Dr Anna Richards
Research Scientist
Contact details:
- anna.richards@csiro.au
- +61889448437
-
PRIVATE BAG NO 44
WINNELLIE NT 0821 AUSTRALIA
Biography
Dr Anna Richards is a savanna ecologist. She has a broad interest in vegetation and soil dynamics in tropical savannas and the influence of land management practices, particularly fire, on these processes.
Dr Richards is a part-time research scientist in the Savanna Soil and Vegetation Dynamics team based at the CSIRO Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre in Darwin, Northern Territory. She has published a range of studies related to carbon sequestration science with a particular emphasis on soil carbon sequestration. Her current interest lies in the development of land-based climate change mitigation methodologies associated with the management of savanna fires, and the opportunities that these methodologies present for sustainable livelihood options for remote indigenous communities.
She is also interested in methods for monitoring soil and vegetation condition. As part of this work she has recently started leading a project to develop dynamic ecosystem models for Australia's native vegetation within a framework designed to incorporate both pre-industrial and industrial era disturbance regimes. The framework aims to improve decision making in natural resource management, including supporting prioritisation, monitoring and evaluation.
Dr Richards has also been involved in a cross-business unit project to develop a science platform for soil spectroscopy within CSIRO, and manages a mid infra-red spectrometer in Darwin that uses soil spectral data to predict soil properties, such as soil carbon.
Dr Richards also maintains an interest in plant ecophysiology related to plant nutrient and water use.
Fields of Research
Current Roles
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Project Leader
OD-107424 The Australian Ecosystem Models Framework
Academic Qualifications
-
2007
Doctor of Philosophy
University of Queensland -
2006
Graduate Certificate in Higher Education
University of Queensland -
2001
Bachelor of Science with honours
University of Queensland
Professional Experiences
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2008-2011
OCE Postdoctoral fellow
CSIRO -
2007-2008
Postdoctoral fellow
Maquarie University
Achievements and Awards
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-2011
New generation research award
NT research and innovation awards -
-2011
NT Young tall poppy science award
Australian Institute of policy and science -
2013-2013
Payne-Scott award
CSIRO -
2016-2017
Payne-Scott award
CSIRO
Community and Corporate Citizenship
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2017-current
Scientists in Schools, Jingili Primary School
