Simon Allen

Simon's Bio

I am currently a co-director of the Shark Bay Dolphin Research Alliance (www.sharkbaydolphins.org) and an Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia. I gained my PhD from Murdoch University (on the abundance, genetic structure and bycatch of dolphins in north-western Australia) in 2015. Prior to that, I had worked on a number of marine mammal- and reptile-related projects as a Research Associate. Earlier still, I completed a MSc at Macquarie University (on the management of intensive dolphin watching tourism) in 2005, my BSc(Hons) at the University of Queensland (on the behavioural effects of provisioning wild dolphins) in 1996 and a BSc at Flinders University (in marine biology and environmental science) way back in 1994.

Simon collecting DNA samples. We spend several weeks with Simon on the Kimberley cost looking for a new species of pigmy spinner dolphin.

I have long been fascinated by animal behaviour and, more recently, the profound impacts of human activity (tourism, fishing, coastal development and climate change) thereon, so I've tailored my life in such a way as to allow me to study, photograph and write about these aspects of behavioural ecology and conservation management. I do so for publications in journals and texts ranging from the taxon- and issue-specific (for example, Marine Mammal Science, and Whale-Watching: Sustainable Tourism and Ecological Management) to the broad (for example, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, and Scientific Reports).

Here in the midst of the anthropocene: Greater knowledge and awareness, improved wildlife conservation and better management of the ways in which humans interact with the ecosystems we dominate is my goal.

For more information go to https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/persons/simon-allen