Liz Reed

Dr. Liz Reed is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Adelaide’s School of Biological Sciences. She is affiliated with the Environment Institute and Sprigg Geobiology Centre, and serves as a Research Associate at the South Australian Museum. Her research focuses on Quaternary vertebrate taphonomy, palaeoclimatology, and megafauna extinction dynamics, with a particular emphasis on cave deposits in South Australia.

Her work centers on refining the chronology and environmental context of megafauna extinctions at Naracoorte Caves, a World Heritage site. Key projects include analyses of fossil assemblages, cave sediment dynamics, and collaborations on speleothem dating. Her research integrates fieldwork, lab-based analyses, and historical archives to reconstruct past ecosystems and climate.

Dr. Reed has taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, emphasizing hands-on training in field methods and fossil analysis. She has been recognized for her contributions to science communication, including the 2018 Unsung Hero of Science Communication Award. Her publications span topics from cave cricket taxonomy to dingo population genetics, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to palaeontology and conservation.

• Awards: Unsung Hero of Science Communication (2018)
• Professional Roles: Environment Institute member, South Australian Museum Research Associate