Coen Hird

Qualifications

BSc(Zoology + Ecology) (Hons I), PhD

Position

Lecturer

School of the Environment, The University of Queensland

Affiliated Researcher

Contact details

Address: The University of Queensland,

Goddard Building (08), Room 338

St Lucia campus, Queensland, 4072, Australia

Email: c.hird"at"uq.edu.au

Phone: +61 409 258 537

Research Overview and Current Projects

I am a trawlwoolway pakana early career researcher whose interdisciplinary research operates at the interface of Indigenous science, ecological physiology, anticolonial environmental governance and Indigenous engagement.

My work spans ecophysiology of aquatic vertebrates, insect ecology, curriculum Indigenisation, and Indigenous studies.

My scientific research explores the physiological effects of environmental stressors on organisms. Alongside this, I lead Indigenist research projects on culturally grounded environmental science. I am currently working with Aboriginal communities, school partners, and Indigenous collectives to co-develop monitoring protocols, curricula, and research methods that uphold Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing.

My current projects include:

Monitoring and stewardship of stingless bees as sacred pollinators;
International Indigenous-led migratory bird conservation;
International review of UNDRIP implementation in CANZUS research institutions;
Co-design of Indigenous science curricula at the tertiary and secondary level;

Background

I hold a PhD in ecological physiology from The University of Queensland, where I now lecture. My honours research investigated the role of environmental calcium in the extreme low pH tolerance of acid frogs to naturally occurring wallum environments. My doctoral research looked at the physiological basis of rising ultraviolet radiation contributing to amphibian declines, integrating field experiments, laboratory assays, and modelling. My recent work engages with Critical Indigenous Studies, Indigenous Standpoint Theory, and relational ethics to engage differently with environmental sciences.

Supervision

Emily McConachie (PhD): “Who Speaks for the Bunya? Bunya survivance, strategy and risk-management when confronted with commercialisation and environmental harm”
Jackson Nugent (Honours): “Investigating the effects of weather parameters on stingless bee activity”

Publications

2025

Hird, C., Franklin, C., & Cramp, R. (2025) Sunlight surveillance: A simplified approach for the monitoring of harmful UV radiation in freshwater ecosystems. Biology Open 14(4), bio061991. https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.061991
Hird, C. (In press) Haunting Biology: Science and Indigeneity in Australia by Emma Kowal (review). Native American and Indigenous Studies Journal.
Hird, C., Williams, L., Walker, J., & Henaway, A. (Under Review) Commodity and kin: Rethinking ‘Native Foods’ research. Nature Foods.
Hird, C., Salisbury, S., Walker, J. & Mos, B. Science Curriculum on Country I: Foundations. (In Press) In ‘A Handbook on Indigenising Curriculum at The University of Queensland’. Eds Bunda, T., Barney, K., Blue, L. & Deane, L.
Hird, C., Salisbury, S., Walker, J. & Mos, B. Science Curriculum on Country II: Case Studies and Applications. (In Press) In ‘A Handbook on Indigenising Curriculum at The University of Queensland’. Eds Bunda, T., Barney, K., Blue, L. & Deane, L.
Van Uitregt, V., Watene, K., Harnesk, D., Tidwell, T., Craft, A. & Hird, C. (In Press) Indigenous and First Peoples engagements with Antarctica. In ‘Handbook on the Politics of Antarctica’ (2nd Edition).
Hird, C. (In review) Critical Indigenous Theory and Epistemic Insurgency in Environmental Sciences. People & Nature

2024

Hird, C., Downie, A., Lundsgaard, N., Cramp, R., & Franklin, C. Considering ultraviolet radiation in experimental biology: a neglected pervasive stressor. Journal of Experimental Biology 227(16), jeb247231. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.247231
Hird, C., Barham, K., & Franklin, C. Looking beyond the mean: quantile regression for comparative physiologists. Journal of Experimental Biology 227(5), jeb247122 https://10.1242/jeb.247122
Hird, C., Flanagan, E., Franklin, C., & Cramp, R. Cold-induced skin darkening does not protect amphibian larvae from UV-associated DNA damage. Journal of Experimental Zoology 341(3), 272-281, https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.2780
Hird, C. (2024) ‘Shadows’, in Storying the archive: Evoking the Fryer Library Indigenous collection (Eds Bunda, T. & Deane, L.), UQ Press, QLD, Australia.

2023

Hird, C., Cramp, R., & Franklin, C. Thermal compensation reduces DNA damage from UV radiation. Journal of Thermal Biology 117, 103711, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103711
Hird, C., David-Chavez, D. M., Gion, S. S., van Uitregt, V. Moving beyond ontological (worldview) supremacy: Indigenous insights and a recovery guide for settler-colonial scientists. Journal of Experimental Biology 226(12), jeb245302, https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.245302
Lundsgaard, N., Hird, C., Doody, K., Franklin, C., & Cramp, R. Carryover effects from environmental change in early life: key driver missed in amphibian extinction crisis? Global Change Biology, 29(14), 3857-3868, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16726.
McKnight, D. T., Ard, K., Auguste, R. J., Barhadiya, G., Benard, M., Boban, P., Dillon, M., Downs, C., DeGregorio, B. A., Glorioso, B. M., Goodman, R., Hird, C., Hollender, E., Kennedy, M., Kidman, R., Massey, A., McGovern, P., Mühlenhaupt, M., Ostovar, K., Podgorski, D., Price, C., Reinke, B., Streeting, L., Venezia, J., Young, J., & Nordberg, E. J. Nocturnal basking in freshwater turtles: a global assessment. Global Ecology and Conservation, e02444, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02444.

2022

Hird, C., Franklin, C., & Cramp, R. Temperature causes species-specific responses to UV-induced DNA damage accumulation in amphibian larvae. Biology Letters, 18(10), 20220358, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2022.0358.
Todorov, O. S., Hird, C., Kraatz, B., Sherratt, E., Hill, N., Briganti, J., de Sousa, A. A, Blomberg, S., & Weisbecker, V. Down a rabbit hole: Burrowing behaviour and larger home ranges are related to larger brains in Leporids. Journal of Mammalian Evolution, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-022-09624-6.
Hird, C., Franklin, C., & Cramp, R. The role of environmental calcium in the extreme acid tolerance of northern banjo frog (Limnodynastes terraereginae) larvae. Journal of Experimental Biology, 225(13), jeb243860, https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.244376.
Hird, C. (2022) ‘Blinding whiteness: science and colonialism in the world’s deepest south’, in Griffith Review 77 (Eds. Hay, A., Tague, J., & Culver, C.), Griffith University, QLD, Australia.
- Reprinted in On This Ground: Australia's Best New Nature Writing, Monash University Publishing, 2024.
- Reprinted in Science Write Now, Edition 11: Synergy, 2025.

Academic experience and education and training

2025 – present: Lecturer, School of the Environment, UQ
2021 – 2025: Associate Lecturer, School of the Environment, UQ
2019 – 2024: Doctor of Philosophy, UQ. Advisors: Professor Craig Franklin & Dr Rebecca Cramp
2019 – 2021: Casual Academic – School of the Environment, UQ
2018 – 2019: Bachelor of Science. (1st Class Honours) – UQ. Advisors: Professor Craig Franklin & Dr Rebecca Cramp
2014 – 2018: Bachelor of Science (Zoology and Ecology majors) – UQ
2013 – 2014 Bachelor of Applied Science – UQ (partial completion)

Teaching Experience

2022 – current: Academic lecturer, UQ (BIOL3205 Animal Ecophysiology, SCIE4000 Research Methods, SCIE1000 Theory & Practice in Science, ANIM3033 Wildlife Population Management, BIOL3320 Vertebrate Diversity and Evolution, ANIM3018 Wildlife Technologies, ANIM1026 Australian Vertebrates, BIOL3030 Urban Ecology, BIOL2015 Field Ecology, Terrestrial Ecology (International Programs))

2023 – current: UQ OMF Program, Ngee Ann Polytechnic

2024: Guest Lecturer (University of Idaho). Decolonizing, Indigenous & Action-based Research Methods

2022: Guest Lecturer (Te Herenga Waka University of Wellington). Beyond the Ice: A Journey into Antarctic Science and Culture

Professional Memberships

National Indigenous STEM Professional Network
Native American Indigenous Studies Association
Society for Conservation Biology
Australian Freshwater Sciences Society
Australian Native Bee Association
The Society for Experimental Biology
Global Indigenous Migratory Kin Collective

Links

My researcher profile: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/32389
My Research Gate profile is here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Coen-Hird