Richard KingsfordDr Richard Kingsford is a Principal Research Scientist with the Department of Environment and Conservation in NSW, with wide experience in conservation biology. Born in East Africa in Kenya, his interest in wildlife began in childhood. His research oer about the last 20 years has focussed on the waterbirds, wetlands and rivers of arid Australia, which cover about 70% of the continent. These magnificent systems define the ecology of the Australian continent with their boom and bust periods, times of droughts and floods. Research has focussed on the wetlands of Cooper Creek, one of the world's most magnificent desert rivers, and the Paroo River, the last free-flowing river in the Murray-Darling Basin. His research has demonstrated the ecological values of many rivers in arid Australia and impacts of water resource development on desert rivers. In 2001, he was awarded a national science prize (Eureka) for environmental research for his work on Australian rivers. He has also received three national Banksia awards for work on rivers and environmental leadership. Read More Read Less