ProfessorJames Shulmeister

I focus on reconstructing the Paleoclimatology of the South Western Pacific Basin and the Asian Monsoon region (China, Indonesia, Northern Australia). I also target abrupt climate change events such as the Younger Dryas and the Antarctic Cold Reversal. To adress these issues, I work on high resolution Late Quaternary terrestrial records using sedimentology, geochemistry and micropaleontology. I am involved in glacial geology and geochronological investigations of the timing, extent and nature of Southern Hemisphere glaciations. I have a long history in the development of quantitative (and qualitative) paleoclimate proxies. I work in Quaternary coastal evolution and sea-level changes especially on coastal dunes and gravel dominated sedimentary systems.

I am an Honorary Professor at the University of Queensland, School of Environment. I am a Past-President of the Australia New Zealand Geomorphology Group. I have a continuing association with K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) and am a member of the K'gari World Heritage Advisory Committee.

Long term (non-UC) collaborators include Enlou Zhang; (NIGLAS, CAS, Nanjing); Doug Clark (Western Washington); Nick Patton (Idaho State University); Tammy Rittenour (Utah State University); Glenn Thackray (Idaho State University; David Fink (ANSTO, Australia); Dave Evans (Durham, UK) and many others. 

Current Research focusses on long term glaciation in New Zealand with a focus on Clutha system in Central Otago (Marsden Project 2026-29). (I am project lead with Leighton Watson (UC), David Fink (ANSTO), Tammy Rittenour (Utah State) Glenn Thackray (Idaho State).  I undertake landscape interpretation for Australian Research Council Projects on Mithaka Counry in SW Queensland (with Michael Westaway, Duncan Keenan-Jones and many others) and a Marsden Project on the Maori agricultural heritage of islands off the New Zealand mainland (Matiu Prebble is the project leader). I have other projects on glaciation in South Island and coastal environmental histories in Australia.and New Zealand.

I am currently not accepting new PhD students (through Dec 2027), but I have limited availability for Masters and Honours.