Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
I am a spatial scientist interested in a wide range of environmental and ecological questions. As an interdisciplinary researcher, my ultimate goal is to identify and investigate issues and their causes to inform solutions that will positively impact our society today and in the future. This means conducting research that applies to solving emerging challenges as well as helpful in understanding them. I have explored questions in various fields, including macroecology, biodiversity conservation, remote sensing, spatial planning, water resources, sustainable fisheries and agriculture, and food security. Given the many large and diverse data sets that I work with, I am also involved in data science projects focused on developing tools for integrating, analysing and extracting information from multiple (often large) data sets more effectively, making it easier to include cross-disciplinary information in addressing complex environmental, social, and ecological questions.
At Macquarie University’s School of Natural Sciences, my research is on these sub-themes:
- Integrating landscape/seascape ecology and remote sensing, and big data to support spatially predictive modeling and mapping of key resource species.
- Applying remote sensing and big data to illuminate Global Environmental Change effects on coastal social-ecological resilience and tipping points.
- Linking geospatial data science to coastal areas, high seas, and open ocean policy and governance solutions.
- Applying remote sensing/big data to sustainability in the urban environment
- Spatial planning for sustainable management of natural resources in land-sea environments
I welcome inquiries from individuals wishing to undertake doctoral or post-doctoral research in the following themes: spatial ecology, seascape ecology, conservation biology, remote sensing, and linking geospatial science to policy.
Teaching
- Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing
- Applied GIS and Remote Sensing
- Blue Planet
- Consultancy Work Practice for postgraduates
External positions
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, ARC Center of Excellence for Environmental Decisions (ARC CEED) , The University of Queensland
2 Sep 2013 → 25 Feb 2016
Marine Geo-spatial Scientist, Wildlife Conservation Society
1 Jan 2007 → 30 Dec 2009
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Network
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Institutional effectiveness and political economy of coral reef restoration in the Philippines
Fabinyi, M., Barclay, K., McClean , N., Horigue, V., Mbui, M., Baria-Rodriguez , M. V., Harrison, P. L. & de la Cruz, D.
1/07/21 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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WIO-R2R: WIO-Ridge to Reef: An Ecosystem Based Approach to Biodiversity Conservation in the Western Indian Ocean
1/01/16 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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Spatial Planning of Climate SMART and Resilient Port Cities in the WIO Region: A case for Mombasa and Durban
Gamoyo, M., Mbui, M., Molelu, O., Ewuradjoa Ogara, D., Davies, P., Jefwa, T., Mashafi, C. A., Kosore, C. M., Odhiambo, S. O., Allaoui, N. A. & Chang, M.
1/01/21 → 31/12/22
Project: Research
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Forecasting future spatial use of Seal Bay Conservation Park by the endangered Australia sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) in a changing climate
Harcourt, R., Rosewarne, T., Pitcher, B. & Mbui, M.
20/07/20 → 30/06/21
Project: Research
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WIO-SP: Scaling-up Decision Support for Coastal and Marine Management in the Western Indian Ocean
1/05/19 → 30/04/22
Project: Other
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Disentangling the influence of the economic development discourse on the management of national parks through systems thinking: case studies from the Philippines and Mozambique
Horigue, V., Richards, R., Taju, A. & Maina, J., Feb 2023, In: Land Use Policy. 125, p. 1-14 14 p., 106499.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Climate change reduces the conservation benefits of tropical coastal ecosystems
D’Agata, S. & Maina, J. M., 18 Nov 2022, In: One Earth. 5, 11, p. 1228-1238 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Environmental controls of billfish species in the Indian Ocean and implications for their management and conservation
Thoya, P., Kadagi, N. I., Wambiji, N., Williams, S. M., Pepperell, J., Möllmann, C., Schiele, K. S. & Maina, J., Aug 2022, In: Diversity and Distributions. 28, 8, p. 1554-1567 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus)7 Downloads (Pure) -
Land-use and climate risk assessment for Earth's remaining wilderness
Asamoah, E. F., Di Marco, M., Watson, J. E. M., Beaumont, L. J., Venter, O. & Maina, J. M., 21 Nov 2022, In: Current Biology. 32, 22, p. 4890-4899.e4 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
3 Citations (Scopus) -
Nature-based climate solutions require a mix of socioeconomic and governance attributes
Asamoah, E. F. & Maina, J. M., 22 Dec 2022, In: iScience. 25, 12, p. 1-11 11 p., 105699.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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2020 UNSW Eureka Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research
Mbui, Maina (Recipient) & Cinner, J. E. (Team leader), 24 Dec 2020
Prize
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Activities
- 1 Membership of network
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IUCN-CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit (External organisation)
Maina Mbui (Chair)
1 Jan 2018 → 1 Dec 2022Activity: Membership › Membership of network
Press/Media
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Coral reef connectivity promotes biodiversity and fisheries conservation
25/01/22
1 item of Media coverage, 1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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It’s complicated: coral bleaching is caused by more than just heat
1/10/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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A New Hope for Coral Reefs: Largest-Ever Study Unlocks Global Solution to Save Coral Communities
13/08/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
Impacts
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Enhancing coastal and marine management through research, stakeholder engagement, and bridging the gap between science and policy
Maina Mbui (Participant), Vera Horigue (Participant), Luisa Fontoura (Participant), Stephanie D'agata (Participant) & Victoria Graham (Participant)
Impact: Environment impacts, Economy impacts, Science impacts, Policy impacts