Simon Haberle

Simon Haberle is Professor of Natural History and the Director of the School of Culture, History and Language at the Australian National University. He is also a Chief Investigator of the Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), where his expertise in palynology and charcoal analysis contributes to understanding deep-time human and landscape histories in the Asia-Pacific region from before initial human settlement through to the contemporary present.

Professor Haberle specializes in palynology (pollen analysis) and charcoal analysis to reconstruct past environments and understand how humans have shaped landscapes over millennia. His work extensively involves collaboration with Indigenous communities throughout Australia, the Pacific, and Indian Ocean regions to conduct in-country research and training projects. A key focus of his research is examining how people have used fire to manage and change landscapes through time, with implications for contemporary land management practices. He has also developed expertise in understanding the impact of atmospheric pollen and spores on respiratory health, leading to the development of tools like the CanberraPollen and AirRater websites.

With over 200 scientific publications to his name, Professor Haberle's research demonstrates a consistent focus on Quaternary environmental change and human-environment interactions. His recent work shows an increasing emphasis on indigenous knowledge systems and their integration with scientific approaches to land management, particularly regarding fire ecology. His publications reveal expertise in megafauna extinctions, human colonization of the Pacific, and the long-term impacts of human activities on island ecosystems.

Professor Haberle has developed several significant e-Research tools and citizen science projects, including the Australasian Pollen and Spore Atlas, CanberraPollen, AirRater, and PalaeoWorks websites. These initiatives demonstrate his commitment to making scientific knowledge accessible and applicable to broader audiences. His leadership as Director of the School of Culture, History and Language at ANU positions him at the intersection of humanities and environmental science, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to understanding human-environment relationships.