Michael Kinsela

Dr. Michael Kinsela is a Lecturer in Coastal and Ocean Geoscience at the University of Newcastle, affiliated with the School of Environmental and Life Sciences and the Coasts and Estuaries Research Group. He holds a PhD from the University of Sydney and has over a decade of experience in coastal science, including roles as a Senior Coastal & Marine Scientist at NSW Government (2012–2022).

His research focuses on coastal geomorphology, shoreface dynamics, and climate change impacts, with a particular emphasis on sediment budgeting, seabed mapping, and community-driven monitoring. He co-founded the CoastSnap program, a global citizen science initiative enabling communities to monitor shoreline changes via smartphones. Key achievements include developing early warning systems for coastal hazards and advancing adaptive management strategies.

Key Research Themes:

• Shoreface and continental shelf sediment dynamics
• Coastal resilience to storms and sea-level rise
• Integration of field data and numerical modeling
• Open-source tools for coastal monitoring

Awards:

• 2023 Coastal Achievement Award (Coastal Sediments Conference)
• 2023 Teaching Excellence Award (University of Newcastle)
• 2022 Student Experience Excellence Award

Grants & Funding:

• $202,510 (2023): NSW Disaster Risk Reduction: Coastal Erosion Modelling
• $75,938 (2024): Wave Overwash Hazards and Risk Management

Collaborations:

Dr. Kinsela collaborates internationally, including with UNESCO’s IGCP 725 program, and engages communities through initiatives like CoastSnap, now operational in 30+ countries.