Dr. Georgia Ward Fear

Biography

Georgia Ward-Fear is an Australian conservation scientist and reptile ecologist focusing on innovative conservation methods. She poses challenging questions about pest species and their ecological roles, exploring traditional indigenous hunting practices and the ecological resilience of prey in response to environmental changes. Instead of merely controlling harmful invasive species, Georgia's research examines how to 'train' native animals to mitigate these impacts, positioning her work at the intersection of invasion ecology, animal behavior, and sociopolitical science. Georgia collaborates extensively with indigenous land management networks and industry stakeholders to address conservation issues creatively. She completed her PhD in 2016, during which she tested a new technique to alleviate the ecological impacts of toxic cane toads on wild monitor lizards, successfully generating international media attention and additional funding. She founded 'The Cane Toad Coalition' in 2017, which collaborates with prominent conservation organizations and indigenous groups to deliver innovative strategies for cane toad mitigation. Georgia engages actively with apex reptilian predators and aims to challenge existing conservation research models on a global scale. She has received multiple accolades, including being recognized as a University Medallist and participating in the Homeward Bound initiative, a global network of women in STEM.

Research Interests