معرفی
Nicola Thomas is a Lecturer in Economics at Charles Sturt University. Her research integrates economic and biophysical principles to address critical challenges in climate risk, biodiversity loss, sustainable land use, and decarbonisation. She has led high-impact projects for government and industry, including studies on soil health, water market reform, emissions modeling, and infrastructure resilience.
- Education: PhD in Economics from Monash University (research on climate variability and dryland agriculture)
Nicola’s research spans agricultural economics, environmental economics, and policy analysis. She employs multidisciplinary collaboration with hydrologists, ecologists, and policy analysts to produce actionable insights. Key contributions include climate risk assessments, soil carbon valuation, and stakeholder engagement frameworks for natural resource management.
Her recent publications focus on economic modeling for soil carbon, gamifying economics education through Bollywood films, and policy-relevant interventions in water management. These works align with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action and life on land.
- Awards: Recipient of the AARES Heading East Award (2024)
Nicola’s teaching emphasizes real-world case studies and active learning in undergraduate and postgraduate economics courses. She actively participates in national conferences and industry seminars, including ABARES Outlook and GRDC Grains Research Update. Her media contributions highlight regional living, agricultural sustainability, and the intersection of pop culture with artificial intelligence in education.
