Sean is a professional anthropological archaeologist. Sean’s partnership research with Indigenous communities focuses on persistent problems in the archaeology of Australia and the western Pacific where understanding the relationships between environmental change and cultural change using advanced studies of archaeological and palaeoenvironmental sequences are central to constructions of the human past. His priority has been to develop new tools and approaches to investigate and articulate co-variability and co-development of human and natural systems.

A major strand of this research has been in the field of archaeological science, where Sean leads integrated research programmes designed to improve methods used to establish chronologies and taphonomic sequences to increase confidence in data resolution underpinning models of past human behaviour. This ongoing work refines chronologies of human occupation in tropical coastal areas and allows calibration of archaeological datasets with terrestrial environmental records, creating the potential for much closer integration of these two key sources of information. Sean has applied these understandings to key archaeological issues, including establishing correlations between archaeological and climate records in northern Australia and evaluating the evidence for Polynesian voyaging to the Americas.

His publications include more than 140 articles on the archaeology of Australia and 5 books. Sean has conducted research in Australia, Honduras, Chile, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific.

Teaching

• RM8101: Research Planning in Tropical Environments and Societies (Level 8; CNS & TSV)
• RM8102: Research Project in Tropical Environments and Societies (Level 8; CNS & TSV)

Interests

Professional

• Equity and diversity
• Professional development
• Benchmarking
• Building knowledge communities

Research

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander archaeology
• Archaeology of New Guinea and Pacific Islands
• Archaeology of the Great Barrier Reef
• Archaeological science
• Coastal and island archaeology
• Radiocarbon dating of marine materials
• Impacts of people on new environments
• Cultural heritage management and climate change

Teaching

• Improving archaeology teaching and learning
• Problem-based learning
• Research-led teaching

Experience

• 2020 to present - Associate Dean Research Education, James Cook University (Cairns, Townsville)
• 2019 to present - Distinguished Professor, James Cook University (Cairns)
• 2017 to present - Deputy Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (Cairns)
• 2021 - Associate Dean Research, James Cook University (Cairns)
• 2016 to 2018 - Professor, James Cook University (Cairns)
• 2013 to 2017 - Associate Professor/ARC Future Fellow, James Cook University (Cairns)
• 2011 to 2012 - Lecturer, James Cook University (Cairns)
• 2010 to 2011 - Senior Lecturer, The University of Queensland (Brisbane)
• 2005 to 2010 - Lecturer, The University of Queensland (Brisbane)
• 1999 to 2005 - Senior Researcher, The University of Queensland (Brisbane)
• 2000 to 2004 - Lecturer, The University of New England (Brisbane)
• 1993 to 1998 - Researcher, The University of Queensland (Brisbane)

Research Disciplines

• Archaeology (4301)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, language and (4501)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Understanding past societies (1307)

Awards

• 2022 - High Performance Computing Innovation Excellence Award
• 2019 - JCU Distinguished Professor
• 2017 - Rhys Jones Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Australian Archaeology
• 2014 - The Bruce Veitch Award for Excellence in Indigenous Engagement
• 2008 - Life Membership for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Archaeological Association Inc.
• 2007 - Martin Davies Award for Best Public Archaeology Initiative
• 2004 - Dean’s Commendation for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Thesis, The University of Queensland
• 2000 - Royal Society of Queensland – Colliver Prize
• 1995 - University Medal, The University of Queensland

Fellowships

• 2015 - Fellow, Australian Academy of the Humanities
• 2011 - Fellow, Cairns Institute
• 2011 - Fellow, Society of Antiquaries of London
• 2007 - Honorary Research Fellow, Queensland Museum
• 2017 to 2019 - Honorary Fellow, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia
• 2013 to 2017 - Future Fellow, Australian Research Council
• 2011 to 2014 - Honorary Senior Fellow, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, The University of Queensland

Memberships

• 2018 - International Council for Archaeozoology
• 2017 - Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA) Australia Inc.
• 2014 - The Prehistoric Society
• 2011 - Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science
• 2011 - Centre for Language and Culture Research
• 2006 - Society for American Archaeology
• 2003 - Archaeological and Anthropological Society of Victoria
• 2002 - Australasian Quaternary Association
• 2002 - Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
• 2002 - Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association
• 2001 - Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists Inc.
• 2000 - Royal Society of Queensland
• 1998 - Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
• 1989 - Australian Archaeological Association

Other

• 2022 - Member, Australian Museum Research Institute Science Advisory Board
• 2021 - Research Integrity Advisor, James Cook University
• 2020 - Editor, Australian Archaeology
• 2019 - Member, Council Australian Academy of the Humanities
• 2017 - Theme Leader, Cultural and Linguistic Transformations, The Cairns Institute
• 2017 - Deputy Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage
• 2014 - Editorial Board, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society
• 2013 - Editorial Board, Journal of the Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists
• 2013 - Editorial Board, The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology
• 2010 - Editorial Board, Queensland Historical Atlas
• 1999 - Editor, Queensland Archaeological Research
• 2018 to 2023 - Chair, Scientific Committee, International Council of Archaeozoology Conference (7-12 August 2023)
• 2021 - Associate Dean Research, College of Arts, Society and Education, James Cook University
• 2020 to 2021 - Associate Dean Research Education, James Cook University
• 2018 - Member, 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) Research Evaluation Committee (REC) for Humanities and Creative Arts Committee (HCA)
• 2015 to 2016 - Deputy Chair, Humanities and Creative Arts (HCA), Australian Research Council (ARC) College of Experts
• 2013 to 2016 - Fellow, Australian Research Council (ARC) College of Experts
• 2012 to 2016 - Deputy Director, Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, James Cook University
• 2006 to 2015 - Member, World Archaeological Congress Code of Ethics Committee
• 2011 to 2014 - Editorial Advisory Board, Australian Archaeology
• 2011 to 2013 - National Chair, Australian National Committee for Archaeology Teaching and Learning
• 2003 to 2013 - Representative, Southeastern Asia and the Pacific, World Archaeological Congress
• 2011 to 2012 - Convenor, Archaeology and Geoscience Specialist Committee, Australian Institute of Nuclear Sciences and Engineering
• 2006 to 2011 - Editor, Australian Archaeology
• 2008 to 2010 - Member, Archaeology and Geoscience Specialist Committee, Australian Institute of Nuclear Sciences and Engineering
• 2003 to 2008 - Managing Editor, The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education
• 2002 to 2003 - President, Australian Archaeological Association

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

• Bird M, Haig J, Ulm S and Wurster C (2022) A carbon and nitrogen isotope perspective on ancient human diet in the British Isles. Journal of Archaeological Science, 137.
• McCarthy J, Wiseman C, Woo K, Steinberg D, O'Leary M, Wesley D, Brady L, Ulm S and Benjamin J (2022) Beneath the Top End: a regional assessment of submerged archaeological potential in the Northern Territory, Australia. Australian Archaeology, 88 (1). pp. 65-83
• Rehn E, Rowe C, Ulm S, Woodward C, Zawadzki A, Jacobsen G and Bird M (2022) Integrating charcoal morphology and stable carbon isotope analysis to identify non-grass elongate charcoal in tropical savannas. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 31 (1). pp. 37-48
• Bird M, Crabtree S, Haig J, Ulm S and Wurster C (2021) A global carbon and nitrogen isotope perspective on modern and ancient human diet. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118 (19).
• Bradshaw C, Norman K, Ulm S, Williams A, Clarkson C, Chadœuf J, Lin S, Jacobs Z, Roberts R, Bird M, Weyrich L, Haberle S, O'Connor S, Llamas B, Cohen T, Friedrich T, Veth P, Leavesley M and Saltré F (2021) Stochastic models support rapid peopling of Late Pleistocene Sahul. Nature Communications, 12.
• Cook Hale J, Benjamin J, Woo K, Astrup P, McCarthy J, Hale N, Stankiewicz F, Wiseman C, Skriver C, Garrison E, Ulm S and Bailey G (2021) Submerged landscapes, marine transgression and underwater shell middens: comparative analysis of site formation and taphonomy in Europe and North America. Quaternary Science Reviews, 258.
• Crabtree S, White D, Bradshaw C, Saltré F, Williams A, Beaman R, Bird M and Ulm S (2021) Landscape rules predict optimal superhighways for the first peopling of Sahul. Nature Human Behaviour, 5. pp. 1303-1313
• Leach J, Wiseman C, O'leary M, McDonald J, McCarthy J, Morrison P, Jeffries P, Hacker J, Ulm S, Bailey G and Benjamin J (2021) The integrated cultural landscape of North Gidley Island: coastal, intertidal and nearshore archaeology in Murujuga (Dampier Archipelago), Western Australia. Australian Archaeology, 87 (3). pp. 251-267
• Mate G and Ulm S (2021) Working in archaeology in a changing world: Australian archaeology at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Australian Archaeology, 87 (3). pp. 229-250

Book Chapters

• Asmussen B, Faulkner P, Szabó K and Ulm S (2022) The molluscan remains of Tanamu 1: Subsistence and resource habitats. In: The Archaeology of Tanamu 1: A Pre-Lapita to Post-Lapita Site from Caution Bay, South Coast of Mainland Papua New Guinea. Caution Bay Studies in Archaeology, 2. Archaeopress, Oxford, United Kingdom, pp. 107-116
• Williams A, Ulm S and Smith M (2022) Past Aboriginal populations and demographic change using radiocarbon data and time-series analysis. In: The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of Indigenous Australia and New Guinea. Oxford Handbooks Online. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom
• Benjamin J and Ulm S (2021) The big flood: responding to sea-level rise and the inundated continental shelf. In: The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of Indigenous Australia and New Guinea. Oxford Handbooks Online. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 168+ research outputs authored by Prof Sean Ulm from 1995 onwards.

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

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

• Ancient ceramics at Vilabouly: pottery production and society in Laos (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Understanding Kwokkunum Shell Mounds as Landscape Engineering: A Spatial and Temporal Archaeological approach (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• The cultural landscape of Mungana, Chillagoe, 1900-1958 (PhD , Advisor Mentor)
• Reappraising the Land -Patrick White's Landscape Legacy and its Afterlives (PhD , Advisor Mentor)
• Palaeolandscapes and the Archaeological implications of Changing Landscapes and Seascapes in the Torres Strait (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Investigating Constructed Seascapes in the Lizard Island Group, Far North Queensland. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• Old Smithfield Township, Cairns,1876-1879: revealing the material life of a nineteenth-century town in Tropical North Queensland. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• Kaiadilt Country: A Remote Sensing Approach to Documenting Long-Term Aboriginal land management technologies (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)

Completed

• The cyclone written into our place: the cyclone as trope of apocalypse and place in Queensland literature (2018, PhD , Advisor Mentor)
• Fire and environmental change in northern Australian savannas during the Holocene (2020, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• A Grammar of Brokpa: a Trans-Himalayan language of Bhutan (2021, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• Multi-proxy evidence of long-term environmental change in Northern Australia?s tropical savannas. (2021, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• A grammar of Doromu-Koki: a Papuan language of Papua New Guinea (2022, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• Chronological modelling of the Torres Strait: a re-evaluation of occupation trends, and expansion of village and ritual sites (2022, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• Geophysical explorations of archaeological shell matrix sites: evaluating geophysical techniques in determining the boundaries, structure and volume of buried shell deposits (2017, PhD , Primary Advisor)

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit Research Data Australia.

• Kenady, S. (2016) Thundiy and Cairns experimental site, survey data: ground-penetrating radar and electrical resistivity. James Cook University
• Twaddle, R. (2016) Temperature data from Mirdidingki Creek, Bentinck Island, June 2013 - July 2014. James Cook University
• Ulm, S. (2012) Index of Dates from Archaeological Sites in Queensland data. James Cook University

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.