About

Neil co-ordinates the Bachelor of Business and Environmental Science program at JCU and is based at our Singapore Campus. 

His main, continuing, research objectives lie in the examination of interactions between species in intertidal and shallow coastal marine systems and how such relationships are influenced by environmental factors.  His research focuses on how fish utilise coastal habitats, such as mangroves and seagrass beds, and he is currently examining the ecology of mesopredators such as bamboo sharks.    

As a broadly trained marine ecologist, Neil has worked at a wide range of institutions including universities, government research laboratories and NGO’s, providing research services and information to a variety of stakeholders. He  advocates research  that has direct implications for conservation biology and fisheries management, resulting in publications specifically targetting the public to empower them as citizen scientists such as 1, 2.

More details on his recently funded research projects involving both our Australian and Singapore Campuses can be found here

Recent media

Q&A: Bachelor of Business and Environmental Science

Be the answer

Teaching
  • MB5001: Tropical Marine Ecology and Coastal Impacts (Level 5; TSV)
Interests
Research
  • Potential areas for PhD projects in Singapore include: Ecology of Sharks and Rays; Intertidal ecology; Cross-disciplinary research on marine communities For example: Assessing marine fish habitat utilisation around a "future city" *Singapore has developed rapidly over the last 50 years, and has become a regional icon in relation to land based development. This has inevitably led to the loss and fragmentation of coastal marine habitats. Current understanding of how this has impacted wild marine fish populations around Singapore is minimal. This project will examine the population structure and movement patterns of fish species found in Singapore waters. A range of techniques will be utilised that may include acoustic tracking, underwater video systems, and potentially novel genetic tools. An important project outcome will be the provision of information to resource managers. Would suit an applicant who is highly motivated and has completed Honours, Masters or appropriate Postgraduate research training in fisheries science and marine ecology or an associated field. Familiarity with acoustic telemetry, BRUVs or population genetics would be an advantage, but overall an acute desire to develop more skills is vital. The candidate should be field competent and happy working on boats as well as in laboratory situations. For more details on these projects, or to discuss other research interests, please contact Dr Hutchinson via email.
Teaching
  • I'm very keen to develop authentic learning experiences that allow students to put the concepts that they learn in a classroom into practice. Enabling a student to develop their knowledge and experience through hands-on learning, is in my experience key to preparing them for a professional life once they graduate.
Research Disciplines
Socio-Economic Objectives
Honours
Awards
  • 2021 - Research Excellence - Team Award (JCU Singapore)
  • 2020 - 3MT Winner Academic/Research Staff Category (JCU Singapore)
  • 2018 - 3MT Winner People's Choice Category (JCU Singapore)
Fellowships
  • 2023 to 2025 - Associate Fellow at the Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
Memberships
  • 2020 - General Council Member of the Oceania Chondrichthyan Society. Working towards improved understanding, sustainable use, and conservation of sharks and rays in the Indo-Pacific region
  • 2021 to 2025 - Invited Member of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group Member representing Singapore - Actively involved in shark, ray, and chimaera research, policy, or conservation.
Other
  • For a summary of up to date research funding, please visit my ORCID profile
Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles
Book Chapters
More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 24+ research outputs authored by A/PROF Neil Hutchinson from 2003 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Shark Conservation Fund - Small Grant

Southeast Asian shark and ray research and conservation capacity building workshop 2019

Indicative Funding
$41,411 over 5 years
Summary
Capacity building workshop for South East Asian shark and ray researchers, NGOs, academics, fisheries officers and government agencies. The project will bring together participant from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines for a workshop at JCU-Singapore in shark field research techniques, analysis of movement data and fisheries risk assessment.
Investigators
Andrew Chin and Neil Hutchinson in collaboration with Vinay Udawyer (College of Science & Engineering and Australian Institute of Marine Science)
Keywords
capacity building; Fisheries; Shark; Marine Parks; Management; conservaton

Synchronicity Earth - Small Grant

SEA shark conservation and management workshop

Indicative Funding
$11,673
Summary
JCUA and JCUS are running a capacity building workshop at JCU Singapore from 25 to 29 September 2023 for delegates across SE Asia in shark research and conservation. This funding provides additional funds to support travel for delegates to attend the event.
Investigators
Andrew Chin and Neil Hutchinson (College of Science & Engineering and Corporate P&L)
Keywords
Capacity building; Conservation; Stingrays; Southeast Asia; Shark; Fisheries

Save Our Seas Foundation - Small Grant

SEA shark conservation and management workshop (TOP UP FUNDING #2)

Indicative Funding
$7,602
Summary
JCUA and JCUS are running a capacity building workshop at JCU Singapore from 25 to 29 September 2023 for delegates across SE Asia in shark research and conservation. Unfortunately, costs have increased significantly post COVID, and these increases exceed the original budget. This funding from the Save Our Seas Foundation provides additional funds to support travel for delegates to attend the event.
Investigators
Andrew Chin and Neil Hutchinson (College of Science & Engineering and Corporate P&L)
Keywords
Capacity building; Conservation; Stingrays; Southeast Asia; Shark; Fisheries

Save Our Seas Foundation - Grant

Life history of the critically endangered ray bottlenose wedgefish Rhynchobatus australiae

Indicative Funding
$13,259 over 3 years
Summary
Management and conservation efforts for threatened species can be hampered by the lack of age, growth and maturity (life history) information. The bottlenose wedgefish, Rhynchobatus australiae, is a large coastal ray that is found throughout the Indo-Pacific. It is the most commonly caught wedgefish and it is retained in fisheries for its high valued fins and meat. It is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List and faces an extremely high risk of extinction. However there is limited life history information available globally. This project will further the biological knowledge available for this species and can be used to help implement effective management and conservation measures.
Investigators
Brooke D'Alberto and Neil Hutchinson (College of Science & Engineering and Corporate P&L)
Keywords
Rhinidae; Conservation; data poor species; Life History; Threatened Species; coastal species
Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current
  • Life-history, ecology and fisheries of the Blackspot shark (Carcharhinus sealei) and Bluespotted maskray (Neotrygon spp.) in Southeast Asia: implications for conservation and management (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Completed
Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

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