Profiles
Melinda McHenry
Melinda McHenry
Physical Geographer and Learning and Teaching Strategist
Geography, Planning & Spatial Science
Sandy Bay Campus
+61 3 6226 2828 (phone)
Melinda is an agroecologist and physical geographer with fifteen years experience working in the natural resource sector at all levels of government and in industry. Melinda joined UTas in 2016 as a physical geographer and is now building a team of emerging researchers who will investigate wicked problems in agriculture and environment. Melinda’s work primarily focuses on the integration of native vegetation into production systems, but a lot of the time she invariably finds herself contributing to projects in soil management and restoration, riparian zone restoration, geoheritage conservation and environmental education and extension.
Melinda is a passionate advocate for common sense and bipartisanship when attempting to solve multi-stakeholder problems, an enthusiasm that she is passing on to her students and future research leaders.
Biography
Before joining the University of Tasmania in 2016, Melinda was the Head of Programme for Honours at Central QLD University in Rockhampton. Melinda had spent six years at CQU, contributing to a suite of innovative and novel enhancements in undergraduate science teaching and distance learning, with a focus on skill-based training for future graduates. Melinda’s passion for practical teaching and learning strategies has developed from a history of working with people in rural and regional centres since 2000.
Melinda commenced her career on-ground, working in plant protection in QLD whilst a distance education student at the University of New England. Upon returning to Armidale to complete post-graduate qualifications, Melinda held various positions including project officer (Environmental Weeds) with the New England Weeds Authority, contributing to invasive native species research in association with the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, and managing the NSW node of the National Soil Carbon programme with CSIRO.
Melinda has spent the majority of her academic career to date in teaching-focussed or managerial positions and has come to UTas to combine her skills in the aforementioned areas with her research interests
Career summary
Qualifications
Degree | Thesis title | University | Country | Date of award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ph. D. | Optimum Management of White Cypress Pine – Individuals to Landscapes | University of New England | Australia | 9/10/2009 |
B. Sc. Hons (1st Class) | Nitrogen mineralisation in soils of the Pilliga State Forests, NSW, Australia | University of New England | Australia | 31/03/2006 |
B. Sc. | University of New England | Australia | 31/03/2005 | |
Adv. Dip. I.T. | North Point Institute of TAFE | Australia | 12/12/1999 |
Languages (other than English)
- Indonesian (Intermediate)
Memberships
Professional practice
- Australian Soil Science Society
Committee associations
- Institute of Australian Geographers
- Australian Rangeland Society
Administrative expertise
Managing projects and large, inter-disciplinary teams; passionately and enthusiastically initiating and supporting change management; coordination of large datasets; advocacy; strategy; devising sound evaluation strategies to support rational decision making; managing teams with diverse skill-sets and with substantial disparities in engagement and capacity; management of challenging personalities and people in crisis.
Teaching
Natural environment, outdoors, practical, authentic, job-ready students, conservation, production, soils, agriculture, geography, ecology, restoration, wilderness, geoheritage, science, data, statistics, FUN!!
Teaching expertise
Melinda has considerable experience across all facets of Learning and Teaching including devising and evaluating institutional L&T policies and strategies, curriculum design and redesign, curriculum and programme leadership, and providing L&T mentorship and advice.
Melinda has taught into units in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, geography, soil science, statistics and zoology and has coordinated units in Science skills, Biology, Environmental Science, Land management and rehabilitation, Physical Geography and Landscape Evolution and Geoheritage Conservation. At an institutional level, Melinda is a multi-award winning academic who has been recognised each year with excellent student satisfaction rates, devising strategies and assessment instruments that have increased student success and retention, and breaking down barriers between online leaners and face-to-face cohorts.
Melinda has a particular enthusiasm for promoting the transformative benefits of tertiary and higher education, and has a reputation for providing honest and supportive learning and teaching experiences that are designed to help non-traditional learners maximise their skill set and be valuable industry employees and leaders. To that end, Melinda has led and/or contributed to a range of L&T research projects, sector-benchmarking and review exercises and publications.
Melinda has developed substantial expertise in the undergraduate and post-graduate research training space and is leading honours and masters curriculum re-design within the School of Technology, Environment and Design at UTas.
Teaching responsibility
Coordinator of the Geography and Environmental Studies stream of the Bachelor of Science (Honours) and units therein.
Undergraduate teaching:
- (1st year) – Lecturer – KGA171 Global geographies of change
- (2nd year) – Lecturer and Coordinator – KGA204 Earth, Climate and Life
- (3rd year) – Lecturer and Coordinator – KGA327 Landscape Evolution and Geoheritage Conservation
View more on Dr Melinda McHenry in WARP
Expertise
- Integration of native vegetation into production systems
- Assessment of geodiversity and geoheritage
- Applied soil management
- Soil and vegetation restoration
- Stakeholder engagement and interaction
- Higher education pedagogy, strategy and curricula
Research Themes
Melinda’s research straddles the University research themes, Environment and Resource Sustainability, and Data, Knowledge and Decisions. Her research interests include quantitative approaches to environmental and geomorphological phenomena, and building capacity in organisations and regional communities – empowering teams to make sensible and achievable decisions in agriculture and environment.
Melinda’s research examines the integration of native vegetation into production systems, and the ecological, biophysical (primarily soil) and socio-economic barriers to management of native vegetation in such systems. Melinda’s research on native species that, due to prior management regimes and climate change, have regenerated invasively, have informed debate and policy regarding optimum management of agroecological landscapes.
As an accomplished learning and teaching professional, Melinda is also expanding her research portfolio to examine practice change and capacity in higher education, especially that associated with research-informed teaching, and organisational capability in meeting graduate and industry demands.
Current projects
As Melinda is growing physical geography at UTas via student projects and industry linkages, she is currently working on a range of projects. These include:
- Assessment of micronutrient deficiencies in stock and humans due to soil deficiencies (alongside the School of Health at UTas, and the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture.
- Investigating strategies to manage invasive native bird species in agricultural landscapes (alongside the Coal River Valley Farmers Association and DPIPWE)
- Moving forward with Geoheritage – refinement and/or expansion of existing geoheritage frameworks to advance progress in Geopark designation of Tasmania’s diverse landforms and geology (alongside DPIPWE and the Australian Geological Society).
Fields of Research
- Agricultural land management (300202)
- Environment policy (440704)
Research Objectives
- Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems (180601)
Publications
Melinda’s publication history reflects her prior interest and engagment in agricultural ecology and soil carbon research.
Melinda’s upcoming and in-press publications reflect a new interest and career focus on geoheritage and agroecological restoration and planning.
Total publications
29
Journal Article
(17 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Williams MA, McHenry MT, 'The increasing need for Geographical Information Technology (GIT) tools in Geoconservation and Geotourism', Geoconservation Research ISSN 2645-4661 (In Press) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.30486/gcr.2020.1901102.1019 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Williams MA | |
| 2022 | Harrison-Day V, Prahalad V, McHenry MT, Aalders J, Kirkpatrick JB, 'Introduced Spartina anglica modifies fish habitat in southern temperate succulent saltmarshes', Restoration Ecology Article 13812. ISSN 1526-100X (2022) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/rec.13812 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Harrison-Day V; Prahalad V; Aalders J; Kirkpatrick JB | |
| 2021 | Adedokun BC, Kirkpatrick JB, McHenry MT, 'Recreational fishers contribute to path formation in subalpine vegetation', Ecological Management & Restoration, 23, (1) pp. 74-80. ISSN 1839-3330 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/emr.12541 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Adedokun BC; Kirkpatrick JB | |
| 2021 | Harrison-Day V, Prahalad V, Kirkpatrick JB, McHenry M, 'A systematic review of methods used to study fish in saltmarsh flats', Marine and Freshwater Research, 72, (2) pp. 149-162. ISSN 1323-1650 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1071/MF20069 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Harrison-Day V; Prahalad V; Kirkpatrick JB | |
| 2021 | Williams MA, McHenry MT, 'Tasmanian reserve geoconservation inventory assessment using Geographic Information Technology (GIT)', International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks ISSN 2577-4441 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgeop.2021.05.001 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3 Co-authors: Williams MA | |
| 2019 | Boothroyd A, McHenry M, 'Old processes, new movements: the inclusion of geodiversity in biological and ecological discourse', Diversity, 11, (11) Article 216. ISSN 1424-2818 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.3390/d11110216 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 23Web of Science - 22 Co-authors: Boothroyd A | |
| 2019 | Broadfield N, McHenry MT, 'A world of gorse: persistence of Ulex europaeus in managed landscapes', Plants, 8, (11) Article 523. ISSN 2223-7747 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.3390/plants8110523 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 9 Co-authors: Broadfield N | |
| 2018 | Tighe M, Reid N, Wilson BR, McHenry MT, 'High soil acidity under native shrub encroachment in the Cobar Pediplain, south-eastern Australia', Rangeland Journal, 40, (5) pp. 451-462. ISSN 1036-9872 (2018) [Refereed Article] | |
| 2015 | Bajgai Y, Kristiansen P, Hulugalle N, McHenry M, 'Comparison of organic and conventional managements on yields, nutrients and weeds in a corn-cabbage rotation', Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 30, (2) pp. 132-142. ISSN 1742-1705 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1017/S1742170513000264 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 22Web of Science - 15 | |
| 2015 | Bajgai Y, Kristiansen P, Hulugalle N, McHenry M, McCorkell B, 'Soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon under organic and conventional vegetable cropping systems in an Alfisol and a Vertisol', Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 101, (1) pp. 1-15. ISSN 1385-1314 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s10705-014-9656-3 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 7Web of Science - 7 | |
| 2014 | Bajgai Y, Hulugalle N, Kristiansen P, McHenry MT, Cowie A, 'Residue incorporation mitigates tillage-induced loss of soil carbon in laboratory microcosms', Soil Use and Management, 30, (3) pp. 328-336. ISSN 0266-0032 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/sum.12130 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 11Web of Science - 10 | |
| 2014 | Bajgai Y, Kristiansen P, Hulugalle N, McHenry M, 'Changes in soil carbon fractions due to incorporating corn residues in organic and conventional vegetable farming systems', Soil Research, 52, (3) pp. 244-252. ISSN 1838-675X (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1071/SR13295 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 9 | |
| 2014 | Browne M, Pennycook G, Goodwin B, McHenry MT, 'Reflective minds and open hearts: Cognitive style and personality predict religiosity and spiritual thinking in a community sample', European Journal of Social Psychology, 44, (7) pp. 736-742. ISSN 0046-2772 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.2059 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 29Web of Science - 25 | |
| 2013 | Bajgai Y, Hulugalle N, Kristiansen P, McHenry MT, 'Developments in Fractionation and Measurement of Soil Organic Carbon: A Review', Open Journal of Soil Science, 3, (8) pp. 356-360. ISSN 2162-5360 (2013) [Refereed Article] | |
| 2011 | Bajgai Y, Kristiansen P, Hulugalle P, McHenry M, 'A laboratory study of soil carbon dioxide emissions in a vertisol and an alfisol due to incorporating corn residues and simulating tillage', Journal of Organic Systems, 6, (3) pp. 20-26. ISSN 1177-4258 (2011) [Refereed Article] | |
| 2009 | McHenry MT, Wilson BR, Lockwood PV, Guppy CN, Sindel BM, et al., 'The impact of individual Callitris glaucophylla (white cypress pine) trees on agricultural soils and pastures of the north-western slopes of NSW, Australia', Rangeland Journal, 31, (3) pp. 321-328. ISSN 1036-9872 (2009) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1071/RJ08052 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 3 | |
| 2006 | McHenry MT, Wilson BR, Lemon JM, Donnelly DE, Growns IG, 'Soil and vegetation response to thinning White Cypress Pine (Callitris glaucophylla) on the North Western Slopes of New South Wales, Australia', Plant and Soil, 285, (1-2) pp. 245-255. ISSN 0032-079X (2006) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s11104-006-9011-9 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 25Web of Science - 24 |
Chapter in Book
(2 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Benkeblia N, McHenry M, Crisp J, Roudier P, 'Tropical Crops and Resilience to Climate Change', Climate Change and Crop Production: Foundations for Agroecosystem Resilience, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, N Benkeblia (ed), United States, pp. 83-104. ISBN 978-1-138-03234-7 (2018) [Research Book Chapter] Co-authors: Crisp J | |
| 2014 | Bajgai Y, Kristiansen P, Hulugalle N, McHenry M, 'Factors and Mechanisms Regulating Soil Organic Carbon in Agricultural Systems', Agroecology, Ecosystems, and Sustainability, CRC Press, N Benkeblia (ed), United States of America, pp. 41-56. ISBN 978-1-4822-3301-8 (2014) [Research Book Chapter] |
Conference Publication
(9 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Flies EJ, McHenry M, 'A new major in sustainability: from research-informed development to interdisciplinary delivery', Sustainability Matters, 2022, Australia (2022) [Conference Extract] Co-authors: Flies EJ | |
| 2021 | McHenry M, 'Scale and Value: Challenges in the assessment and representation of geodiversity in Australia', EGU General Assembly 2021, EGU21-7427, 9-30 Apr 2021, Virtual Conference, Online (USA) (2021) [Plenary Presentation] | |
| 2018 | Williams Mark, McHenry M, 'A geopark in an Antarctic gateway city? The case for a Wellington geopark in Tasmania, Australia', 8th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks: Geoparks and sustainable development, 8-14 September, Trentino Province, Italy (2018) [Conference Extract] Co-authors: Williams Mark | |
| 2016 | Ishak L, McHenry MT, Brown PH, 'Soil compaction and its effects on soil microbial communities in Capsicum growing soil', Acta Horticulturae: Proceedings of the XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture (IHC2014), 17-22 August 2014, Brisbane, Australia, pp. 123-130. ISSN 0567-7572 (2016) [Refereed Conference Paper] DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1123.17 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 6Web of Science - 4 | |
| 2016 | Neupane T, McHenry MT, Brown PH, 'Predicting field grown tomato crop performance', Acta Horticulturae: Proceedings of the XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture (IHC2014), 17-22 August 2014, Brisbane, Australia, pp. 53-60. ISSN 0567-7572 (2016) [Refereed Conference Paper] | |
| 2016 | Pandey S, Brown PH, McHenry MT, 'Plant root development as a measure of soil health', Acta Horticulturae, 17-22 August 2014, Brisbane, Australia, pp. 41-45. ISSN 0567-7572 (2016) [Refereed Conference Paper] | |
| 2012 | Neupane TR, Brown PH, McHenry MT, 'Modeling subtropical tomato crop production', Proceedings of SEAVEG 2012, 24-26 January 2012, Chiang Mai, Thailand, pp. 344-352. (2012) [Refereed Conference Paper] | |
| 2011 | Bajgai Y, Kristiansen P, Hulugalle N, McHenry M, 'Interactions of corn stover incorporation and simulated tillage on emission of CO2: a laboratory study', Resilient Food Systems for a Changing World: Proceedings of the 5th World Congress of Conservation Agriculture Incorporating 3rd Farming Systems Design Conference, 26-29 September 2011, Brisbane, Australia, pp. 1-4. (2011) [Refereed Conference Paper] | |
| 2010 | Olupot G, Daniel H, Lockwood P, McHenry M, McLeod M, 'Root contributions to long-term storage of soil organic carbon: theories, mechanisms and gaps', Proceedings of the 19th World Congress of Soil Science, Soil Solutions for a Changing World, 1-6 August 2010, Brisbane, Australia, pp. 112-115. (2010) [Refereed Conference Paper] |
Contract Report, Consultant's Report
(1 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Leith PB, McHenry MT, Bridle K, Evans JD, Fudge ME, et al., 'Strengthening engagement and collaboration for impact in the ERS theme', University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia (2017) [Contract Report] Co-authors: Leith PB; Bridle K; Evans JD; Fudge ME; Harwood A; Magierowski RH |
Grants & Funding
Melinda has previously worked on a 1.5 million dollar grant to investigators in agriculture and environment involving collaborators from the NSW Department of Primary Industries, NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, CSIRO and the GRDC. The national soil carbon programme elicited the impacts of climate change across a range of soil and land use scenarios.
Melinda has also worked as a national researcher in business – a federal government initiative to improve the capacity of small to medium enterprises via strategic partnerships with academics. Melinda applied her agroecological knowledge to the investigation of root rot pathogenesis in Ginger, in the most significant region for production in Australia – Bundaberg, QLD.
Funding Summary
Number of grants
6
Total funding
Projects
- Description
- The valorisation and curation of geoheritage elements in mining landscapes is an unresolved concept, globally. Although UNESCO recognises the value of exposed geoheritage in mining landscapes through its geotouristic and geoconservation concept of Geoparks, there still exists gaps in how geodiversity is classified and valued when it has been exposed through human activities. In this pilot project conducted in Rosebery Tasmania, we use a field inventory process and document analysis to determine: (a) if geodiversity of significant scientific, educational or geotouristic value exists in an active mine site with multiple closure options in time and space and (b) how significant geodiversity is best accounted for when it is secondary in nature.This project has a number of proposed outputs, some of which are public facing. These include a digital inventory and the development of visualisations relevant for geo-communication and future interpretation.
- Funding
- MMG Australia LImited ($73,695)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- McHenry MT; Wang X; McLaine EH; Williams MA
- Year
- 2022
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($19,816)
- Scheme
- null
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Power J; Springer ML; McHenry MT; Steen A; Norrie H; Roehrer EL; Herbert N; Dermoudy J; Anders RJ; Yeom SJ
- Year
- 2021
- Description
- The project aims to increase awareness of earths' history and physical geography by using engaging geotourism. Geotourism sustains or enhances the distinctive geographical character of a place-its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture, and the well-being of its residents. Selecting sites for geotourism relies on knowledge of environmental geoscience. Understanding and appreciating geotouristic locations is best achieved through educating communities about earths' history, the special types of rocks and landforms that occur all around us, the ways in which particular places provide services to plants, animals and people, and the process of geoconservation - that keeps special 'geosites' intact for future scientists to explore.The proposed activity is comprised of both an online set of interactive and engaging geographic information technologies and an online event - a geotourism video competition that any interested person or group can participate in using free software. The activities will be available and open to the general public (though the target is children, teens and young adults, especially those in schools) in online format from January-March 2021. Concurrently, instructions on how interested groups or individuals could make their own geotourism videos (using free software) will be available and marketed online, through additional social media, school networks, and through science week communications. The event will culminate in a video competition, hosted on the science week website, where participants describe their favourite geotourism location in Tasmania (or Australia), using key terminologies derived from participating in the activities.The primary purpose of the grant is to promote and foster awareness of geoheritage and geotourism. The costs sought from the funding body support the costs associated with an activity, however, the activity itself forms part of a broader research project that will be conducted by an honours student in 2021. The student (Zachary Barry) is investigating community understanding, engagement and enthusiasm for geotourism. I am the supervisor of this project. Therefore the HERDC description below pertains to the broader project and less to the specific activity described above.
- Funding
- Inspiring Tasmania ($2,000)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- McHenry MT; Barry ZJ
- Period
- 2020 - 2021
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($2,280)
- Scheme
- null
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- McHenry MT; Williams MA
- Year
- 2020
- Description
- This UTas proposed project comprises one activity/milestone in a larger grant application between DPIPWE and the named UTas collaborators. In this project, we propose to evaluate the suitability of ground penetrating radar in the detection of, and spatial (depth) extent of organic soils in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA). Organic soils are highly susceptible to fire, and once fire establishes in these soils, it can burn for months - destroying natural heritage and creating a challenge for fire control. In the TWWHA these problems are compounded by the fact that inadequate data exist with respect to the distribution and characteristics of organic soils, therefore impeding attempts to construct fire vulnerability indices, or devise appropriate fire planning regimes.The proposed project has three components - 1. Map and characterise organic soils (nutrition and flammability) in the TWWHA (DPIPWE). 2. Evaluate the use of Ground Penetrating Radar at selected characterised sites in the TWWHA as a means of assessing soil (and hence, potential burn) depth and distribution of organic soils (UTas), and (3) downscaling national soil moisture and vegetation cover indices to local scale, so as to produce a soil flammability and soil vulnerability map and set of decision support criteria for vegetation and fire managers (DPIPWE and UTas).
- Funding
- Department of Environment and Energy (Cwth) ($374,200)
- Scheme
- Australian Heritage Grants Scheme
- Administered By
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania
- Research Team
- Story K; McHenry MT; Adams VM; Kidd D; Moreton R
- Period
- 2019 - 2020
- Description
- This project will integrate fly-over data from aerial drone footage with ground truthing of the extent of damage (burning) of organic soils in the Tasmanian world heritage area. The aim of the project is to determine if drone footage of sites in the world heritage area is sensitive enough to detect the presence of orange post-fire lichen growth on organic soils to a sufficient extent that flyover data can be used in lieu of ground-truthed data after a fire.
- Funding
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania ($7,000)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- McHenry MT
- Year
- 2018
Research Supervision
Melinda is an enthusiastic supervisor of student research projects from undergraduate research experiences through to PhD. Melinda enjoys working with international students as much as domestic students. Melinda is a strong advocate for thesis by publication – including at honours level. Melinda currently supervises 2 PhD students, 4 Masters students, 3 honours students and five undergraduate research project students. All of Melinda’s students at UTas have found full-time employment within weeks of graduation (sometimes before!!), and Melinda is very supportive of students undertaking internships or fostering relationships with industry and government.
Melinda runs a fully-equipped physical geography laboratory in Hobart, where students can analyse soils, sediments and geological specimens. Melinda welcomes enquiries from any prospective candidate in the areas of soils, geoheritage and geodiversity, environmental science and environmental management and landscape planning.
Current
3
Completed
1
Current
| Degree | Title | Commenced |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | Fish Use of Tasmanian Saltmarsh Wetlands | 2018 |
| PhD | Fishers and Environment in the Tasmanian Wilderness | 2019 |
| PhD | Geoparks: Tools for successful geoconservation | 2020 |
Completed
| Degree | Title | Completed |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | Biodiversity on The Fringe: The (dis)integration of biodiversity in land use planning Candidate: Nicole den Exter | 2019 |