Research Centres in the School of Earth and Environmental Science

Centre for Disaster Studies

The Centre for Disaster Studies is a multi disciplinary research unit presently housed in the School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography of James Cook University. The Centre has acted as the university's face to the public and the professionals in the Emergency Management and Meteorology fields, city councils and other researchers since its establishment in 1979.

The Centre for Disaster Studies was formally established a few years after James Cook University opened. The catalysts for the development of a research centre dedicated to study of the impact of disaster were two major cyclones; Althea which devastated Townsville in 1971 and Tracy which destroyed Darwin in 1974. These events generated strong research interest in cyclones and natural hazards.

The Centre receives an annual grant from the Queensland Department of Emergency Services to continue its function as Queensland's only Disaster research unit. Presently Associate Professor David King (Director) provides direction for the Centre through his leadership and guidance of our multidisciplinary research team.

Centre for Tropical Urban and Regional Planning

The Centre for Tropical Urban and Regional Planning (CTURP) is a multi-disciplinary research group established within the School of Earth and Environmental Science (SEES) of James Cook University.

The CTURP was established in 1993 in response to the need for a substantial focus toward the urban, regional and environmental planning within North Queensland, a region where expanding industries and population cohabit with natural environments such as the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics World Heritage areas.

Centre for Fishing and Fisheries Science

The Fishing and Fisheries Research Centre provides pivotal, relevant stakeholder driven fisheries research. Located at James Cook University in the tropical north, the F&F Research Centre is in a unique position to provide timely research and advice to both state and federal fisheries managers.

Economic Geology Research Unit.

The Economic Geology Research Unit is a unique concept on the Australian geology scene and was deliberately set up in 1982 as an interactive resource base interfacing Academia and Industry. The Unit is funded through Industry and Government membership subscriptions and housed within the School of Earth Sciences at James Cook University in Townsville, NE Queensland, Australia. The principal function of EGRU is to facilitate knowledge transfer in the field of economic geology between public sector researchers, industry professionals and companies.

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