Rate My Professor Adrienne Burns

Dr. Adrienne Burns is a Senior Lecturer in Biological and Environmental Science in the School of Environmental and Rural Science at the University of New England. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology from the University of Adelaide, a Masters of Education with First Class Honours from the University of New England, and a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Botany from the University of Adelaide. With over 20 years of experience as an aquatic ecologist specializing in riverine basal foodwebs and algal biology, her research focuses on fundamental biogeochemical processes such as nutrient and organic matter cycling, ecosystem metabolism supporting aquatic food webs, aquatic ecology, the function of biofilms in riverine systems, river catchment health, environmental chemistry, and tertiary science education. Key peer-reviewed publications include 'Response of extracellular enzymes to artificial inundation of floodplain sediments from a regulated lowland river' (Burns & Ryder, 2001, Freshwater Biology), 'The emergence of biofilms as a monitoring tool in Australian riverine systems' (Burns & Ryder, 2001, Ecological Restoration and Management), 'Can flow velocity regulate biofilm structure in a regulated lowland river?' (Ryder et al., 2006, Marine and Freshwater Research), and 'Scale dependent lateral exchanges of organic carbon in a dryland river during a high flow experiment' (Robertson et al., 2016, Marine and Freshwater Research). She has also authored extensive research reports, including the Clarence Valley Ecohealth Project (2012), Hastings Camden Haven Ecohealth Project (2012), and Biological Monitoring of the Nymboida River (2013-2014).

In education, Adrienne was appointed Leader of Learning, establishing the Science Learning Hub in 2022 to provide tutor networks improving retention and engagement in STEM programs. She secured over $400,000 in HEPPP funding since 2019, including for the Boosting Science Program awarded the Learn-X Award: Learning & Development Platinum prize as Best Social Program (2020), and further initiatives in 2023 and 2024 for STEM transition and maths support. She received a Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning in the Australian Awards for University Teaching (2021). Burns coordinates and lectures in units such as BIOL120, ECOL202 Aquatic Ecology, ECOL203 Populations to Ecosystems, EVOL211/411 Evolution and Biogeography, and RSNR302/402/502 Integrated Water Resources Management. She supervises postgraduate and honours projects in aquatic ecology, with completions since 2009.