Mike Sandiford is Professor of Geology at the University of Melbourne. His research interests include tectonics, earthquake geology, geomorphology and geothermics. His work on the thermal structure of the Australian crust provides a framework for understanding the extraordinary abundance of Uranium in Australia, and helped promote interest in geothermal energy exploration in South Australia. He has published over 170 peer-reviewed scientific papers and supervised more than 80 young researchers at Honours, Masters, PhD and junior postdoc level. He was recipient of consecutive ARC professorial fellowships (2000-2009), the Mawson Medal from the Australian Academy of Sciences in 2004 (for outstanding contributions to Australian Earth Science), the Hobbs Medal, the Carey Medal and Stilwell Medal (three times) from the Geological Society of Australia. He is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the Geological Society of Australia. He chaired the Science Advisory Framework for NCRIS geoscience capability AuScope. He directed the Melbourne Energy Institute at the University of Melbourne from 2009-2016.
Sep 07, 2016 10:46 am UTC| Insights & Views
The European Commissions latest Quarterly report on electricity markets makes sobering reading down under. Over the last year wholesale electricity prices have been falling just about everywhere across the developed...
Italy's deadly earthquake is the latest in a history of destruction
Aug 27, 2016 13:24 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature
The Appenines region of central Italy has been struck by a deadly earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.2. The quake, which had an epicentre roughly 10km southeast of Norcia, Italy, occurred just over seven years after the...
Our planet is heating - the empirical evidence
Aug 16, 2016 14:07 pm UTC| Nature
In an entertaining and somewhat chaotic episode of QA (Monday 15th August) pitching science superstar Brian Cox against climate contrarian and global conspiracy theorist and now senator Malcolm Roberts, the question of...
The will of government is key to energy access...
Jun 02, 2016 09:51 am UTC| Insights & Views Nature
The Bropkas meet the grid In what must surely be a first for the Conversation, I am writing this post from the village of Sakteng in remote eastern Bhutan. That I can do so is a remarkable testimony to the will of the...
Apr 29, 2016 10:01 am UTC| Insights & Views Life Nature
Its more than a little disconcerting to wake every hour or so, gasping for air, suffocating. It happened to me during a field season in southern Tibet camped at about 5400 metres above sea level. With my normal sleep...
A precarious geological bargain
Apr 18, 2016 14:21 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature
The landscapes of the Xinjiang province of western China are very special. It is here the ancient trade routes of the Silk Roads skirt the great mountains and deserts of central Asia, weaving a magic thread through a...
There’s an extra $1 billion on the table for NT schools. This could change lives if spent well