Rate My Professor William Chivers

Dr William Chivers is an Honorary Lecturer and Casual Academic in the School of Computer and Information Sciences, part of the College of Engineering, Science and Environment at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He holds a PhD (2010) from the University of Newcastle for his thesis titled 'Generalised, parsimonious, individual-based computer models of ecological systems,' which earned a research award. He also completed a Master of Education (Honours) (1998) from Charles Sturt University, likewise receiving a research award, a Diploma in Education from the University of New England, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of New South Wales. After obtaining his zoology degree in the 1970s, Chivers worked in the IT industry as a computer programmer, then taught in secondary schools and NSW TAFE before returning to academia. He has served as a Lecturer at the University of Newcastle since February 2001.

Chivers' research combines computer science and biology, particularly ecology. He develops individual-based models to study predator-prey dynamics, including applications to the Canadian Lynx-Hare system and Fennoscandian mustelid-microtine system, and optimal foraging theory in collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney. Additionally, he applies data mining and analysis to large datasets investigating climate change impacts on marine plankton, partnering with Deakin University and the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science in the United Kingdom. He has taught and developed tertiary courses in agent-based modelling, computer programming in languages such as C, C++, Java, C#, VB, PHP, Python, Perl, SQL, Logo, and NetLogo, relational databases, web development with HTML, CSS, LAMP, and Django, system and network administration for FreeBSD, Linux, Netware, and WinNT, systems analysis and design, computer architecture, and data mining and analysis using R. Key publications include 'Mismatch between marine plankton range movements and the velocity of climate change' (Nature Communications, 2017), 'Reporting less coincidental similarity to educate students about programming plagiarism and collusion' (2024), 'Layered similarity detection for programming plagiarism and collusion on weekly assessments' (2022), 'Gamification to Help Inform Students About Programming Plagiarism and Collusion' (2023), and the co-authored textbook 'Information Processes and Technology' (2001).