Associate Professor Pierre Horwitz
Biography
Pierre Horwitz’ research interests extend to the areas of systems ecology and human health, environmental history, the role of science in decision making, and community-based participatory approaches to natural resource and catchment management issues. Dr Horwitz has published relatively extensively over the last 20 years, including 6 monographs, as editor for several special issues of national or international journals, and as an author of around 100 refereed book chapters, journal articles and conference proceedings, editorials, and book reviews, and many more reports for government and industry. A list of published works can be found here.
Dr Horwitz is currently a founding Co-Editor of an international ISI-listed journal (EcoHealth published by Springer Inc.), and has held senior positions in: the Australian Society for Limnology (including as its President for a two year term 1999-2001); in Bush Heritage Australia Inc. (elected to the Board of Directors and served in that capacity for four years); and in the International Association for Ecology and Health (as current Vice-President and Charter Board member). He has represented the World Conservation Union on an international scientific delegation in 2000, and is currently (2007-8) an invited expert for the Ramsar (international wetlands) Convention’s Scientific and Technical Review Panel.
Dr Horwitz has been recognised for excellence in postgraduate supervision in 2005, received the University’s Postgraduate Association Research Supervisor flagship award in 2006, and the Executive Dean’s Award for sustained and innovative contributions in 2007. Over the last 20 years he has supervised to completion more than 40 PhD, Masters by Research and Honours students.
Teaching Areas
- Health and Ecology
- Catchment Health
- Aquatic Ecology
- Environmentalism
Current Teaching Units
- Case Sudies in Science
- Catchment Health and Management
- Water and Wetlands Management
- Sustainable Water Resource management
General Research Interests
Aquatic Ecology and Management:
- Taxonomy, biogeography and conservation status of aquatic invertebrates.
- Freshwater and estuarine invertebrate faunas as biological indicators.
- The effects of forestry, fire, agriculture and urbanisation on aquatic faunas and aquatic processes
- Developing monitoring protocols for wetlands
- The formation, degradation and management of organic rich soils; the effects of fire regimes on soil and water quality
Health and Ecology; Ecosystem Health
- Developing community participation and involvement in aquatic environmental issues, natural resource management issues
- Developing general indicators for the relationships between human health, community vitality and biophysical conditions of the environment
- Using narratives for landscape restoration and community capacity building in rural and regional areas
Honours/Postgraduate Students
Pierre has supervised PhD, Masters and Honours projects on a range of topics; students, their enrolment status, education institution, and topics, can be found here.
Abbreviated CV
Qualifications and Relevant Experience
Tertiary qualifications:
| Title of Award | Institution | Year Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) | University of Western Australia | 1980 |
| PhD | University of Tasmania | 1986 |
Relevant experience: Employment History (most recent first)
| Dates | Position | Institution/Employer |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 2001 | Associate Professor | Edith Cowan University |
| 1995-2001 | Senior Lecturer | Edith Cowan University |
| 1992-1994 | Lecturer | Edith Cowan University |
| 1987-1991 | Lecturer | University of Tasmania |
Other experience
| Dates | Position | Institution/Employer |
| 2000-present | Director, Consortium for Health and Ecology |
Edith Cowan University |
| 1995-1999 | Director, Centre for Ecosystem Management |
Edith Cowan University |
| 1997-1999 | School Campus Coordinator, Natural Sciences |
Edith Cowan University |
| 1996-1997 | Chairperson, Dept. Environmental Management |
Edith Cowan University |
Membership of Professional Societies
- Ordinary Member, Royal Society of Tasmania (1989-1994)
- Ordinary Member, Royal Society of Western Australia (1987-)
- Member of the International Association of Astacology (1987-)
- Member of the Australian Society for Limnology (1983-)
- Member of the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (1990-)
- Voting Member of Greenpeace Australia 1990-1994
- Member Ecological Society of Australia (1995-)
- Member National Tertiary Education Union (1992-)
- Member International Society for Ecosystem Health (1997-)
- Member Australian Bush Heritage Fund (1998-)
