Simon George

BSc (Hons), St Andrews, Scotland
PhD, Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Professor Simon George is the leader of the organic geochemistry group and Head of Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. He was the Acting Head of the EPS Department from Jan 2014 until 1st February 2015 and was Deputy Head of the EPS Department, 2018-2019. He also was the Director of the Macquarie University Marine Research Centre, 2015–2019. He is the Director of the Bachelor of Marine Science, 2020-present.

Simon George has more than 30 years experience in organic geochemistry, including 15 years specialising in petroleum geochemistry at CSIRO. Organic geochemistry involves the study of the chemical and isotopic signatures in rocks and sediments, which tell us information about the past. We can reconstruct the nature and timing of important events in the evolution of life. Biomarkers are hydrocarbons that retain the structural information from the original lipids from which they were derived. Biomarkers and other hydrocarbons in oils, rocks and sediments provide us the ability to understand source inputs, subsequent burial and heating history (thermal maturity) and alteration events (such as oil biodegradation). The chemistry of insoluble fractions of organic matter, such as kerogen and asphaltenes, provides further useful information.

Contacts:

Phone: +61 2 9850 4424

Mobile: +61 4 1842 8217

Email: simon.george@mq.edu.au

Further details about my organic geochemistry research:

• The organic geochemistry group at Macquarie University

• My research projects and ideas

• Information about the organic geochemical laboratory at Macquarie University

• Information about my students.

• Information for those interested in coming to Macquarie University to carry out research with Simon George

• Publications by Simon George

Teaching responsibilities

Main Undergraduate teaching

GEOS1110: The Habitable Planet (GEOS112: The Planet Earth). I teach the Biosphere (Module 4). 2007-present. Convened 2010-2012.

GEOS2042: Life, the Universe and Everything (GEOS204). Most lectures and many practicals. 2008 (ELS204)-present. Convened 2008-2013; 2016-present.

GEOS2130: Marine Sediments: Records of Past Earth (GEOS206: Marine Depositional Environments). Lectures, practicals, and teach on the South Coast of NSW fieldtrip to Kioloa in April. 2008-present.

ENVS2115: Climate Change, Energy and our Future (GEOS251: Geopolitics- The Science of Climate, Energy and our Future; Minerals, Energy and Environment). One module of lectures and tutorials, 2012-present.

GEOS3130: Earth System History (GEOS309: Marine Sediments and Energy Security). Most lectures and practicals. Convened 2011, 2013, 2015-present.

Other Undergraduate teaching

GEOS1120: Dynamic Earth (GEOS125: Earth Dynamics). One workshop, sometimes fieldwork (Hartley). 2008-present.

GEOS1130: Blue Planet: Oceans, Climate and Life (GEOS126: Marine Geoscience). Some lectures, sometimes fieldwork (Port Hacking boat trip). 2007-present.

GEOS211: Field Geology: Mapping and Palaeoenvironments (GEOS226: Introduction to Field Geology) (Keepit fieldtrip). 2008; 2009-2013. Convened 2012-2013.

MAR201: Introduction to Marine Science. 1-2 lectures, 2009-2012.

GEOS397/GEOS394/BIOL382: Applied Palaeontology and Biogenic Sediments, lecture and practical, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012.

Postgraduate teaching

GEOS7710: Palaeoenvironments and Biogeochemistry (GEOS710: Records of palaeoenvironments: life and geochemistry). Convenor and lectures on organic geochemistry for Master Research students, 2016-present.

GEOS8810: Palaeoenvironments and Biogeochemistry (GEOS920: Palaeoenvironments and biogeochemistry). Convenor and lectures on organic geochemistry for master coursework students (Master Geoscience; Master of Science and Innovation). 2016-present.

GEOS7711: Research Topics in Earth and Environmental Sciences (GEOS791: Research Topic in Earth and Planetary Sciences). Research Experience (in organic geochemistry lab), 2016-

GEOS710: The Organic Geochemistry of Sedimentary Rocks, Oils and Gases. Lecture and practical organic geochemistry in the research lab for Master Research students. Convenor, 2013-2015.

GEOS920: Petroleum Geochemistry. Lecture and practical organic geochemistry in the research lab for master coursework students (Master Geoscience). Convenor, 2013-2015.

GEOS811: Advanced Field Techniques in Geoscience. Keepit fieldtrip for master coursework students (Master Geoscience). 2008; 2009-2013. Convened 2012-2013.

Genes to Geoscience, Postgraduate modules: Where biology, geology and chemistry meet: Frontiers in Biogeochemistry; What's In Stuff? (with Damian Gore); Geosphere-Biosphere Interactions (With Matthew Kosnik and Craig O’Neill). 2008-2015.

Conferences that I chaired

Australian Organic Geochemistry Conference: Macquarie University, 2-5th December 2012

Chairman and co-convener of the joint Australian Organic Geochemistry Conference (AOGC) and International Humic Substances Society (IHSS) Meeting, Leura, NSW, February 2004