About
Tom Maxwell is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Sciences at Lincoln University, New Zealand. His academic work focuses on agricultural ecology with particular emphasis on pasture, grassland and rangeland management systems. As an expert in sustainable grazing lands, he bridges ecological understanding with practical agricultural applications to balance economic needs with environmental stewardship.
Dr. Maxwell's research interests include:
- Ecological mechanisms of functionally-sustainable grazing lands
- Hill country pasture ecology and long-term pasture persistence
- Reducing environmental footprint (particularly nitrate leaching) through diverse pasture species
- Precision agriculture tools including thermal camera imaging and remote-sensing technology
- Biodiversity and agricultural practices in oil palm plantations (as part of a Malaysian research team)
His publication record demonstrates expertise spanning from molecular genetics of grazing behavior to landscape-scale ecosystem services assessment. His work on nitrate leaching reduction, pasture diversity, and grazing behavior genetics has generated significant citations and academic interest, showing practical impact on sustainable agricultural practices.
As an educator, Dr. Maxwell teaches undergraduate courses in agricultural sustainability, plant sciences, agroecology, and experimentation. His teaching portfolio includes AgroEcology (ECOL 309), Pasture Agronomy (PLSC 321), and Temperate Pasture Ecosystems (PLSC 610), where he integrates his research expertise into classroom instruction.
Dr. Maxwell maintains active international collaborations, including his work with a Malaysian research team funded by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. He has shared his expertise through media engagements such as the podcast 'The Art of Range' where he discussed New Zealand grazing geography and history, demonstrating his commitment to knowledge dissemination beyond academic circles.
