Robert Clinton Brooks

Scientia Professor Robert Clinton Brooks is a Professor of Evolution at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, and Director of the Evolution & Ecology Research Centre. His work focuses on the evolutionary consequences of sexual reproduction, bridging biological and societal implications.

• Key research themes: mate choice, sexual conflict, aging, obesity, and the intersection of evolution with economics and equity feminism.
• Primary research group: SEX Lab (Sexual Evolution and Ecology).

Research interests span evolutionary biology, genetics, animal behavior, and behavioral ecology, with a unique emphasis on human life histories and cultural phenomena like Rock 'n' Roll. His work integrates quantitative genetics and experimental biology to explore both natural systems and human health crises.

He has authored 252 journal articles, 3 book chapters, and a book (Sex, Genes & Rock 'n' Roll) that received the Queensland Literary Award. His science communication, including a column for The Conversation, earned the Eureka Prize for public engagement.

His laboratory (SEX Lab) conducts groundbreaking research on guppies, field crickets, and humans, examining how sexual reproduction shapes aging, disease, and social dynamics. Collaborations with institutions like UNSW’s Evolution & Ecology Research Centre have advanced understanding of genetic trade-offs and ecological adaptation.