Dr. Jack O’Connor is a senior scientist in the Environmental Vulnerability and Ecosystem Services (EVES) section of UNU-EHS.
He is an ecologist and environmental scientist with a focus on ecosystem-based adaptation and sustainable development, with particular expertise in managing and mitigating anthropogenic impacts in coastal socio-ecological systems (SESs). Dr. O’Connor is involved in the GCRF Living Deltas Hub, an international consortium of transdisciplinary researchers developing new socio-ecological frameworks for sustainable development in major river deltas. His research role in the Hub is to improve delta-level monitoring of the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) and derive with stakeholders a new indicator-based assessment framework focusing on delta-specific SDGs.
Prior to joining UNU-EHS, Dr. O’Connor worked in the field of coastal adaptation and management at the National Centre for Coasts and Climate, based at the University of Melbourne, Australia. In collaboration with the Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub (Australian Government) and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (Victorian State Government), he led projects in the fields of blue carbon management and coastal hazard assessment. During his post-doctoral work he has also led research projects investigating the effects of anthropogenic pollution in coastal environments of various countries around the world. He has a research background in marine ecology and a passion for inter-disciplinary collaborative projects.
