Steve Tims

Steve Tims is a Senior Fellow in the Department of Nuclear Physics & Accelerator Applications at the Australian National University (ANU), where he conducts interdisciplinary research bridging nuclear physics and Earth sciences. His work leverages ANU's 14 million volt accelerator for high-precision measurements, with significant contributions to understanding soil erosion dynamics, Anthropocene stratigraphy, and Pacific climate systems through international collaborations across Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Africa.

His research interests center on Accelerator Mass Spectrometry applications in Nuclear Physics and Earth and Planetary Sciences, with specialized focus on plutonium isotope tracing for soil erosion quantification, atmospheric change reconstruction, and identification of geological markers for the Anthropocene epoch. Tims' methodology integrates nuclear techniques with environmental science to address critical questions about human impacts on Earth systems and historical climate variability.

Recent publications reveal a consistent trend toward applying accelerator-based techniques to pressing environmental challenges, particularly in defining Anthropocene boundaries using global geological archives and quantifying soil erosion processes through radionuclide tracers. His collaborative work spans soil conservation in agricultural landscapes, Pacific climate-ocean interactions during deglacial periods, and technical advancements in mass spectrometry instrumentation.

Tims serves as Chief Investigator on multiple Australian Research Council projects, including the ARC Training Centre for Radiation Innovation (2024-2028) addressing national security applications, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics (2020-2027). His project portfolio demonstrates sustained funding for research on soil erosion mapping in Australia, nucleosynthesis studies, and Top End soil formation dynamics. He is registered to supervise research students and actively contributes to training initiatives in radiation science.

Within ANU's Research School of Physics, Tims operates within the accelerator mass spectrometry group utilizing the 14 million volt facility for environmental and nuclear applications. His laboratory work supports diverse investigations ranging from soil conservation science to fundamental nuclear physics, maintaining strong international partnerships that extend his research impact across multiple continents.