigenous land repatriation using geospatial tech.

rachael.gross@anu.edu.au

Headshot of a woman with her hair down in a red jumper.

Explores how science, technology, and society shape one another, working across disciplines and sectors to rethink what more equitable and environmentally sustainable futures could look like.

Faranak.Hardcastle@anu.edu.au

Researches science-engineering-social science collaboration for sustainable futures. They focus on resource/energy challenges, inclusive decision making, and fostering researcher-industry-community partnerships.

karina.judd@anu.edu.au

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Studies science’s cultural meanings, comic mad scientists, violent clowns, and sci-tech-entertainment links. She explores science-art interfaces, environmental knowledge and humour’s role in sci-comm.

anna-sophie.jurgens@anu.edu.au

Headshot of Professor Joan Leach in a black sweater and a black backdrop.

Studies how knowledge travels and sci-comm benefits society. Focuses on quantum debates, cultural astronomy, synbio, and plant science, exploring ethics and models for positive social-technical change.

joan.leach@anu.edu.au

Associate Professor Merryn McKinnon

Studies science-public relations in media/health, focusing on gender, equity, and intersectionality in science communication.

merryn.mckinnon@anu.edu.au

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Studies how values shape social decisions, focusing on ethics in science comms, justice in knowledge sharing, and on economics in science and technology discourse.

Fabien.Medvecky@anu.edu.au

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Studies interfaces between science, technology, policy and society for environmental governance. Special interest in biodiversity and nature conservation.

jasper.montana@anu.edu.au

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Studies power, uncertainty, and diversity in sustainability and AI. They focus on responsible innovation, modelling, and computing, blending engineering, systems theory, and sociology.

Ehsan.Nabavi@anu.edu.au

Dr Matt Nurse

Studies science misinformation, focusing on who shares it and its harms. With strategic comms leadership in policy orgs and decades of campaign experience, he also researches comms strategy, emergency messaging, and audience analysis.

matthew.nurse@anu.edu.au

Headshot of Professor Sujatha Raman

Studies how science, tech, and environment intersect with society. They focus on energy transitions, antimicrobial resistance, planetary futures, and socio-technical methods for equitable sustainability and public good.

sujatha.raman@anu.edu.au
+61 (02) 61254514

Studies political economy & public engagement in biotech, focusing on openness, innovation, and societal benefits. They research genetic engineering, synbio, and stem cells through economic geography & STS lenses.

dan.santos@anu.edu.au

Astrophysicist, Cosmologist, SciComm expert. Studies sci-fi’s role in inspiring science awareness. Consults on films/books, evaluates astronomy comms, and uses AI to uncover hidden insights in science discourse.

brad.tucker@anu.edu.au
+61261256711

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Researches informal STEM learning, focusing on emotion, motivation, youth engagement, and global partnerships. They explore science shows, workshops, and hands-on activities to address climate, health, and cultural issues.

g.walker@anu.edu.au
+61 2 6125 9224