Biography summary
Research Fellow at Deakin University's Centre for Integrative Ecology |
Drone scientist | Developing economic arguments for emerging technologies for wildlife conservation |
Coordinate drone use at Deakin University as Chief Remote Pilot |
Career highlights
- Rising Star of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology 2020 - The Australian Research Magazine (https://www.newcastle.edu.au/newsroom/featured/our-researchers-recognised-in-the-australians-research-2020-magazine).
- Best Higher Degree by Research Engagement Award 2020 - Faculty Research and Research Training Committee, The University of Newcastle, Australia.
- Academic Division Awards – Collaboration Excellence 2020 - The University of Newcastle, Australia.
Research interests
- Emerging technologies for wildlife conservation
- Drone technology
- Wildlife monitoring
- Koala conservation
- Conservation public policy
- Economic modelling and analyses
- Assisted reproductive technologies / biobanking
- Scholarship of teaching and learning
Affiliations
Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University | https://cie-deakin.com/
FAUNA Research Alliance | https://faunaresearchalliance.com/
Knowledge areas
- Emerging technologies for wildlife conservation
- Drone technology
- Wildlife monitoring
- Conservation public policy
- Economic modelling and analyses
- Assisted reproductive technologies / biobanking
Conferences
Conference Presentation:
- Attenuation of disturbance of waterbird species during repeat drone surveys regardless of altitude or drone type - Speed Talk and Poster, Ecological Society of Australia 2022 Conference, Wollongong, Australia
- Arguments for the development of assisted reproductive technologies and biobanking in the iconic and imperilled koala - Invited Presentation to the Australasian Biospecimen Network Association 19th Annual Conference (Biobanking: Blue Sky Horizons), Perth, Australia
- Use of drone technology as a wildlife monitoring tool - Invited Presentation to the Ecological Consultants Association of NSW Annual Conference 2022
- Drones as an emerging wildlife monitoring tool: progress, challenges and opportunities - Ninth Biodiversity Across the Borders Conference - Caro Convention Centre, Mount Helen Campus, Federation University 2022.
- Emerging arguments for ARTs in wildlife and their implications for assisted reproduction in the conservation breeding of managed marsupials - Invited Presentation to the CANDES Preconference Symposium at the 48th Annual Conference for the International Embryo Technology Society 2022
- Modelling genetic benefits and financial costs of integrating biobanking into the conservation breeding of managed marsupials - Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference 2021
- Integrating biobanking could produce significant cost-benefits and minimise inbreeding for Australian amphibian captive breeding programs - Ecological Society of Australia 2021 Conference.
- Cost-effective amphibian captive breeding using biobanking to meet IUCN 100-year, 90 percent heterozygosity criteria - 9th World Congress of Herpetology 2020. Dunedin, New Zealand.
- Is drone technology the cost-effective solution for koala monitoring? - Ecological Society of Australia 2020 Conference.
Co-authored poster:
- PUTTING THE PASS IN CLASS: IN-CLASS PEER MENTORING ON CAMPUS AND ONLINE - Proceedings of The Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education 2020.
Professional activities
CASA Accredited RPA (drone) pilot:
- CASA Remote Pilot License (RePL).
- Aeronautical Radio Operator Certificate (AROC).
- Drone Night Operations Training.
- Sub-25kg multi-rotor endorsement.
- Deakin University's Chief Remote Pilot, Drone Operations Coordinator and Maintenance Controller
Media appearances
I have made media appearances for a wide range of environmental science and policy topics. I have had a global media reach of over 1.3 billion people for viral stories related particularly to koala conservation projects.
Some recent highlights include:
- Australian Geographic Coverage
- National Television & National Radio
Follow my media:
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/docloc_
Read my articles in The Conversation here: https://theconversation.com/profiles/lachlan-g-howell-875942/articles
Research groups
Centre for Integrative Ecology
Awards
- Rising Star of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology 2020 - The Australian Research Magazine (https://www.newcastle.edu.au/newsroom/featured/our-researchers-recognised-in-the-australians-research-2020-magazine).
- Best Higher Degree by Research Engagement Award 2020 - Faculty Research and Research Training Committee, The University of Newcastle, Australia.
- Academic Division Awards – Collaboration Excellence 2020 - The University of Newcastle, Australia.
Projects
- Principal Research Fellow on 'Use of emerging technologies for native wildlife population assessment and management'
- Co-lead on 2022 Mini ARC Analog Program – Discovery: 'Machine learning development for automated drone detection of cryptic wildlife’
- Lead on 2022 CSIRO-funded National Koala Monitoring Program project: 'Drone surveys vs double-observer counts for East Gippsland Koala populations'
Publications
No publications found
Funded Projects at Deakin
Other Public Sector Funding
Drone surveys vs double-observer counts for East Gippsland Koala populations.
Dr Lachlan Howell, Dr Desley Whisson, A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Dr Blake Allan, Prof Don Driscoll
CSIRO
- 2022: $49,966
Supervisions
No completed student supervisions to report