We work to improve the reliability and sustainability of pollination services in agricultural systems by studying a wide range of pollinators—not just honeybees. Our research explores how to optimise pollination by understanding the foraging behaviour, flower preferences, and effectiveness of native bees and other insects.  We aim to develop resilient systems that support both crop yields and insect biodiversity.

Urban areas often present challenges for invertebrates, but with thoughtful design, cities can become havens for insect life. We study how to create urban environments that support diverse insect communities—particularly pollinators—by incorporating features such as native flowering plants, varied microhabitats, and green infrastructure. Our research informs urban planning, landscaping, and community initiatives that promote coexistence with invertebrates. By making cities more insect-friendly, we also enrich human wellbeing through increased biodiversity, improved ecosystem services, and opportunities for nature connection in daily life.

Invertebrates are critical to the health of ecosystems, yet many are declining—and we still know little about most of them. Our lab works on conserving invertebrates through projects that include tracking long-term changes in Christmas beetle populations, understanding the conservation needs of velvet worms, identifying the insect communities that support endangered species like the earless dragon, and investigating the specialised pollination systems of threatened Australian orchids. By combining field surveys, community science, and ecological modelling, we aim to fill key knowledge gaps and support conservation efforts that recognise the essential role of invertebrates in sustaining ecosystems and biodiversity.

Insects like ants and bees exhibit remarkable collective behaviours—solving problems, sharing information, and adapting to change without central control. We investigate these systems to better understand how collective intelligence emerges, and how it can inform the design of human technologies and decision-making systems. Our research includes studies of trail formation in ants, resource allocation in bee colonies, and network-building in slime moulds. These insights contribute to the growing field of bio-inspired design, with applications in robotics, transport systems, and artificial intelligence.