Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg’s research focuses on the biology of coral reefs, particularly how these vast ecosystems respond to global climate change and ocean acidification.
His interest in climate change has led to significant roles within the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (coordinating lead author Chapter 30, “Open Oceans”) and other international organisations in his role as Deputy Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and as Coordinator for the Australasian Centre for Excellence and Chair of the Bleaching Working Group within the World Bank-Global Environment Facility Coral Reef Targeted Research Program.
While much of Professor Hoegh-Guldberg’s research occurs on Heron Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef, he has been heavily involved in research networks and activities from the Red Sea to the Caribbean and been responsible for initiating global projects supported by the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility, and international education programs such as the Stanford Australia program which he directed and taught for almost a decade.
His published works spans disciplines from molecular biology to ecology and remote sensing and include over 200-refereed publications and book chapters and is one of the most cited authors within the peer-reviewed literature on climate change and its impacts on natural ecosystems.
He is also interested in creating a better dialogue between scientists and wider society, particularly industry and policymakers.
This has led him to work with organisations as diverse as Rio Tinto, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, State and Federal governments, TNC and WWF.
Professor Hoegh-Guldberg is deeply-motivated by a desire to communicate science effectively, undertake game-changing research and to find high-impact solutions to address several of the most pressing and serious challenges facing humanity worldwide, such as climate change, food security, clean energy and population growth.
He has worked extensively with the media and operates an active science blog (www.climateshifts.org).
He is the inaugural Director of the Global Change Institute (GCI) and Professor of Marine Science, at The University of Queensland.
As Director of the Global Change Institute Professor Hoegh-Guldberg has a key role in engaging with the UQ community and external stakeholders to create opportunities and build strong external links and networks for the institute.
He heads a large research laboratory (over 30 researchers & students) that focuses on how global warming and ocean acidification are affecting and will affect coral reefs.
Professor Hoegh-Guldberg has held academic positions at University of California, Los Angeles, Stanford University, The University of Sydney and The University of Queensland and is a member of the Australian Climate Group; the Royal Society (London) Marine Advisory Network; and the Board of Editing Reviewers at Science Magazine.
In 1999 he was awarded the Eureka Prize for his scientific research.
He is the Queensland Smart State Premier's Fellow (2008-2013).
And he is now among 20 new Australian Academy of Science Fellows for 2013.
In 2012 he was awarded a Thomson Reuters Citation Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to research and was awarded an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship.
He is also the Chief Scientist for the Catlin Seaview Survey of the Great Barrier Reef.
