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The University of Western Australia's Professor Richard Hobbs is to be awarded the 2010 Ecological Society of Australia Gold Medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the study of ecology in Australia.

The award recognises Professor Hobbs' significant contribution to research in both theoretical and applied aspects of restoration ecology, and his role in improving communications among scientists and with practitioners in ecosystem management.

Professor Hobbs joined UWA in 2009 as Professor of Restoration Ecology in the School of Plant Biology, and holds an Australian Laureate Fellowship.

He leads a dynamic research group in the UWA Ecosystem Research Laboratory, which is involved in projects such as woodland restoration on former agricultural land, speeding the return of vertebrates to rehabilitated bauxite mines, and understanding the impacts of urbanisation on native plant communities.  His particular interests are in vegetation dynamics and management, invasive species, ecosystem restoration, conservation biology and landscape ecology.

The award will be presented at the Ecological Society of Australia 's annual conference to be held in Canberra in December and includes a presentation by Professor Hobbs.

Professor Hobbs is the author of more than 300 scientific publications and author or editor of 18 books.  He is currently Editor-in-Chief of the journal Restoration Ecology and was elected to the Australian Academy of Science in 2004.

Media references

Professor Richard Hobbs (UWA School of Plant Biology)  (+61 8)  6488 4691
Sally-Ann Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 7975  /  (+61 4) 20 790 098