Andrea Gaynor

Andrea Gaynor is a Professor in the Discipline of History at the University of Western Australia (UWA), affiliated with the UWA Oceans Institute. Her research focuses on environmental history, urban environmental dynamics, water history, and human-animal relationships. She has held significant roles such as Regional Representative for Australasia for the European Society for Environmental History and Joint Convenor of The Beeliar Group of Professors for Environmental Responsibility.

Gaynor’s expertise spans urban environmental history, agricultural history, and Western Australian environmental studies. She has led major grants, including ARC-funded projects on urban water systems and mallee land transformations. Her teaching encompasses Australian and environmental history, with supervision of postgraduate students in related fields. Notable awards include the National Library of Australia Fellowship (2019) and Carson Fellow at the Rachel Carson Center (2015).

• Education: BA and PhD from University of Western Australia

Her research investigates historical human-environment interactions, including urban greening, water policy, and community-led land management. Current projects explore 'Wild cities: an environmental history of nature in urban modernity' and histories of community land stewardship. Gaynor advocates for integrating historical insights into contemporary sustainability challenges, emphasizing ecological justice and climate resilience.

• Grants & Projects:
  • ARC DP180100807: Water and the making of urban Australia
  • CRC for Water Sensitive Cities: Social processes for water futures
  • ARC Future Fellowship: More-than-human histories
• Advisory Roles: Discipline Chair of History (2017–2019), Deputy Head of School (2010), and ANU Visiting Fellow (2016).

Gaynor’s work bridges humanities and science, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals on climate action, sustainable cities, and responsible consumption.