Symposia to celebrate Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick
Later in 2025, there will be two symposia to celebrate the long career of Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick.
There will be a special symposium at the Ecological Society of Australia’s conference in Adelaide in November this year (see information below), and a similar symposium in Hobart, Tasmania, for those who are not attending ESA.
For now – we are just asking that you save the date – FRIDAY 10th OCTOBER 2025, for an all-day event in Hobart. We expect the format to be similar to Jamie’s 60th and 70th birthday symposia, which featured a range of scientific presentations (from plenary to speed talks), anecdotes, a poem or two and a song.
More details will be forthcoming, and we will put out a call for presenters and set up an event page closer to the time.
ESA symposium proposal:
Distinguished Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick’s legacy in ecology, conservation, and geography is profound and enduring. Appointed as a lecturer at the University of Tasmania in the early 1970s, Jamie’s career spanned over half a century of pioneering research, policy influence, and academic leadership. As a geographer and conservation ecologist, he measured his success by the new knowledge he uncovered and its application to protecting the natural world. His work has left an indelible mark on conservation science, and on conservation scientists (many his students), from his pioneering reserve design optimisation method to his long-held belief that 30% was a minimum target for protection.
Jamie was recognised for his contributions to conservation planning, and his ‘energy, intellect and integrity’, winning the Eureka Prize for Environmental Research in 1997. He was President of the Ecological Society of Australia 1996-1997, won the 2009 ESA Gold Medal, and was an active ESA member. In 2003, Jamie was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his research and implementation work on world heritage and forest conservation. In 2006, he was awarded the Doctor of Science by the University, marking his distinguished original contribution to scientific knowledge and authoritative standing in the field. He was appointed a Distinguished Professor in 2009.
Driven by the question of how to ensure that natural diversity outlasts fossil fuel reliance, Jamie’s work extended beyond protected areas to encompass nature conservation in farms, production forests, urban spaces, including people’s front (and back) gardens. He believed that human well-being was intrinsically linked to our relationship with nature, connection to place, and to community, and he was clear about the political context of conservation both in wilderness and everyday landscapes. This symposium seeks to celebrate and build upon his legacy by inviting speakers whose work aligns with and extends Jamie’s foundational contributions on:
1. Conservation Science & Policy: Jamie’s work directly influenced conservation policy in Australia and beyond. His research informed protected area management, environmental legislation, and land-use planning.
2. Vegetation Ecology, Landscape Change & Geodiversity: From alpine and subalpine ecosystems to coastal and marine areas, Jamie’s work shaped our understanding of vegetation dynamics, disturbance ecology, and the role of geodiversity in conservation.
3. World Heritage & Wilderness Protection: Jamie played a critical role in securing World Heritage status for key Australian landscapes and advocated for wilderness conservation.
4. Climate Change, Resilience & Future Landscapes: Jamie’s research anticipated many of the pressing ecological challenges posed by climate change.
5. Human-Nature Interactions & Urban Conservation: Jamie believed that maintaining nature in farms, forests, and cities was just as crucial as wilderness protection. He explored how people relate to trees, birds, and green spaces, and how conservation could be integrated into urban environments.
The aim of this symposium is to bring together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners who have been influenced by or continue to build upon Jamie Kirkpatrick’s work. We encourage presentations that reflect on his impact while offering forward-looking perspectives on designing and implementing bold actions for a resilient future.
Thank you for your interest – more information will be shared in the coming weeks, and we hope you’ll join us in celebrating and advancing Jamie’s remarkable legacy.
