
Level 4 East
Biological Sciences North (D26)
UNSW, Kensington 2052
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My primary interests relate to earth surface processes, how they function and interact with climate and environmental change over long periods of time, including the late Quaternary and post-glacial period. The coastal environment is a particularly dynamic setting and my research has demonstrated coastal systems respond very differently to sea level change, something not yet fully understood. I have continued to refine the use of sedimentary sequences to inform the palaeoenvironmental record of eastern Australia and I am exploring how integration of biological proxies and sedimentary sequences can be improved. A theme that overarches all of my research is the continual refinement of chronological controls on the sequences that I investigate.
PhD Supervisors - Associate Professor Scott Mooney and Professor James Goff
![]() |
![]() |
ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS
Martin L, Mooney S, Goff J. 2014. Coastal wetlands reveal a non-synchronous island response to sea-level change and a palaeostorm record from 5.5 kyr to present. The Holocene 24: 569–580.
Field, E., Martin, L., Petherick, L. 2015. The formation of an Australasian peat working group. Quaternary Australasia 32: 18-19
Martin L. 2014. Field Report: Post-bushfire coring of the Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone (THPSS) in the Blue Mountains, NSW, December 2013. Quaternary Australasia 31: 38–43.
Martin, L., Mooney, S. 2016.The unique and surprising environments of Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone (THPSS) in the Blue Mountains, NSW. Australian Plant Conservation, 24: 18-22.
Mooney, S. D., Goff J. and Martin L. 2016.The palaeoenvironmental history of Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone. Project Summary for Ecological Management & Restoration.
Martin, L., Hope, G. 2016. C-PEAT Workshop report, New York. Quaternary Australasia 33.
Martin L, Judd K, Bishop-Taylor R, Clear L. 2016. Surface Soil Survey in an Archaeological Context: The Kazanlak Geoscience Project, Bulgaria. In The Tundzha Regional Archaeology Project (TRAP): Surface Survey, Palaeoecology, and related studies 2009-2011, Ross SA, , Sobotkova A, , Connor SE, , Tzvetkova J, , Nekhrizov G (eds). Oxbow Books, Oxford.
RESEARCH GRANTS AS PART OF MY PhD
ALNGRA14019 - Date What? The radiocarbon age of various fractions and components in peat and organic sediments.
AINSE Facilities grant for $10,000 of radiocarbon dating to quantify inbuilt age contributions and identify an optimal fraction for further dating.
ALNGRA15019 - Date What? Version 2: The radiocarbon age of various components in peat and organic sediments.
AINSE Facilities grant for a further $10,000 of radiocarbon dating to expand the previous analysis across multiple sites. Results prepared as a manuscript for submission to The Holocene
CONFERENCE TALKS
Martin, L., Mooney, S., 2013. Sedimentation rates across 44 sites in the Sydney region during the Holocene. Presentation at the AQUA Early Career Researcher Conference, University of Wollongong, December 2013. Conference Talk.
Martin, L., Mooney, S., 2013. Evolution and trends of depositional environments of the Sydney Region. IMCG Field Symposium, Fenner School of Environment, ANU Canberra, December 2013. Conference Talk
Martin, L., Mooney, S. 2014. Sedimentation rates across 44 sites in the Sydney region during the Holocene and refining radiocarbon dating of organic sediments. AQUA conference, Mildura. Conference talk.
Martin, L., Mooney, S., Goff, J. 2015 Long moisture records from sensitive peat-forming environments in eastern Australia: LGM to present. INQUA Congress, Nagoya, Conference Presentation.
Martin, L., Mooney, S., Goff, J. 2015. Refining 14C chronologies and interpreting continuous peat records from the Sydney Basin, Australia. C-PEAT conference, Palisades, New York, October 2015. Conference talk.
Martin, L., Mooney, S., 2016. Utilising environmentally sensitive geochemical indicators from peat forming environments to inform the palaeo record. AQUA conference, Auckland, New Zealand December 2016. Conference talk.
CONFERENCE POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Martin, L., Mooney, S., Goff, J, 2014 Shoreline Development and a Holocene Palaeosotorm record from Lord Howe Island. Australian Earth Science Convention, Newcastle, Poster Presentation.
Judd, K., Bishop-Taylor, R., Clear, l., Martin, L. 2014 Surface Soil Survey in An Archeological Context: The Kazanlak Geoscience Project, Bulgaria. Australian Earth Science Convention, Newcastle, Poster Presentation.
TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS
INQUA early career researcher travel grant to attend Nagoya Congress 2015
UNSW Postgraduate Research Student Support grant to attend C-PEAT 2015
School of BEES travel grant to attend AESC Newcastle 2014