Caroline Mather

Dr. Caroline Mather is a Lecturer in Environmental Sciences at The University of Western Australia's School of Agriculture and Environment, where she contributes to the Centre for Water and Spatial Science. Her multidisciplinary expertise spans Earth, Environmental and Climate sciences, with particular focus on paleoenvironmental research and environmental management in Western Australia's unique landscapes.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Earth Science, focusing on 'Dolomite Formation within groundwater systems of arid northwest Australia' from The University of Western Australia (awarded April 1, 2020)
• BSc (Hons) 1st Class in Geology and Environmental Geoscience from The University of Western Australia (awarded March 1, 2014)

Dr. Mather's research focuses on using scientific techniques to produce records of past environmental and climatic change, with particular interest in human-environment interactions and climate change impacts on landscapes and water resources. Her current work centers on developing climate records from freshwater carbonate deposits in the Murujuga rock art province (Dampier Archipelago) on the Pilbara coast of Western Australia. This research aims to improve understanding of environmental conditions, freshwater availability, and changing local climatic conditions that have influenced human occupation over the past ~65,000 years. Her expertise spans carbonate geochemistry, paleoclimatology, water chemistry, geomorphology, mineralogy of soils and sediments, sedimentology, Quaternary geology, and hydrology.

Her recent publications demonstrate strong focus on Holocene hydroclimate reconstruction, rock art dating, and understanding soil processes in archaeological contexts, particularly in Western Australia's Murujuga region, with significant implications for understanding long-term human-environment interactions.

Dr. Mather has received numerous research grants and awards, including:

• Multiple ANSTO Grants (2021-2024) focused on radiocarbon dating of tufa and environmental records in Murujuga
• ARC Linkage Project LP190100724 (2021-2025): 'Dating Murujuga's Dreaming: Scientific analysis of landscapes and rock art' involving multiple universities and industry partners
• AINSE Research Award (2015) for calcrete profile analysis

Dr. Mather serves as Secretary of the Australasian Quaternary Association and maintains strong industry connections, particularly with mining and petroleum sectors in Western Australia. Her teaching includes units GEOG1106: Climate Change and Society, ENVT5515: Environmental Management in Mining, and ENVT5517: Ecological Rehabilitation. She integrates her prior experience as an environmental geochemist in the mining industry, where she focused on mine waste management, water quality, and environmental impacts of mining, into her academic work. Her research has significant applications to water quality and management, groundwater dependent ecosystems, surface water-groundwater interactions, and environmental impacts assessment, with strong collaborative ties across the University, nationally, and internationally.