Person

Hughes, Terrence Patrick (Terry) (1956 - )

Born
1956
Ireland
Occupation
Coral scientist, Marine zoologist and Science administrator

Summary

Terry Hughes is a marine zoologist known for his research on coral bleaching. His research extends to marine ecology, the social-ecological dynamics of coral reefs, climate change, establishing safe planetary boundaries for human development, and governance of the sea. He seeks to use fundamental and innovative science to improve the management of marine environments. Coming Australia in 1990, he joined the James Cook University of North Queensland (now James Cook University). In 2000 he established the Centre for Coral Reef Biodiversity at the University. Between 2005 and 2020 he was the inaugural Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, based at the University. Hughes has received a number of awards for his research, including the Darwin Medal from the International Coral Reef Society and the Silver Jubilee Award of Australian Marine Sciences Association. In 2001 he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

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Details

"Professor Hughes has made outstanding contributions to marine biology and coral reef ecology. He studies demography and life histories and has defined new ways of modelling population dynamics. His models have been applied in both terrestrial and marine systems, have been cited extensively and now appear in many textbooks. His quantitative analysis of community dynamics includes the first detailed account of the mechanisms underlying long-term degradation of coral reefs. Recent research on large-scale processes, including gene flow in marine organisms and regional variation in the dynamics of the Great Barrier Reef, published in Science and Nature, has been of enormous significance internationally." [from https://www.science.org.au/profile/terry-hughes 16/12/2025]

Chronology

1984
Education - PhD, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
1984 - 1986
Career position - National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, U.S.A.
1986 - 1988
Career position - Research Biologist, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, U.S.A.
1989 - 1990
Career position - Lecturer, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, U.S.A.
1990 - 1992
Career position - Lecturer, James Cook University of North Queensland
1993 - 1997
Career position - Senior Lecturer in marine biology, James Cook University on North Queensland
1997
Career position - Associate Professor, School of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University of North Queensland
1998 - 2000
Career position - Associate Professor, School of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University
2000 - 2009
Career position - Professor (personal chair), James Cook University
2001 -
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science
2001
Award - Centenary Medal for service to Australian society and science in marine biology and coral reef ecology
2001 - 2004
Career position - Director, Centre for Coral Reef Biodiversity, James Cook University
2002 - 2012
Award - ARC Federation Fellow
2004
Award - Silver Jubilee Award, Australian Marine Sciences Association
2005 - 2020
Career position - Inaugural Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
2007
Award - Sherman Eureka Prize for Environmental Research, Australian Museum
2008
Award - Darwin Medal, International Coral Reef Society
2008 - 2010
Career position - Member, Advisory Panel, Australian Research Council
2009 -
Career position - Distinguished Professor, James Cook University
2012 - 2017
Award - ARC Laureate Fellow
2015
Award - Einstein Professor, Chinese Academy of Science
2016
Award - Established Researcher Medal, Australian Coral Reef Society
2018
Award - A. G. Huntsman Award for Excellence in the Marine Sciences, Royal Society of Canada
2018
Award - Sir John Maddox Prize, Sense about Science with Nature
2018
Award - Climate Change Award, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
2019
Award - DSc (honoris causa), Trinity College, Dublin
2023
Award - Suzanne Cory Medal (jointly with Catherine Lovelock), Australian Academy of Science

Related Corporate Bodies

Published resources

Journal Articles

Resources

  • 'Hughes, Terrence Patrick (Terry) (1956 - )', The Academy's Fellows [Fellows elected between 2001 and 2010], Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, 2025, https://www.science.org.au/profile/terry-hughes. https://www.science.org.au/fellowship. Details

See also

  • Robson, Alexandra K.; Production Manager and Editor eds, Who's who in Australia 2019 (Southbank, Vic.: AAP Directories, 2018), 1788 pp. Details

Helen Cohn

Created: 16 December 2025

EOAS ID: biogs/P007929b.htm

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