Contacts
Nick's research focuses on ridge-to-reef environmental monitoring as well as GIS environmental modelling and remote-sensing land-sea frameworks through riparian corridors. He completed his MSc in the water science specialisation through courses in both the Fenner School as well as the Research School of Earth Sciences at the ANU. Nick also completed his MSc thesis research on quantifying the impacts of in-river gravel extraction on sediment transport in Fiji.
Nick's research areas and skills include: GIS and remote sensing, hydrological and environmental modelling, python, FullCAM carbon accounting, field sampling and measurements of surfacewater and groundwater chemical, geophysical and hydrological parameters and some ecological fieldwork sampling experience forestry biomass carbon assessments as well as sampling of benthic invertebrates and ichthyofauna.
He has worked in a range of Government Departments including the Federal Departments of Agriculture, Water and Environment, the Climate Change Division of the Department of Environment and Energy and the Australian Trade Commission. During this time, Nick also worked in environmental monitoring of the impacts of the Ranger Uranium Mine on the Magela floodplains and creeks adjacent close to Jabiru and Kakadu in the Northern Territory. Nick led a team of volunteers to secure second place in the MAXAR Spatial Challenge regional category through a project that combined Digital Globe sub-metre high resolution imagery with FullCAM modelling to assess regeneration of biomass carbon in the context of the 2019-20 bushfire recovery through a case study in Cann River, Gippsland.
Peer reviewed journal articles
Metherall, N., & Caucau, T. (2021). Environmental monitoring and the geospatial sprawl of historic mining legacies in Australia. International Journal for Society Systems Sciences. Retrieved from https://www.inderscience.com/jhome.php?jcode=ijsss.
Korwa, J., Metherall, N., Rumabar, B., Mampioper, J., Ranathunga, T., (2021). Peri-urbanisation in Papua: a participatory and geospatial impact assessment of peri-urban development and transmigration in Port Numbay. Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20502680.
Metherall, N., Effendi, J., Dews, G., Frans, S., Mella, W., Pello, J., Dhaja, C., Besh, A. (2016). "Au ume ma au ena”: my house and my mother: An investigation of environmental health and the traditional use of the ume kbubu in relation to maternal and neonatal mortality conditions in South Central Timor. International Journal of Indonesian Studies (IJIS), 3. Retrieved from https://www.monash.edu/arts/languages-literatures-cultures-linguistics/indonesian-studies-journal/ijis-issue-1-november-2013/ijis-spring-2016.
Peer reviewed reports
Metherall, N., & Tomlinson, M. (2018). Review of the potential effects of increased solute egress from mine tailings and waste rock on ecological connectivity in Magela Creek. Report no. RES-2016-005. Environmental Research Institute of the Office of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS). Darwin.
Theses
Metherall, N. (2020). Quantifying the effects of dry season aggregate extraction on downstream turbidity and sediment transport: a water quality and hydrology assessment of Dawasamu River. Submitted as requirement for completion of the Masters of Environment (MSc Advanced) at the Australian National University (ANU).
Metherall, N. (2015). Beyond islands of excellence: complexity and trade-offs within wide-scale rural community-driven development. Submitted as Honours Thesis (La Trobe University).
Reports
Metherall, N. (2019). ‘Hydrology Section’ Baseline Environmental Assessment of the Ba upper-catchment for the UNDP STAR Ridge-to-Reef Project. Retrieved from https://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=580.
Metherall, N. (2019). Hydrology Section of Drought Vulnerability Assessment for Ba and Macuata Province, Fiji. Retrieved from https://www.adra.org.au/
Metherall, N. (2014). ‘Our village, our contribution: community-driven development as a participatory roadmap towards the sustainable development goals.’ Retrieved from https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56635f09e4b078c56b4d110b/t/5beb6e8b40ec9a9a7be5d8e5/1542155944881/Our+Village%2C+Our+Contribution+%28Nicholas+Metherall+-+La+Trobe+University’s+Faculty+of+Humanities+%26+Social+Sciences%29+copy.pdf
Scientific Posters
Metherall, N. (2019). A ridge to reef environmental monitoring framework: spatial and temporal variability in geochemistry, water quality and hydrological influences into alkalinity and pH ranges along the Ba River. (First prize, student category). Pacific GIS and RS Research Poster Competition First Prize Student Category. Retrieved from http://www.picgisrs.org/conference-2/.
Metherall, N. (2016). ‘A Framework for Effective Community Based Adaptation in Small Island Developing States’. CSIRO Poster Competition National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, (5-6 July 2016).
