Dr Sara Beavis
BA(Macq), PhD(UNSW), Grad DipEd(UCan), FGS, SFHEA
Senior Lecturer, Associate Director Postgraduate Coursework, Fenner School of Environment and Society
ANU College of Science
Areas of expertise
- Surface Processes 040607
- Surfacewater Hydrology 040608
- Natural Resource Management 050209
- Physical Geography And Environmental Geoscience 0406
- Surface Water Quality Processes And Contaminated Sediment Assessment 410504
Biography
Dr Beavis has a background in environmental geology with a research and teaching focus on water. She is interested in exploring the impacts of landuse change on stream discharge and water quality, and the cascading consequences for downstream water-dependent ecosystems and human communities. Her work is concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region, including both continental and island environments across tropical and temperate ecosystems. She has a particular interest in extractive industries, such as artisanal small scale mining in Indonesia, and quarrying of river rock in island environments and how these impose profound impacts for local communities..
Researcher's projects
DFAT GPFD 2014-2018 Artisanal small scale mining in Nusa Tengarra Timur, Indonesia
ARC Project 2019-2024 DP190101253 The Rivers of the Tibetan Plateau in the Anthropocene: history and present trajectories
UNESCO, 2018-2019 Water Education for Climate Resilience in Asia and the Pacific: A Regional Curriculum
UNESCO, 2020 A pedagogic framework for virtual field trips to support active learning in water management
World Bank 2021-2022 COVID-19 Emergency Response for ASM Communities: a view on the gendered impacts of the pandemic in Indonesia
Current student projects
Penny Godwin Catchment hydrology and landcover in tropical karst savannas: a case study in East Sumba, Indonesia.
Madeline Goddard Buffering the rising tide: Mangrove sediment response to accelerating sea level rise in Australia
Vinesh Kumar: (under examination) Assessing the effectiveness of agricultural drought management in the Western Viti Levu (Fiji) Islands
Kate Harriden Small scale interventions and Indigenous water knowledge
Nicholas Metherall A Ridge-to-reef environmental monitoring framework for Pacific Small Island Developing States.
Neil Sutherland Assisting the Courts in resolving land-use conflict
Past student projects
- Last six years only
Masters
Hanif Prayitno (2015) Application of modified multilevel porewater samplers in low permeability mangrove substrates
Jerry Anae (2016) Selected heavy metal analysis of Ramu River in response to mining operations, Madang Province, PNG
Niraj Dhakal (2016) Hydrological impacts of the Christchurch earthquakes, 2010-2011.
Tiku, Nishant (2019) Water management and conservation using ice stupas and artificial glaciers
Khongorzul, Otgonbagana (2020) Erdenes tavan Tolgoi coal mine Mongolia: JSC licence area’s mine water use and water supply: implications for water resource protection, preservation and management in mining.
Vincent, Kat (2020) A greenhouse gas (GHG) estimation of two mine rehabilitation scenarios: a case study on a circular economic approach and what it means for emissions reduction
PhD
Jenna Roberts (2015) Fate and transport of selected endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC’s), pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCP’s), and detergent metabolites in an ACT municipal wastewater treatment plant, its effluent, and receiving waters
Neal Hughes (2016) Water property rights in regulated rivers
Claudia Benham (2018) Understanding and governing the impacts of industrial development in coastal social-ecological systems
Yaya Ulumuddin (2019) Methane production and emissions in evolving mangrove forests: Ecological mangrove Rehabilitation (EMR) in Tanakeke, Indonesia
Jennifer Amparo (2021) Dynamics of social ecological traps: the case of small scale fisheries in the Philippines
Publications
- Ulumuddin, Y, Sugoro, I, Beavis, S et al. 2023, 'Characterisation of Methane Production Pathways in Sediment of Overwashed Mangrove Forests', Forests, vol. 14, no. 3.
- Pittock, J, Corbett, S, Colloff, M et al. 2023, 'A review of the risks to shared water resources in the Murray-Darling Basin', Australasian Journal of Water Resources, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 1-17.
- Nur, I, Aris, E, Yusnaini, Y et al. 2021, 'The potential use of Octolasmis spp. Parasites in mud crabs Scylla spp. as a bioindicator for mercury pollution', Biodiversitas: journal of biological diversity, vol. 22, no. 9, pp. 3764-3772.
- Schneider, L, Warren, M, Lintern, A et al. 2021, 'Solving the puzzle of mercury fate and emissions by coal-fired power plants: The potential of hydrodynamic-atmospheric modelling', Environmental Pollution, vol. 288.
- Stinton, D, Schneider, L, Beavis, S et al. 2020, 'The spatial legacy of Australian mercury contamination in the sediment of the Molonglo River', Elementa: science of the anthropocene, vol. 8, no. 44, pp. 1-16.
- Benham, C, Beavis, S & Jackson, E 2019, 'Tolerance of tropical seagrasses Zostera muelleri and Halophila ovalis to burial: Toward an understanding of threshold effects', Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, vol. 218, pp. 131-138.
- Lynch, E, Smith, J, Blackmore, K et al. 2018, 'A chemist, engineer and environmental scientist walk into a classroom... Outcomes from an interdisciplinary project-based course', 30th Annual Conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education, AAEE2019, Australasian Association for Engineering Education, Brisbane.
- Roberts, J, Kumar, A, Du, J et al 2016, 'Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in Australia's largest inland sewage treatment plant, and its contribution to a major Australian river during high and low flow', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 541, pp. 1625-1637.
- Quigley, N, Beavis, S & White, I 2016, 'Rainwater harvesting augmentation of domestic water supply in Honiara, Solomon Islands', Australasian Journal of Water Resources, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 65-77.
- Benham, C, Beavis, S, Hendry, R et al. 2016, 'Growth effects of shading and sedimentation in two tropical seagrass species: Implications for port management and impact assessment', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 109, no. 1, pp. 461-470.
- Benham, C, Beavis, S & Hussey, K 2015, 'The cost of collaboration: how caring for our country has shaped regional natural resource management in an Australian river catchment', Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 285-297.
- Escott, H, Beavis, S & Reeves, A 2015, 'Incentives and constraints to Indigenous engagement in water management', Land Use Policy, vol. 49, pp. 382-393.
- Roberts, J, Bain, P, Kumar, A et al 2015, 'Tracking multiple modes of endocrine activity in Australia's largest inland sewage treatment plant and effluent- receiving environment using a panel of in vitro bioassays', Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 34, no. 10, pp. 2271-2281.
- Benham, C, Hussey, K & Beavis, S 2014, 'Planning for success in a climate change future: Collaborative water governance in the Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment, southeastern Australia', Australasian Journal of Water Resources, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 1-14.
- Beavis, S, Tynan, S & Beavis, F 2014, 'Trace element analysis of a turtle carapace for documenting acidification of a coastal lake', Goldschmidt Conference 2014, Goldschmidt Conference 2014, USA, p. 148.
- Beavis, S, Ellis, D & Mikkelson, N 2014, 'Fluxes and transformations of treated sewage effluent recharging a coastal aquifer', Goldschmidt Conference 2014, Goldschmidt Conference 2014, USA, p. 147.
- Griffin, C, Ellis, D, Beavis, S et al 2013, 'Coastal resources, livelihoods and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia', Ocean and Coastal Management, vol. 71, pp. 176-186.
- Beavis, S 2012, 'Hydrology', in Robin Kundis Craig, Bruce Pardy, John Copeland Nagle, Oswald Schmitz, & William (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Sustainability: Vol. 5. Ecosystem Management and Sustainability, Berkshire Publishing, Great Barrington USA, pp. 193-198.
- Benham, C, Hussey, K & Beavis, S 2012, 'The Social Network: collaborative water governance in the Upper Murrumbidgee catchment, South-Eastern Australia', Water and Climate: Policy Implementation Challenges. Practical Responses to Climate Change 2012, Engineers Australia, Canberrra, Australia, pp. 1-10.
- Beavis, S & Beckmann, E 2012, 'Designing, implementing and evaluating a consultancy approach to teaching environmental management to undergraduates, International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 71-92.
- Jasonsmith, J, Macdonald, B, McPhail, D et al. 2011, 'Salinisation processes in a sub-catchment of Wybong Creek, Hunter Valley, Australia', Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 177-193.
- Jasonsmith, J, Macdonald, B, McPhail, D et al. 2011, 'Groundwater as a driver of salinity in the Wybong Creek catchment, New South Wales, Australia', 7th International Groundwater Quality Conference: Groundwater Quality Management in a Rapidly Changing World, GQ10, International Association of Hydrological Sciences Press, Wallingford United Kingdom, pp. 496-500.
- Wallace, L, McPhail, D, FitzPatrick, R et al. 2008, Sulfur and Carbonate Mobility During Changes in Water Regime in an Inland Sulfidic Wetland, Lower Murray Floodplains, South Australia.
- Duggan, K, Beavis, S, Connell, D et al. 2008, Approaches to, and challenges of managing interception: a review of current measurement and management practices for the determination of run-off interception and the implications for the implementation of the National Water Initiative.
- Beavis, S, Welch, S, Higgins, A et al 2008, 'Salt cycling in bottom sediments of a salt disposal basin, Loveday Lagoon, South Australia: implications for management under drought or a changing climate', International Salinity Forum 2008, Conference Organising Committee, Adelaide, pp. 1-4.
- Beavis, S & Ellis, D 2008, 'Surface-groundwater interactions in a high-value irrigated upland catchment: the Upper Lachlan, NSW, Australia', International Association of Hydrogeologists Conference 2008, Conference Organising Committee, Japan, pp. 478-486.
- Biswas, F, Macdonald, B, Beavis, S et al 2008, 'Salinity discharge and water salt balance of the Wybong Catchment in the Hunter Valley', International Salinity Forum 2008, Conference Organising Committee, Adelaide, pp. 1-4.
- Beavis, S, Welch, S & Higgins, A 2008, 'Effects of inundation and dissication on salt cycling in a saline disposal basin, Loveday Lagoon, South Australia', V.M. Goldschmidt Conference 2008, Pergamon Press, United Kingdom, pp. A63.
- Mikkelson, N, Ellis, D & Beavis, S 2008, 'Mobility of Surface Water Contaminants Entering a Coastal Aquifer System: Implications of Variable pH on Choice of Suitable Tracer(s)', Western Pacific Geophysics Meeting 2008, Conference Organising Committee, Cairns.
- Welch, S, Kirste, D, Christy, A et al 2008, 'Jarosite reactivity and trace metal geochemistry in acid sulfate soils', V.M. Goldschmidt Conference 2008, Pergamon Press, United Kingdom, pp. A1013.
- Welch, S, Kirste, D, Christy, A et al 2008, 'Jarosite dissolution II - Reaction kinetics, stoichiometry and acid flux', Chemical Geology, vol. 254, no. 1-2, pp. 73-86.
- Welch, S, Christy, A, Kirste, D et al 2007, 'Jarosite dissolution I - Trace cation flux in acid sulfate soils', Chemical Geology, vol. 245, pp. 183-197.
- Somerville, P, White, I, Macdonald, B et al 2006, 'Groundwater and stream water interactions in Widden Brook, Upper Hunter Valley, NSW: II', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2006, ed. RW Fitzpatrick and P Shand, CRC LEME, Bentley, Western Australia, pp. 326-329.
- Mikkelson, N, Ellis, D, Beavis, S et al 2006, 'The geochemistry of a coastal aquifer system: Merimbula, NSW', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2006, ed. RW Fitzpatrick and P Shand, CRC LEME, Bentley, Western Australia, pp. 244-248.
- Isaacson, L, Kirste, D, Welch, S et al 2006, 'Acid groundwater dynamics in an ASS backswamp, Mays Swamp, Kempsey NSW', Australian Earth Sciences Convention 2006, AESC, Geological Society of Australia, Melbourne.
- Welch, S, Yates, G, Higgins, A et al 2006, 'Experimental Results on Sulfur and Salt Flux From an Inland Sulfidic System - The Loveday Basin', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2006, ed. RW Fitzpatrick and P Shand, CRC LEME, Bentley, Western Australia, pp. 358-362.
- Wallace, L, Welch, S, McPhail, D et al. 2006, 'Preliminary Rates of Sulfide Oxidation under Circum-Neutral and Acidic Conditions: Loveday Basin, Lower Murray Floodplains, South Australia', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2006, ed. RW Fitzpatrick and P Shand, CRC LEME, Bentley, Western Australia, pp. 355-357.
- Tynan, S, Opdyke, B, Ellis, D et al 2006, 'Interpreting the Trace Element Ratios of Freshwater Bivalve Shells and their application to understand environmental variability', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2006, ed. RW Fitzpatrick and P Shand, CRC LEME, Bentley, Western Australia, pp. 350-354.
- Higgins, A, Beavis, S, Kirste, D et al 2006, 'Physicochemical Properties of Sediments: Loveday Disposal Basin, South Australia', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2006, ed. RW Fitzpatrick and P Shand, CRC LEME, Bentley, Western Australia, pp. 139-143.
- Isaacson, L, Kirste, D, Beavis, S et al 2006, 'Controls of acid, salt and metal distribution at a coastal acid sulfate soils site', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2006, ed. RW Fitzpatrick and P Shand, CRC LEME, Bentley, Western Australia, pp. 166-170.
- Beavis, S, Welch, S & Kirste, D 2006, 'The relationship between soil physical properties and chemical fluxes, Loveday Lagoon', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2006, ed. RW Fitzpatrick and P Shand, CRC LEME, Bentley, Western Australia, pp. 23-25.
- Beavis, S, Welch, S, Beavis, F et al 2006, 'The relationship between wetting and drying cycles and pedal structure, fabric and mineralogy at Loveday Lagoon', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2006, ed. RW Fitzpatrick and P Shand, CRC LEME, Bentley, Western Australia, pp. 18-22.
- Beavis, S, Welch, S, Kirste, D et al. 2006, 'Physical, geochemical and biological controls of S redox chemistry in an inland salt disposal basin', Australian Earth Sciences Convention 2006, AESC, Geological Society of Australia, Melbourne.
- Welch, S, Somerville, P, Kirste, D et al 2006, 'Mineralogical and hydrological controls of acid, salt and metal geochemistry at a coastal acid sulfate soils site', National Soils Conference (ASSSI-ASPAC-ACMS 2006), Unknown, unknown.
- Beavis, S, Yates, G, Higgins, A et al 2006, 'Physical, Chemical and Biological Controls on salt and sulfur geochemistry in an inland saline disposal basin', National Soils Conference (ASSSI-ASPAC-ACMS 2006), Unknown, unknown.
- Tynan, S, Opdyke, B, Ellis, D et al 2006, 'A history of heavy metal pollution recorded in the shell of Mytilus edulis', V.M. Goldschmidt Conference 2006, ed. Conference Program Committee, Elsevier, United Kingdom.
- Beavis, S, Somerville, P, Isaacson, L et al 2006, 'Sources, sinks and fluxes of acidity in a coastal acid sulfate soils site', V.M. Goldschmidt Conference 2006, ed. Conference Program Committee, Elsevier, United Kingdom, pp. A43.
- Wallace, L, McPhail, D, Welch, S et al. 2006, 'Spatial heterogeneity of S and C stores in an inland acid sulfate soil', V.M. Goldschmidt Conference 2006, ed. Conference Program Committee, Elsevier, United Kingdom, pp. A683.
- Somerville, P, White, I, Beavis, S et al 2006, 'Groundwater and stream water interactions in Widden Brook, Upper Hunter Valley, NSW', V.M. Goldschmidt Conference 2006, ed. Conference Program Committee, Elsevier, United Kingdom, pp. A602.
- Welch, S, Kirste, D, Beavis, S et al 2006, 'Geochemistry of sulfur in an inland acid sulfate soil system', V.M. Goldschmidt Conference 2006, ed. Conference Program Committee, Elsevier, United Kingdom, pp. A695.
- Welch, S, Beavis, S, Kirste, D et al 2005, 'The Loveday Basin: Salinity, acidity, water chemistry, isotope geochemistry, mineralogy, biology and squishy mud', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2005, ed. Ian C Roach, CRC LEME, Bentley, WA, pp. 329-332.
- Dyball, R, Beavis, S & Kaufman, S 2005, 'Complex Adaptive Systems: Constructing Mental Models', in Meg Keen, Valerie A. Brown, Rob Dyball (ed.), Social Learning in Environmental Management: Towards a sustainable future, Earthscan Publications Ltd, London, pp. 41-59.
- Beavis, S, Beavis, F, Somerville, P et al 2005, 'Spatial and temporal variability of acidity at a coastal acid sulfate soil site II: A time for change', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2005, ed. Ian C Roach, CRC LEME, Bentley, WA, pp. 22-26.
- Somerville, P, White, I, Beavis, S et al 2005, 'Groundwater and stream interactions in Widden Brook, upper Hunter Valley, NSW - Preliminary results', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2005, ed. Ian C Roach, CRC LEME, Bentley, WA, pp. 294-298.
- Wallace, L, Welch, S, Kirste, D et al. 2005, 'Characteristics of inland acid sulfate soils of the Lower Murray floodplains, South Australia', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2005, ed. Ian C Roach, CRC LEME, Bentley, WA, pp. 326-328.
- Beavis, F, Beavis, S, Kirste, D et al 2005, 'Experimental determination of acid and sulfur fluxes in an inland acid sulfate soil system', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2005, ed. Ian C Roach, CRC LEME, Bentley, WA, pp. 13-16.
- Beavis, S 2005, 'Biophysical impacts of recreational horse riding in multi-use national parks and reserves', Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 12, pp. 109-116.
- Beavis, S 2005, 'The provision of environmental flows in Australia - a State by State review', Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium 2005, ed. Rob Vertessy, Ross Knee, Engineers Media Pty Ltd, Canberra.
- Beavis, S 2005, 'Sustainable education in water resources management - linking undergraduate learning, research and community needs', Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium 2005, ed. Rob Vertessy, Ross Knee, Engineers Media Pty Ltd, Canberra.
- Beavis, S 2004, 'Closing the rural-urban divide: the use of urban greenwaste in productive rural systems', International Conference on organic recycling, Unknown, unknown.
- Somerville, P, Beavis, S & Welch, S 2004, 'Spatial and temporal variability of acidity at a coastal acid sulfate soil site', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2004, ed. Ian C. Roach, CRC LEME, Perth, W.A, pp. 335-339.
- Welch, S, Beavis, S & Somerville, P 2004, 'Biogeochemistry at Lake Tyrrell', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2004, ed. Ian C. Roach, CRC LEME, Perth, W.A, pp. 391-393.
- Somerville, P, Greene, R, Beavis, S et al 2004, 'The contribution of mineral weathering to stream salinity in the Boorowa River, NSW', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2004, ed. Ian C. Roach, CRC LEME, Perth, W.A, pp. 340-344.
- Kehoe, M, Beavis, S & Welch, S 2004, 'Investigating the role of biotic versus abiotic processes in the generation of acid sulfate soils in coastal NSW', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2004, ed. Ian C. Roach, CRC LEME, Perth, W.A, pp. 171-174.
- Wallace, L, Welch, S, Beavis, S et al. 2004, 'Trace Metal partitioning in acid sulfate soils, Mayes Swamp, Kempsey, NSW', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2004, ed. Ian C. Roach, CRC LEME, Perth, W.A, pp. 385-390.
- Beavis, S 2004, 'Creating an open system in resource management: a study of waste minimisation in the prison system', Australian Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 150-155.
- Beavis, S 2003, 'Managing complex systems: the challenges for local government', Water Law and Policy Conference, Unknown, unknown.
- Schreider, S, Jakeman, A, Letcher, R et al 2002, 'Detecting changes in streamflow response to changes in non-climatic conditions: farm dam development in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia', Journal of Hydrology, vol. 262, no. 1-4, pp. 84-98.
- Lewis, B & Beavis, S 2001, 'Licensing of aquaculture developments in Victoria', Australian Stream Management Conference 2001, ed. I. Rutherford, F. Sheldon, G. Brierley, C. Kenyon, Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology, Melbourne, pp. 373-377.
- Beavis, S & Lewis, B 2001, 'The impact of farm dams on the management of water resources within the context of total catchment management', Australian Stream Management Conference 2001, ed. I. Rutherford, F. Sheldon, G. Brierley, C. Kenyon, Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology, Melbourne, pp. 617-624.
- Heath, L, Beavis, S & White, I 2001, 'Hydrological modelling of coastal catchments with acid sulfate soils', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2001), ed. Ghassemi, F. et. al, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Canberra, pp. 227-232.
- Beavis, S 2000, 'Structural controls on the orientation of erosion gullies in mid-western New South Wales, Australia', Geomorphology, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 59-72.
- Zhang, L & Beavis, S 1999, 'Development of a spatial database for large scale catchment management: geology, soils and landuse in the Namoi Basin, Australia.', Environment International, vol. 25, no. 6/7, pp. 853-860.
- Beavis, S, Jakeman, A, Zhang, L et al. 1999, 'Erosional History Of The Warrah Catchment, New South Wales', Hydrological Processes, vol. 13, pp. 753-761.
- Crapper, P, Beavis, S & Zhang, L 1999, 'The relationship between climate and streamflow in the Namoi Catchment', Environment International, vol. 25, no. 6/7, pp. 827-839.
Projects and Grants
Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.
- Amended proposal for water curriculum development (Primary Investigator)
- Climate Variability Report and Water Resources Report (Secondary Investigator)
- Measurement of sulphate reduction rates in saline floodplain wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin (Secondary Investigator)
