Margaret Helen Cook

Margaret Cook is an Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Communication and Arts, The University of Queensland. Her research bridges Environmental History, Disaster Studies, and Flood Management, with a focus on Australian contexts.

• Education: PhD in History (2018), University of Queensland. Thesis: Damming the river: floods in the Brisbane River catchment 1893-2011.

Research Interests: Dr. Cook investigates the historical dynamics of natural disasters, urban floodplain policies, and environmental activism. Her work explores post-disaster inequality, the evolution of flood mitigation strategies, and the cultural significance of waterways like the Cooks River. She also examines the societal impacts of environmental policies, such as the legacy of the Terania Creek protests.

Recent Publications: Her publications analyze historical flood events (e.g., Brisbane floods, Hurricane Katrina), urban resilience, and ecological change. Key trends include critiques of flood immunity myths, interdisciplinary approaches to environmental history, and the role of case studies in shaping modern policy debates.