Dr Margaret Shanafield

Senior Research Fellow

College of Science and Engineering

+61 8 8201 5129

margaret.shanafield@flinders.edu.au

Physical Sciences

GPO Box 2100, ADELAIDE, SA, 5001

I am an associate professor level researcher with twenty years of experience in hydrology and hydrogeology. I began in hydrology by studying water clarity in Lake Tahoe, a deep mountain lake, then shifted my research to surface water-groundwater interactions, where focus was on developing the use of heat as a tracer of streambed water flux and advancing an integrated model capable of simulating streamflow down a dry riverbed. I have led and contributed to a diverse set of projects from international water development to ecohydrology.

Currently, my research focuses on understanding streambed functioning and groundwater recharge in arid and semi-arid regions. Within an inclusive, interdisciplinary context, I aim to improve our understanding of how rainfall becomes streamflow, and how this streamflow recharges our aquifers.

Since 2021, I split my time between hydrological research and environmental law, working as scientist at the largest public-interest law firm in the southern hemisphere. I work with an international group of scientists and lawyers to understand barriers to uptake of science in the court and support climate law as part of the Oxford-based Climate Research Forum.

Read about some of my projects here:

The Conversation, June 2024: “How quickly does groundwater recharge? The answer is found deep underground” https://theconversation.com/how-quickly-does-groundwater-recharge-the-answer-is-found-deep-underground-230943.
Environment SA News: Coorong freshwater soaks project: a collaborative success story,
28 May 2024: https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/news-hub/news/articles/2024/05/coorong-freshwater-soaks-project-a-collaborative-success-story
New Scientist, “Forget the Amazon – are these the most remarkable rivers in the world?”, November 2023 , https://www.newscientist.com/article/10-forget-the-amazon-are-these-the-most-remarkable-rivers-in-the-world/
Australasian Science Magazine March/April 2019: “The Immediate Risks of Gas Production to Water Resources” http://www.australasianscience.com.au/article/issue-marchapril-2019/immediate-risks-gas-production-water-resources.html#:~:text=This%20is%20due%20to%20several,compiling%20and%20making%20sense%20of

Network Ten Australian children science program “Scope”: feature in Season 4, Episode 71 Environmental Science (at 10’45”)

Qualifications

Ph.D., Hydrogeology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, December 2010, Advisor: Greg Pohll
Dissertation Title: Spatial and Temporal variation in seepage from unlined channels.

M.S., Hydrology, University of Nevada, Summer 2004

Thesis Topic: Trends in water clarity in the near-shore of a mountain lake. Advisor: Kendrick Taylor

B.A., Environmental Science, minor in German, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 2000

Honours, awards and grants

International Association of Hydrogeologists Groundwater Innovation and Technology Award, 2023 (together with Chris Turnadge, Eddie Banks, and Todd Rasmussen for our work on sinusoidal pumping tests)

Science and Technology Australia STEM Ambassador 2021

South Australian Young Tall Poppy Science Award (2020)

Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) (2015)

Vice-chancellor’s Award for Early Career Researchers, Flinders University (2014)

Director’s Award, National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (2012)

U.S. Civilian Research Defense Fund, Impact of lining canals and afforestation on groundwater (2010)

George Burke Maxey Award in Water Resources Research, Desert Research Institute (2010)

George Burke Maxey Hydrology/Hydrogeology Fellowship, Desert Research Institute (2008)

U.S. Student Representative to the Meeting of the Nobel Laureates in Physics, Lindau, Germany (2008)

Fulbright student fellow (Uzbekistan) (2005)

Key responsibilities

I produce both fundamental and applied science to better understand Australian and global water resources. My research identifies and addresses key challenges to meet societal and environmental needs. I clearly communicate this research to the public and policy makers to inform science-based management of water resources. I train tomorrow's scientists with fundamental and state of the art numerical and field methods in hydrology and hydrogeology.

Teaching interests

Surface water- groundwater interactions

Vadose zone hydrology

Physical Hydrogeology

Socail hydrogeology

Watershed hydrology

Fluid mechanics

Field methods in Hydrology/hydrogeology.

Topic coordinator

EASC8711 Soil Hydrology

EASC9772 Physical Hydrogeology

EASC3741 Physical Hydrogeology