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
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
2023
Journal Article
Nocturnal basking in freshwater turtles: a global assessment
McKnight, Donald T., Ard, Kendall, Auguste, Renoir J., Barhadiya, Gaurav, Benard, Michael F., Boban, Paige, Dillon, Martin L., Downs, Colleen T., DeGregorio, Brett A., Glorioso, Brad M., Goodman, Rachel M., Hird, Coen, Hollender, Ethan C., Kennedy, Malcolm, Kidman, Rosie A., Massey, Andrhea, McGovern, Pearson, Mühlenhaupt, MuhlenhauptMax, Ostovar, Kayhan, Podgorski, Danusia, Price, Cormac, Reinke, Beth A., Streeting, Louise M., Venezia, Jane, Young, Jeanne and Nordberg, Eric J. (2023). Nocturnal basking in freshwater turtles: a global assessment. Global Ecology and Conservation, 43 e02444, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02444
2023
Other Outputs
Cold-acclimation completely compensates UV radiation-induced DNA damage rate in amphibian larvae (Limnodynastes peronii)
Hird, Coen, Cramp, Rebecca and Franklin, Craig (2023). Cold-acclimation completely compensates UV radiation-induced DNA damage rate in amphibian larvae (Limnodynastes peronii). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/221fbfe
2023
Other Outputs
Cold-induced skin darkening does not protect amphibian larvae from UV-induced DNA damage
Hird, Coen, Franklin, Craig and Cramp, Rebecca (2023). Cold-induced skin darkening does not protect amphibian larvae from UV-induced DNA damage. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/f559345
2023
Other Outputs
The ultraviolet microenvironment in freshwater ecosystems: implications for amphibians.
Hird, Coen, Franklin, Craig and Cramp, Rebecca (2023). The ultraviolet microenvironment in freshwater ecosystems: implications for amphibians.. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/0f81bde
2022
Journal Article
Temperature causes species-specific responses to UV-induced DNA damage in amphibian larvae
Hird, Coen, Franklin, Craig and Cramp, Rebecca (2022). Temperature causes species-specific responses to UV-induced DNA damage in amphibian larvae. Biology Letters, 18 (10) 20220358, 1-6. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0358
2022
Journal Article
Down a rabbit hole: burrowing behaviour and larger home ranges are related to larger brains in leporids
Todorov, Orlin S., Hird, Coen, Kraatz, Brian, Sherratt, Emma, Hill, Narelle, de Sousa, Alexandra A., Blomberg, Simone and Weisbecker, Vera (2022). Down a rabbit hole: burrowing behaviour and larger home ranges are related to larger brains in leporids. Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 29 (4), 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s10914-022-09624-6
2022
Other Outputs
Temperature causes species-specific responses to UV-induced DNA damage in amphibian larvae
Hird, Coen, Cramp, Rebecca and Franklin, Craig (2022). Temperature causes species-specific responses to UV-induced DNA damage in amphibian larvae. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/4fdfc26
2022
Book Chapter
Blinding whiteness
Hird, Coen (2022). Blinding whiteness. Griffith Review 77: Real Cool World. (pp. 225-235) Melbourne, VIC Australia: Text Publishing Company.
2022
Journal Article
The role of environmental calcium in the extreme acid tolerance of northern banjo frog (Limnodynastes terraereginae) larvae
Hird, Coen, Franklin, Craig E. and Cramp, Rebecca L. (2022). The role of environmental calcium in the extreme acid tolerance of northern banjo frog (Limnodynastes terraereginae) larvae. Journal of Experimental Biology, 225 (13) jeb244376. doi: 10.1242/jeb.244376
2021
Other Outputs
The role of calcium transport in the extreme acid tolerance of northern banjo frog larvae (Limnodynastes terraereginae)
Hird, Coen, Cramp, Rebecca and Franklin, Craig (2021). The role of calcium transport in the extreme acid tolerance of northern banjo frog larvae (Limnodynastes terraereginae). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/18c7301
2021
Other Outputs
Aquatic UV and temperature low power field data logger (version 1)
Hird, Coen, Cramp, Rebecca and Franklin, Craig (2021). Aquatic UV and temperature low power field data logger (version 1). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/5ed5d99
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.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding threats to native stingless bees
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Mr Jim Walker
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Doctor Philosophy
Supporting Indigenous fire management through collaborative social-ecological partnerships
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kate O'Brien, Associate Professor Angela Dean
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Doctor Philosophy
Conserving Reptile Diversity in Agricultural Landscapes: Threats and Solutions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn, Dr April Reside
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Doctor Philosophy
Who speaks for the Bunya? Bunya survivance, strategy and risk-management when confronted with commercialisation and environmental harm
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kristen Lyons, Dr Janine Gertz
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding mechanisms promoting species recovery from frog chytrid disease in barred frogs (Mixophyes spp.)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nick Hudson, Dr Madelyn Mangan, Dr Laura Grogan
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Coen Hird directly for media enquiries about:
- Ecophysiology
- Indigenous science
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