Science Faculty Student Advisor, Resource and Environmental Management Program Convenor

Senior Lecturer
Earth sciences, farm forestry, soil formation and management, biota and regolith / soils, regolith and landscape evolution, sustainable land management
Phone: +61 (0)2 6125 3566
Fax: + 61 (0)2 6125 0746
E-mail: John.Field@anu.edu.au

I grew up in Sydney and was educated at Sydney Boys High, and then the UNSW where I studied pedology, geomorphology and geology, completing a 4 year concurrent Honours in Science in 1973. I moved to UNE at Armidale and wrote a PhD on the hydro-bio-geochemistry of small rural catchments. After 6 years' teaching in the Faculty of Natural Resources at UNE, I joined CRA (now RTZ) Exploration in Canberra as an in-house geomorphologist / consultant in their Research Group. In 1986, I joined the then ANU Forestry Department to teach soils to forestry and resource management students. I own and manage a grazing property on which I am practising what I preach by planting trees to demonstrate the integration and viability of agroforestry and farm forestry while maintaining sustainable cattle, sheep and goat enterprises. I act as a consultant and advisor to landcare, agriculture (including alternative agriculture), forestry and mining. I am also very interested in student services at ANU and advise students on degrees, courses and careers as student advisor to the School.

Professional Activities

Soils and landscapes, and any aspect of their formation, evolution and management is a fair summary of my research interests. In this context, I was a founding member of CARS (Centre for Australian Regolith Studies) and then CRC LEME Mk I and Mk II (Landscape Environment and Mineral Exploration). My fundamental interest is the critical relationship that exists between biota (trees) and soil - the effects that biota have on the formation and evolution of soils, regolith and landscapes. I research these relationships along with the Honours and postgraduate students I supervise.

I have a continuing interest in multipurpose and sustainable utilisation of trees in agricultural and forest land management, planning and development. To this end I lead a major RIRDC funded project on 'The Management of Privately Owned Dry Sclerophyll Forests'. I am also interested in the 'intangible values' of privately owned forestry and farm forestry including environmental services, capital value of land and aesthetic values.

Courses I coordinate, or in which I teach (both under and post graduate), include: Australia's Environment, Australian Landforms and Soils, Soil Resources and Management, Land and Catchment Management and Farm and Urban Forestry.

Selected Publications

Fu, B., L.H. Newham, J.B. Field and A.J. Jakeman, 2007. A Catchment-scale model of rod erosion and sediment delivery. MODSIM (International Congress of Modelling and Simulation), Christchurch NZ, December.

Field, J.B. and J.Schirmer, 2006. Non-wood economic values of farm forestry. AFG Sustainable forestry - everyone benefits, Launceston, October.

Field, J.B. 2004. Geomorphology and the Biota. ANZGG Conference, Mt Buffalo, Victoria, February.

Field, J.B. and G. R. Anderson, 2003. Biological Agents in Regolith Processes: Case study on the Southern Tablelands, NSW. CRC LEME Conference, Canberra, November.