Prof. Timothy Brodribb completed a PhD in 1998 studying the evolution of the unusual conifer flora in the southern hemisphere. He was awarded a Putnam Fellowship at Harvard University which led him to spend several years working on rainforest tree function in Costa Rica. Returning to Australia in 2005 he was the recipient of a Future Fellowship in 2005 and promoted to Professor in 2017. He has published more than 280 scientific papers and is listed among the top 1% of research scientists internationally in terms of citation of his work. He is the Node Leader of the Centre for Excellence in Plant Success and in 2022 was elected to the Australian Academy of Sciences.

Talk title: Tree Behaviour: new perspectives on how trees feel stress. 

Behaviour is typically considered the preserve of animals, but new research shows the very dynamic way that trees respond to changes in the environment, reacting in seconds to perturbations in atmospheric conditions. We use new optical sensing techniques to observe how different species protect themselves from excess dehydration, exploring the physical limits of plant survival and growth under conditions of drought and atmospheric heat. Our work paints a picture of trees as highly sensitive, dynamic organisms, beautifully adapted to minimize risk while making the most of a highly unpredictable atmosphere.