Dr Alice Clement

I am an evolutionary biologist and palaeontologist, most interested in early vertebrates. This means I study fish and tetrapods (the first terrestrial vertebrates), and in particular the changes that occurred in their bodies over deep geological time. This spectacular transition is arguably the greatest step in evolution, and occurred close to 400 million years ago in a time period known as the Devonian.

I enjoy working on spectacular fossils as well as studying the animals that live today to answer questions about vertebrate evolution. I use modern scanning and imaging techniques (such as CT, synchrotron and neutron imaging) to uncover deep mysteries of the past, and better understand our very own evolutionary history.

I am leading the research node in early vertebrate brain evolution (palaeoneurology) at Flinders Univeristy but also work on other vertebrate groups (birds, mammals etc), and other projects relating to the evolution of terrestriality -such as the development of limbs from fins, and the appearance of air breathing.

I am the leader of VAMP, a Flinders University initiative to set up a Virtual Australian Museum of Palaeontology, Program Secretary of the Royal Society of South Australia, and a strong advocate for Women in STEM.

For the most up-to-date information about my research and outreach activites, please see: www.draliceclement.com