Stephen Livesley

Professor Stephen Livesley is Professor in Urban Horticulture in the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, at the University of Melbourne. He obtained his PhD in Soil Science and Agroforestry from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. He joined the University of Melbourne in March 2003 as an Associate Professor in the School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences and has since been promoted to Professor. Livesley leads the Urban Forests for Resilient Communities, Climate and Environment (UrbanFORCCE) research group. His research investigates soil-plant-atmosphere interactions in natural and managed ecosystems, particularly in urban settings. He has led studies quantifying the carbon and greenhouse gas implications of landscape management and land-use change in forests, woodlands, and urban landscapes. His academic interests encompass the role of trees, soils, and vegetation in delivering ecosystem services, including microclimate cooling, energy savings, carbon sequestration, biodiversity habitat provision, and improved nutrient and water cycling.

Livesley's research has garnered significant recognition, with over 13,445 citations on Google Scholar in areas such as urban ecosystems, biogeochemistry, and forest and woodland ecology. Key publications include 'Planning for cooler cities: A framework to prioritise green infrastructure to mitigate high temperatures in urban landscapes' (2015, 1,617 citations), 'The urban forest and ecosystem services: impacts on urban water, heat, and pollution cycles at the tree, street, and city scale' (2016, 1,188 citations), 'Increasing biodiversity in urban green spaces through simple vegetation interventions' (2017, 527 citations), 'Temperature and human thermal comfort effects of street trees across three contrasting street canyon environments' (2016, 518 citations), and 'Magnitude and biophysical regulators of methane emission and consumption in the Australian agricultural, forest, and submerged landscapes: a review' (2008, 355 citations). His work influences urban planning, climate resilience strategies, and green infrastructure development.

Professional Email: sjlive@unimelb.edu.au