Luke Verstraten

Biography

Dr Luke Verstraten is a Lecturer in Environmental Science and Engineering with a wealth of experience collaborating with communities, industry and government to achieve robust innovative solutions to social and environmental issues.

As the program coordinator for the Environmental Management program, course coordinator of Environmental Economics and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation and supervisor of numerous Honors (Engineering and Science) and Higher Degrees by Research students, Dr Verstraten is passionate about training the next generation of environmental managers and engineers to achieve positive impacts for the environment, industry, and society.

Luke has worked on a diverse range of local, national, and international collaborative research projects on a wide range of topics including, mitigating the impacts of rainfall events on built infrastructure, and human and ecosystem health by reducing the risk of flooding and minimise the negative downstream impacts of stormwater; evaluation of erosion and sediment control; cost-effective, retrofit modifications to enhance the hydraulic capacity of drainage structure options; the development of performance-based design options for roof drainage systems; soil carbon sequestration and soil health with land use changes; uncertainties in current and future rainfall values; nature based and engineered solutions to water pollution; education needs analysis and policy development for climate change adaptation in small island developing states; community led regenerative management plans for climate resilience; enabling circular economies through waste as a resource; resources for native pollinators in agricultural and natural environments, and, propagation of rare/endangered native plants to preserve population genetic diversity.

Research collaborators include the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Unitywater, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Federal and Qld), The Indian Ocean Commission, Association of Hydraulic Services Consultants Australia, North Burnett Regional Council, Sunshine Coast Council, Civilmart, SPEL environmental, University of the Sunshine Coast, Griffith University, La Trobe University and the University of Queensland.

ORCID

Interested PhD and master’s degree applicants are welcome to enquire.

Research areas

• Climate change
• Stormwater pollution removal
• Stormwater drainage
• Hydraulics and Hydrology
• Environmental Management