Overview
Background
Coen is an environmental scientist and ARC DAATSIA Fellow in the School of the Environment at The University of Queensland. His research reaches across Indigenous studies, environmental sciences, animal ecology and science and technology studies in asking how research can better respond to Country.
Coen's work spans several connected areas: native stingless bee science; herpetofauna and environmental physiology; Indigenous Data Sovereignty; and the ethics and epistemology of environmental research. His current projects are focused on how culturally significant organisms are studied, monitored and cared for.
Coen is a trawlwoolway pakana related to northeast lutruwita (Hearps, Briggs family) and is accountable to the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. Coen grew up as a visitor to many lands in so-called Australia and currently is living on Yuggera land at Tulmur.
Availability
- Dr Coen Hird is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy of Animal Physiological Ecology, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Culturally significant stingless bees in a changing climate
Are native stingless bees in decline throughout Australia? What environmental pressures are shaping their futures? How do we engage animal ethics for research on culturally significant species?
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Relational navigation, animal behaviour and science philosophy
What do scientists mean when they describe animals as navigating, learning, communicating or making decisions? How do experimental designs shape what researchers think animals know and do?
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Indigenous environmental science, ethics and data sovereignty
How can environmental sciences better account for Indigenous knowledges, Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property, and Indigenous Data Sovereignty? What would research ethics look like if animals, plants, places and data were approached through responsibility rather than extraction? How can universities and scientific institutions support culturally safe and accountable research practice?
Research impacts
Coen's research improves how environmental science is designed, taught and governed when working on First Nations lands and waters. His impact is supported by major competitive funding, including ARC support, as well as projects focused on stingless bees, Indigenous research engagement, wildlife monitoring, research ethics and Indigenous Data Sovereignty and its relationship to biodata.
At UQ, Coen has contributed to institutional work on Indigenous Data Sovereignty, culturally relevant science curriculum, and Indigenising environmental science education. This work was recognised through a UQ Research Culture Award.
Beyond UQ, Coen contributes to research impact through advisory, policy-facing and professional roles, including Indigenous research governance, internaitonal Indigenous research collaborations, public talks, media, school engagement and community-based work.
Works
Search Professor Coen Hird’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Moving beyond ontological (worldview) supremacy: Indigenous insights and a recovery guide for settler-colonial scientists
Hird, Coen, David-Chavez, Dominique M., Gion, Shanny Spang and van Uitregt, Vincent (2023). Moving beyond ontological (worldview) supremacy: Indigenous insights and a recovery guide for settler-colonial scientists. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 226 (12) jeb245302. doi: 10.1242/jeb.245302
2026
Other Outputs
Kupae (Sugarbag bees) on Kombumerri Country
Hird, Coen (Trawlwoolway) and Dillon, Max (Kombumerri) (2026). Kupae (Sugarbag bees) on Kombumerri Country. Culturally Significant Entities case study Perth, WA, Australia: Curtin University.
2025
Journal Article
Ambient ultraviolet radiation induces DNA damage in amphibian larvae under semi-natural conditions
Hird, Coen, Cramp, Rebecca L. and Franklin, Craig E. (2025). Ambient ultraviolet radiation induces DNA damage in amphibian larvae under semi-natural conditions. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 228 (22) jeb.251017. doi: 10.1242/jeb.251017
2025
Journal Article
Indigenous theory as epistemic ground for environmental scholarship and practice
Hird, Coen (2025). Indigenous theory as epistemic ground for environmental scholarship and practice. People and Nature, 7 (10), 2262-2277. doi: 10.1002/pan3.70137
2025
Journal Article
Review of Haunting biology: science and indigeneity in Australia by Emma Kowal
Hird, Coen (2025). Review of Haunting biology: science and indigeneity in Australia by Emma Kowal. Native American and Indigenous Studies, 12 (2), 170-171. doi: 10.1353/nai.2025.a971985
2025
Journal Article
Ultraviolet B radiation impairs coral reef fish development
Downie, Adam T., Hird, Coen, Cramp, Rebecca L., Cortesi, Fabio and Franklin, Craig E. (2025). Ultraviolet B radiation impairs coral reef fish development. Biology Open, 14 (8) bio.062107, 8. doi: 10.1242/bio.062107
2025
Journal Article
Sunlight surveillance: a simplified approach for the monitoring of harmful ultraviolet radiation in freshwater ecosystems
Hird, Coen, Cramp, Rebecca L. and Franklin, Craig E. (2025). Sunlight surveillance: a simplified approach for the monitoring of harmful ultraviolet radiation in freshwater ecosystems. Biology Open, 14 (4) bio061991, 1-12. doi: 10.1242/bio.061991
2025
Other Outputs
Indigenous environmental literature review
Coen Hird (2025). Indigenous environmental literature review. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/b6ba977
2025
Other Outputs
Impact of Ultraviolet Radiation on Larval Amphibians: Survival, Growth, and DNA Damage Data
Coen Hird (2025). Impact of Ultraviolet Radiation on Larval Amphibians: Survival, Growth, and DNA Damage Data. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/a5d0968
2025
Book Chapter
Indigenising the environmental science curriculum part 1: foundations
Hird, Coen, Walker, Jim, Mos, Benjamin and Salisbury, Steven W. (2025). Indigenising the environmental science curriculum part 1: foundations. Indigenising curriculum at The University of Queensland: a handbook. (pp. 48-60) edited by Tracey Bunda, Katelyn Barney, Levon Blue and Laura Deane. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2025
Book Chapter
Indigenising the environmental science curriculum part 2: in practice
Hird, Coen, Walker, Jim, Mos, Benjamin and Salisbury, Steven W. (2025). Indigenising the environmental science curriculum part 2: in practice. Indigenising curriculum at The University of Queensland: a handbook. (pp. 61-83) edited by Tracey Bunda, Katelyn Barney, Levon Blue and Laura Deane. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2024
Journal Article
Considering ultraviolet radiation in experimental biology: a neglected pervasive stressor
Hird, Coen, Lundsgaard, Niclas U., Downie, Adam T., Cramp, Rebecca L. and Franklin, Craig E. (2024). Considering ultraviolet radiation in experimental biology: a neglected pervasive stressor. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 227 (16) jeb247231, 1-7. doi: 10.1242/jeb.247231
2024
Other Outputs
Amphibian declines and UV radiation: a molecular and ecological investigation
Hird, Coen (2024). Amphibian declines and UV radiation: a molecular and ecological investigation. PhD Thesis, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/80b707b
2024
Journal Article
Looking beyond the mean: quantile regression for comparative physiologists
Hird, Coen, Barham, Kaitlin and Franklin, Craig E. (2024). Looking beyond the mean: quantile regression for comparative physiologists. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 227 (5) jeb247122. doi: 10.1242/jeb.247122
2024
Journal Article
ECR Spotlight - Coen Hird
Hird, Coen (2024). ECR Spotlight - Coen Hird. Journal of Experimental Biology, 227 (5) jeb247465. doi: 10.1242/jeb.247465
2024
Journal Article
Cold-induced skin darkening does not protect amphibian larvae from UV-associated DNA damage
Hird, Coen, Flanagan, Emer, Franklin, Craig E. and Cramp, Rebecca L. (2024). Cold-induced skin darkening does not protect amphibian larvae from UV-associated DNA damage. Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Ecological and Integrative Physiology, 341 (3), 272-281. doi: 10.1002/jez.2780
2024
Book Chapter
Shadows
Hird, Coen (2024). Shadows. Storying the archive: evoking the Fryer Library Indigenous collection. (pp. 59-61) edited by Tracey Bunda and Laura Deane. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2023
Other Outputs
Quantile regression for comparative physiologists
Hird, Coen, Franklin, Craig and Cramp, Rebecca (2023). Quantile regression for comparative physiologists. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/60f1bf8
2023
Journal Article
Thermal compensation reduces DNA damage from UV radiation
Hird, Coen, Cramp, Rebecca L. and Franklin, Craig E. (2023). Thermal compensation reduces DNA damage from UV radiation. Journal of Thermal Biology, 117 103711, 103711. doi: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103711
2023
Journal Article
Carryover effects from environmental change in early life: an overlooked driver of the amphibian extinction crisis?
Lundsgaard, Niclas U., Hird, Coen, Doody, Kathleen A., Franklin, Craig E. and Cramp, Rebecca L. (2023). Carryover effects from environmental change in early life: an overlooked driver of the amphibian extinction crisis?. Global Change Biology, 29 (14), 3857-3868. doi: 10.1111/gcb.16726
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Coen Hird is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Understanding threats to native stingless bees
Study Australian stingless bees using an interdisciplinary approach of ecophysiological, genetic and social/philosophical methods to understand threats and ethical research on culturally significant species.
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Coen Hird directly for media enquiries about:
- Ecophysiology
- Indigenous science
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