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In Memoriam

Professor Clement Tisdell
Professor Emeritus at the School of Economics

Emeritus Professor Clem Tisdell from the School of Economics in the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Queensland died in Brisbane on 14th July 2022.

Clem was one of Australia’s leading academics, making significant contributions to environmental and ecological economics, including a prolific publishing portfolio of: research papers, monographs, textbooks and editorial contributions. He held senior academic leadership positions at the Australian National University, the University of Newcastle, and the University of Queensland, including Dean and Head of School. Clem also held international visiting research positions at Princeton and Stanford universities. He successfully supervised dozens of research students throughout a career that spanned nearly 60 years. Clem leaves behind an amazing legacy of collaborative advantage in academic research. He will be missed by his many collaborators throughout the world.

The following tribute was paid by K N Ninan; Former President, Indian Society of Ecological Economics (INSEE) and Chairperson, Centre for Economics, Environment and Society, Bangalore, India

Professor Clement Tisdell was an outstanding environmental and ecological economist of our times with an enviable publication record of several books and research papers published in top rated journals on topics such as economics of biodiversity conservation, valuation of ecosystem services, sustainable development, development and inequality, etc. He has trained and guided several generations of students including doctoral and post-doctoral scholars from the Asia-Pacific region and especially from South Asia and China.

I was fortunate that I got an opportunity to meet him on July 4, 2022 (almost 10 days prior to his unexpected death) in his office in the School of Economics, Queensland University during my recent visit to the University. Despite his health condition he was kind enough to come to office, meet and discuss with me for almost two hours on our mutual areas of research and on his forthcoming book projects and research.

I have known Professor Tisdell for almost three decades and he collaborated with me on three book projects all of which were published by Edward Elgar, UK and USA. He discussed about his upcoming book on ‘Rational Choice Theory’ that was to be published by Edward Elgar, UK and USA.

He had a lot of empathy for the underprivileged and mentioned to me how (in the context of shrinking University funds) he was donating a part of his income to pay the university fees of needy students and scholars especially from aboriginal communities. His loss is a difficult void to fill. His numerous works will continue to inspire many generations of scholars.

News

This Pioneering Economist Says Our Obsession With Growth Must End – The New York Times

Article published by the New York Times on July 18, 2022. 

"It’s a false assumption,” argues Herman Daly, “to say that growth is increasing the standard of living in the present world.”

Job Posting

Maine-eDNA EPSCoR PhD Graduate Job Posting

The Maine-eDNA EPSCoR program seeks up to 3 doctoral (PhD) students to join the $20 million NSF-Funded Maine-eDNA program. Maine-eDNA is a multi-institution EPSCoR program focused on using eDNA approaches to advance coastal ecosystem science and sustainability. 

The ISEE Journal, Ecological Economics

The journal is concerned with extending and integrating the understanding of the interfaces and interplay between "nature’s household" (ecosystems) and "humanity’s household" (the economy).

Ecological economics is an interdisciplinary field defined by a set of concrete problems or challenges related to governing economic activity in a way that promotes human well-being, sustainability, and justice. The journal thus emphasizes critical work that draws on and integrates elements of ecological science, economics, and the analysis of values, behaviors, cultural practices, institutional structures, and societal dynamics.

The journal is transdisciplinary in spirit and methodologically open, drawing on the insights offered by a variety of intellectual traditions, and appealing to a diverse readership.