Joshua Cinner

Professor Joshua Cinner is a leading social scientist in the Faculty of Science at The University of Sydney, holding the rank of Professor of Geography and an ARC Australian Laureate Fellow. His work focuses on human-environment interactions in tropical coastal regions, blending social science and ecology to address sustainability challenges. He leads projects on conservation bright spots, climate change impacts, and equity in marine management across 15+ countries.

Education & Background: Cinner’s career began with Peace Corps service in Jamaica, followed by research in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Southeast Asia. His interdisciplinary approach spans geography, marine biology, and policy analysis.

Research Interests: Key areas include coral reef resilience, fisheries sustainability, climate adaptation, and equity in conservation. He emphasizes actionable insights for policy and on-ground interventions, with over 170 peer-reviewed publications.

Grants & Awards:

• 2025: National Geographic Grant ($150k) for PNG coral reef livelihood studies
• 2024: $2.5M ARC Laureate Fellowship for coral reef fisheries research

Labs & Affiliations: Member of the Sydney Environment Institute and Sydney Southeast Asia Centre. Collaborates with global networks like the Coral Triangle Center and IUCN.