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Cris Brack

Assoc Professor Forest measurement & management, Australian National University

I completed a B.Sc.(for) with 1st class Honours at the ANU as a Forestry Commission Trainee in 1981 and then went to work for the NSW government. After 3 years as a field forester, I moved to Sydney where I eventually became the Senior Inventory Officer responsible for quantifying the growth and value of plantations and native forests of NSW. In 1994, I returned to the ANU to teach and research into forest measurement and management.

In 2009, I took leave to become the inaugural Chair and Professor of Forestry at the Waiariki Institute (Rotorua, New Zealand) and subsequently became the Director of Research with a mandate to increase the research profile and potential of that Institute (in fields from primary industry, Maori development, nursing and health studies, computing and business). After a successful 3 years, I returned to the ANU to take up my teaching and research roles in the Fenner School of Environment and Society.

I am a member of the Institute of Foresters of Australia (IFA)

I am a Director of the National Arboretum Canberra Foundation

It's not so easy to gain the true measure of things

Dec 15, 2018 16:43 pm UTC| Science

I teach measurement the quantification of things. Some people think this is the most objective of the sciences; just numbers and observations, or what many people call objective facts. Lord Kelvin, a famous British...

Trees are made of human breath

Aug 13, 2018 15:06 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Outside my office window, two skilled workers complete a hard and dirty job. Theyre cutting the felled trunk of a tree into small enough pieces to be thrown into the back of a truck with the rest of the chipped remains. I...

Economy

Gordie Howe International Bridge Set to Open, Boosting U.S.-Canada Trade Links

The long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, is expected to open within weeks, marking a major milestone for cross-border trade and transportation between the United...

South Korea Q1 GDP Growth Revised Higher as AI-Driven Exports Boost Economic Outlook

South Koreas economy grew faster than previously estimated in the first quarter of 2026, according to revised figures released by the Bank of Korea on Tuesday. The updated data highlights the countrys strong export...

China Trade Surplus Surges in May 2026 as Exports and AI-Driven Imports Accelerate

Chinas trade surplus expanded more than expected in May 2026, supported by strong export growth and rising imports linked to the countrys growing semiconductor and artificial intelligence sectors. According to customs data...

Asian Currencies Gain as U.S. Dollar Softens Ahead of Key Inflation Data in 2026

Asian currencies traded mostly higher on Tuesday as the U.S. dollar retreated from a two-month high, with investors closely monitoring the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran and preparing for crucial U.S. inflation...

Asian Stocks Rebound as AI and Chip Shares Recover; Easing Iran Tensions Boost Sentiment

Asian stock markets moved higher on Tuesday, supported by a strong rebound in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares after heavy losses in previous sessions. Investor sentiment also improved as...

Politics

Alaska Senate Candidate Named Dan Sullivan Faces Investigation Over Alleged Voter Confusion Scheme

Alaska election officials have launched an investigation into a U.S. Senate candidate who shares the same name as Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan, amid allegations that his candidacy was designed to confuse...

Trump Administration Defends Anthropic AI Restrictions in Ongoing Federal Lawsuit

The Trump administration has defended its decision to restrict the use of Anthropics artificial intelligence products, arguing in a new court filing that the federal government acted lawfully after the AI company resisted...

Iran and Israel Halt Attacks After Trump Appeal as Regional Tensions Remain High

Iran and Israel announced they had suspended direct attacks against each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, easing fears of a wider Middle East conflict. However, Tehran warned that military action...

Taiwan Simulates Repelling Chinese Invasion in Major Coastal Live-Fire Exercise

Taiwans military conducted a large-scale live-fire coastal defense exercise on Tuesday, simulating the destruction of an invading Chinese force during an amphibious assault. The drill, held along Taiwans west coast facing...

Trump Claims Iran War Victory Near as Oil Prices Expected to Drop

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday evening that the United States is nearing victory in its conflict with Iran, adding that global oil prices could decline significantly once the war comes to an end. During a...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

OpenAI Files Confidential IPO Draft as AI Giants Race Toward Public Markets

OpenAI has confidentially submitted a draft S-1 registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), taking a major step toward a potential initial public offering (IPO). The move positions the...

Apple Unveils Enhanced Apple Intelligence and Next-Generation Siri at WWDC 2026

Apple has introduced the latest version of its Apple Intelligence platform at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2026, signaling a stronger push into the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence market. The...

Qualcomm Stock Gains After Jensen Huang Endorsement

Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) shares moved higher in after-hours trading on Monday, rising approximately 2% after NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang publicly praised the semiconductor company and encouraged investors to...

Naver Stock Jumps on NVIDIA Partnership to Build South Korea’s AI Infrastructure

Naver Corp. (KS:035420) shares surged on Monday after the South Korean technology giant announced a major artificial intelligence partnership with NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA). The news fueled strong investor...

Nvidia Expands South Korea AI Partnerships to Strengthen Data Center and Memory Chip Supply

Nvidia has announced a series of strategic partnerships with leading South Korean technology companies as the AI chip giant seeks to strengthen its supply chain and accelerate the growth of its artificial intelligence...