Rate My Professor Sarah Bourke

Dr. Sarah Bourke is a Senior Lecturer and Course Coordinator of the Master of Hydrogeology in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Western Australia. She earned a Bachelor of Earth Science from Flinders University, including studies in Japan and the USA, an Honours degree from the University of Western Australia, and a PhD from Flinders University via a collaborative project with Rio Tinto Iron Ore that applied environmental tracers to understand surface water-groundwater interactions in mining-modified areas. Her PhD presentation received the Best Presentation by an Early Career Hydrogeologist award at the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) Congress in 2013. Before her academic career, Bourke worked as a hydrogeologist for the state government for five years. Subsequently, she was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, examining groundwater impacts from mining and agricultural activities over clay-rich sediments. She maintains extensive connections with government and industry, achieving high-quality practical results through collaborative research initiatives.

Bourke's research focuses on environmental tracers, surface water-groundwater interactions, contaminant hydrogeology, groundwater system responses to climate change and human usage, decolonizing hydrogeology practices, and partnering with Aboriginal communities on protecting natural water assets and addressing water insecurity. Notable publications include "Integrating hydrogeology and water justice for more effective and equitable groundwater planning" (Hydrogeology Journal, 2026), "Hydrogeology, European colonialism, local communities and First Peoples: moving beyond business as usual" (Hydrogeology Journal, 2025), "Australian non-perennial rivers: Global lessons and research opportunities" (Journal of Hydrology, 2024), "Prenatal nitrate and nitrite intake in mammals: A scoping review of effects and associations with pregnancy and maternal and child health" (International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 2026), and "Prolonged exposure to nitrate in drinking water does not adversely impact prenatal or birth outcomes in a rat model" (Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2026). Her work supports UN Sustainable Development Goals 6, 13, and 14. Bourke serves as Regional Vice-President for Australasia and the Pacific at the IAH, leading its Education and Outreach efforts, and has been Past Chair and Vice Chair of the Western Australian IAH chapter. In 2024, she co-received the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Research Technical Support Excellence. As a dedicated advocate for hydrogeology in practice, research, and education, she coordinates the Master of Hydrogeology program.