Tas van Ommen

I am an honorary researcher and Adjunct Professor with the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania. My research focuses on Antarctic glaciology generally, and ice core palaeoclimate in particular. I worked in the government antarctic sector for around 30 years and have an interest in both climate science, and the interface between science and policy.

My research has included singificant focus on understanding connections between Antarctica and Australia's climate, particularly hydroclimate/drought. This work has specifically used Australia's highly detailed Law Dome ice core. I have also been involved in airborne surveys to map the bedrock and coastal margins in East Antarctica.

A major current research interest is Australia's ice core project to recover an ice core extending beyond a million years age - the "MYIC" Project. This is a major international challenge which will allow us to study major climate changes through the mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT) around 800 thousand to a million years ago.