Professor Dieter Hochuli awarded for championing ecological excellence

The Ecological Society of Australia (ESA) Gold Medal awards champion ecologists in academia and practice who embrace interdisciplinary approaches to understanding how nature survives and thrives in the Australian landscape.

ESA President Dr Pep Turner commended 2023 Gold Medal recipient Professor Dieter Hochuli for his substantial contributions to the field, celebrating his “innovative approaches to science, dedicated mentorship to emerging ecologists and highly engaging communication skills [that] generate both excellent science and an increased understanding of ecology.”

Professor Hochuli’s research examines the mechanisms driving the ecology of a range of species, and how these species interact and adapt to their changing environment. By developing a leaf to landscape understanding of the links between biodiversity shifts and ecological interactions, Professor Hochuli’s work gives unique and vital insight into the effects of habitat fragmentation, as well as the benefits of environmental restoration. With a global trend towards urban ecosystems and remnant landscapes, this small-to-large scale analysis of community ecology and landscape ecology provides society with solutions for how we can sustainably manage what we still have while simultaneously rewilding degraded yet resilient systems.

With his pioneering approach to research and catching enthusiasm for ecology, many postgraduate and early career ecologists have benefitted from Professor Hochuli’s mentorship.

"It is important to feel like you belong in your scholarly community. I’ve wanted to advocate for people at the start of their careers to help make their journeys smoother. And to make it more fun too," Professor Hochuli said.

"I’ve personally really enjoyed the enormous opportunities I’ve had to share my work in some unusual places (Spiegeltent comedy festivals, pubs, BBC podcasts at the Factory theatre) with interested community members."

He has held multiple leadership positions in student affairs, received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research Higher Degree Supervision in both 2010 and 2016, and was the SUPRA Supervisor of the Year in 2021.

Professor Hochuli will be sharing his expertise by presenting a plenary lecture at the Ecological Society of Australia conference in Darwin this July.