Sarah Bourke

Dr Sarah Bourke is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Earth and Oceans at the University of Western Australia (UWA), affiliated with the Centre for Water and Spatial Science. She holds a PhD in Hydrogeology from Flinders University and has extensive postdoctoral experience in Canada. Her research focuses on surface water-groundwater interaction, contaminant hydrogeology, and decolonizing hydrogeological practices with Indigenous communities. She leads the Master of Hydrogeology program and chairs the Western Australian chapter of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH).

Education:

• Bachelor of Earth Science (Flinders University)
• PhD (Flinders University, collaborative project with Rio Tinto)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship (University of Saskatchewan, Canada)

Research Interests:

• Climate change impacts on groundwater systems
• Environmental tracers for hydrological processes
• Sustainable water management in arid zones
• Indigenous knowledge integration in hydrogeology

Awards:

• Best Presentation Award (IAH Congress, 2013)
• UWA Vice-Chancellor's Award for Research Technical Support Excellence (2024)

Grants & Collaborations:

• 10+ funded projects with government/industry partners
• Research on groundwater recharge dynamics, nitrate contamination, and climate adaptation

Labs/Teams: Active in the UWA Centre for Water and Spatial Science, collaborating with government agencies (e.g., Department of Water and Environmental Regulation) and international networks.