Steven Chown
Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor Steven Chown FAA is an award-winning biologist and one of the most highly cited researchers working on Antarctic environmental science and policy. He has represented the science community in the Antarctic Treaty System in a variety of roles, notably as President of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) (2016-2021), as SCAR’s representative to the Antarctic Treaty’s Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) (2007-2014), and as the Chief Officer of SCAR’s Action Group on Climate (2025 onwards). In 2021, he was recognised by the French Republic as the scientist who has most contributed to the work of the CEP through his science and activities, through the award of the Medal of the 30th Anniversary of the Madrid Protocol. He has received the South African Antarctic Gold Medal (1997), is the inaugural recipient of the Tinker-Muse Prize for Science and Policy in Antarctica (2009), has been awarded the SCAR Medal for Excellence in Antarctic Research (2014), and has received the Suzanne Cory Medal from the Australian Academy of Science (2025).
Steven’s research leadership encompasses major endeavours to understand environmental change at global scales and the mitigation of and adaptation to its impacts regionally and locally. He has pioneered interdisciplinary research, such as through the development of the field of macrophysiology, and transdisciplinary practice such as within the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments program. His research has a substantial fundamental foundation and significant social good translational application.
Steven is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and an elected honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2026 he was elected Foreign Secretary and a Council Member of the Australian Academy of Science for a four-year term.
Steven Chown
SAEF Director
Monash University
Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor Steven Chown FAA is an award-winning biologist and one of the most highly cited researchers working on Antarctic environmental science and policy. He has represented the science community in the Antarctic Treaty System in a variety of roles, notably as President of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) (2016-2021), as SCAR’s representative to the Antarctic Treaty’s Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) (2007-2014), and as the Chief Officer of SCAR’s Action Group on Climate (2025 onwards). In 2021, he was recognised by the French Republic as the scientist who has most contributed to the work of the CEP through his science and activities, through the award of the Medal of the 30th Anniversary of the Madrid Protocol. He has received the South African Antarctic Gold Medal (1997), is the inaugural recipient of the Tinker-Muse Prize for Science and Policy in Antarctica (2009), has been awarded the SCAR Medal for Excellence in Antarctic Research (2014), and has received the Suzanne Cory Medal from the Australian Academy of Science (2025).
Steven’s research leadership encompasses major endeavours to understand environmental change at global scales and the mitigation of and adaptation to its impacts regionally and locally. He has pioneered interdisciplinary research, such as through the development of the field of macrophysiology, and transdisciplinary practice such as within the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments program. His research has a substantial fundamental foundation and significant social good translational application.
Steven is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and an elected honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2026 he was elected Foreign Secretary and a Council Member of the Australian Academy of Science for a four-year term.
