Sara Clifford
Queensland Government, Department of Environment, Science and Innovation
See Sara’s full research profile here.
E: sara.clifford@des.qld.gov.au
What are your research interests as they relate to northern Australia?
As an aquatic ecologist my research has mostly focused on the impact of human activities on Queensland’s freshwater ecosystems, with particular attention to the complex challenges faced in highly altered catchments where multiple threats interact. The rivers and wetlands of northern Australia offer a unique opportunity to study a narrower scope of threats, like invasive species, amid otherwise relatively unmodified conditions.
What do you love about working in northern Australia?
I love the unique flora and fauna of Northern Australia, particularly Cape York; from the palm cockatoos and blue‑winged kookaburras, to the bursts of yellow in a dry landscape from a Kapok tree, and the carnivorous pitcher plants and sundews growing along spring-fed creeks. The remoteness and unspoilt beauty of large expanses of the North is unlike anywhere else. It’s been a privilege to be able to experience through my role as a scientist not only the natural beauty, but the strong observable connection to Country the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Cape York have with this incredible landscape.
Current project
Completed project
