Lecturer -
"PhD"
| Contact Campus | Sandy Bay Campus |
| Building | Geography-Geology Building |
| Room Reference | 441 |
| Telephone | +61 3 6226 2461 |
| Fax | +61 3 6226 2989 |
| kevin.kiernan@utas.edu.au |
Kevins principal undergraduate teaching involves teaching and coordinating the third year unit Conservation Geomorphology (KGA327) and the second year unit Geography of Australia’s Asian Neighbours (KGA202). He also teaches into the third year unit Natural Area Management (KGA378), the second year unit Earth, Climate and Life (KGA204), and the first year unit The Global Geography of Change (KGA171). In addition, he supervises honours and postgraduate students working in various aspects of geomorphology, Quaternary Studies, geoheritage conservation and environmental management. He strongly believes that the real world is the best place to learn and dreams of a university without buildings and walls and a government and business sector with sufficient commitment to education to ensure a budget adequate to allow more excursions and fieldwork. Kevin also coordinates the Study Abroad program for the School.
Research Foci
An enduring passion for environments high and white has resulted in much of Kevin’s research being focused on geomorphology and Quaternary environmental change of mountain and polar environments, commencing in Tasmania and then extending into the Antarctic and Arctic. He has also had a long term interest in karst and karst management and has undertaken research into a variety of other topics including landscape evolution and environmental management in SE Asia. In recent years Kevin has increasingly researched the environmental impact of armed conflict and its potential implications for gauging compliance with the international laws of war, and also for “post-conflict” governance, social and economic development and land management.
Background and Community Engagement
Kevin focuses his community engagement on supporting various environmental and social causes. In earlier years he was an active participant in environmental NGOs, including as Secretary of the Lake Pedder Action Committee, Chairman of the South West Tasmania Action Committee and the founding Director of the Wilderness Society. He subsequently worked as a national park planner and occasional consultant and then gained insight into the view from the other side of the coin by spending 15 years working in the Tasmanian forestry system until leaving his position as Senior Geomorphologist with the Tasmanian Forest Practices Board in 2002. While he has at times contributed as a member of official bodies such as the Balanced Panel of Experts established by the Tasmanian government as part of the Tasmanian Forests and Forest Industry strategy process, his long-term real world experience of public policy, coupled with his earlier university studies of public administration have left him with the view that much of what masquerades as an attempt to harness diverse perspectives in shaping policy is too often merely a mechanism to neutralise viewpoints contrary to preconceived political or bureaucratic agenda by diverting the time and energy of advocates. For this reason, Kevin now generally restricts himself to low key, grass roots community engagement such as informal advice and pro bono consultancies for organisations and individuals espousing causes that he considers worthy of support.