Dr. Maria Palacios
Senior Research Fellow
Details
-
Department: School of Science
-
Campus: City Campus Australia
-
maria.palacios@rmit.edu.au
Open to
- Industry Projects
- Masters Research or PhD student supervision
- Media enquiries
About
I lead multi-stakeholder research that creates sustainable solutions for people and nature.
As a marine ecologist and science communicator, I work at the intersection of community engagement, ecological restoration, and nature-based climate solutions—leading research that regenerates ecosystems and empowers people. Over the past decade, I have developed award-winning participatory science programs and interdisciplinary collaborations that connect communities to place, foster climate literacy, and inform action at local, national, and international levels. Specifically, my work has driven measurable change across three critical frontiers of environmental action:
Research fields
- 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology)
- 410101 Carbon sequestration science
- 41 Environmental sciences
- 350717 Stakeholder engagement
UN sustainable development goals
- 13 Climate Action
- 14 Life Below Water
- 17 Partnerships for the Goals
- 15 Life on Land
Academic positions
- Senior Research Fellow
- RMIT University
- Melbourne, Australia
- 2024 – Present
- Research Fellow
- Deakin University
- Melbourne, Australia
- 2018 – 2024
- Ian Potter Doctoral Fellow, Lizard Island Research Station
- James Cook University
- Townsville, Australia
- 2015 – 2016
Non-academic positions
- Environmental consultant
- The Nature Conservancy
- Bogotá, Colombia
- 2012 – 2013
- Environmental Consultant
- Conservation International
- Bogota, Colombia
- 2010 – 2012
Degrees
- Ph.D, Biological Sciences
- James Cook University
- Australia
- 2013 – 2018
Supervisor projects
- Barriers and opportunities to blue carbon projects in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO)
- 1 Jun 2025
- IMPROVING DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IN MANGROVE RESTORATION
- 12 Dec 2024
Research interests
- Citizen Science
- Indigenous, Industry and Community engagement
- Social Science
- Science communication & Outreach
- Wetland Restoration
- Ecosystem services
