Ian Fitzsimons

Professor Ian Fitzsimons is a faculty member at Curtin University, holding the position of Professor in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He joined Curtin in 1998 as a lecturer, transitioning through roles such as Deputy Director of the Tectonics Special Research Centre, Head of the Department of Applied Geology (2005–2009), Acting Director of the Western Australian School of Mines (2010), and Head of the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences (2018–2024). His academic credentials include a first-class Honours degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from the University of Edinburgh (1992), focusing on Antarctic granulites.

His research focuses on metamorphic petrology, geochemistry, and tectonics, with expertise in high-grade metamorphic systems, crustal evolution, and Proterozoic supercontinents. He has conducted fieldwork in Antarctica, Madagascar, India, and Australia, contributing to understanding continental collision processes and supercontinent assembly. Notable achievements include the 2017 FL Stillwell Award and multiple teaching excellence awards.

• Education:
  • PhD in Geology, University of Edinburgh (1992)
  • B.A. (Honours) in Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge
• Research Interests:
  • Metamorphic petrology and geochemistry
  • High-grade metamorphism and volatile behavior
  • Continental crust evolution and tectonics
  • Proterozoic supercontinent dynamics
• Teaching:
  • Undergraduate: Fundamentals of Geology, Field Geology Techniques
  • Postgraduate: Geological Concepts, Geoscience Exploration Project
  • Coordinator of the Graduate Diploma in Mineral Exploration Geoscience

His publications span metamorphic processes, detrital zircon analysis, and tectonic correlations across Antarctica, Madagascar, and Australia. He has advised numerous students and contributed to national geoscience curricula. Current research emphasizes U–Pb geochronology, detrital zircon provenance, and crustal evolution in Precambrian terranes.