Sean Ulm is Distinguished Professor of Archaeology at James Cook University and Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures. He completed his archaeological training at The University of Queensland where he was awarded a PhD in 2004. He has held previous positions at The University of Queensland and University of New England and was awarded an ARC Future Fellowship in 2012. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a Fellow of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences, an Honorary Research Fellow of the Queensland Museum, and a Research Fellow of the Cairns Institute.
Sean’s research focuses on persistent problems in the archaeology of northern Australia and the western Pacific where his priority has been to develop new tools to investigate and articulate co-variability and co-development of human and natural systems. He is highly regarded for his coordination of multidisciplinary expertise in the investigation of the coastal archaeological record.
His work has been funded by the Australian Research Council, Australian Institute of Nuclear Sciences and Engineering, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Australian Learning and Teaching Council and French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.
His publications include more than 150 refereed articles on the archaeology of Australia and 5 books. He is a former President of the Australian Archaeological Association Inc. (2002-2003) and has served on the Australian Research Council College of Experts (2013-2016) and Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) Research Evaluation Committee (2018) as well as on the Council of the Australian Academy of the Humanities (2020-2022).
He is Editor-In-Chief of Australian Archaeology (2006-2011; 2020-present), the Editor-In-Chief of Queensland Archaeological Research (1999-present), and sits on the Editorial Boards of The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology and Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society.
His contributions to archaeology have been recognised in the awarding of the Martin Davies Award for Best Public Archaeology Initiative (2007), Life Membership for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Archaeological Association (2008), Bruce Veitch Award for Excellence in Indigenous Engagement (2014) and Rhys Jones Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Australian Archaeology (2017).
Experience
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2019–presentDistinguished Professor, James Cook University
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2016–2018Professor, James Cook University
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2013–2017ARC Future Fellow, James Cook University
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2011–2012Lecturer, James Cook University
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2010–2011Senior Lecturer, The University of Queensland
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2005–2010Lecturer, The University of Queensland
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1999–2005Senior Researcher, The University of Queensland
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2000–2004Lecturer, The University of New England
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1993–1998Researcher, The University of Queensland
Education
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2004The University of Queensland, PhD / Archaeology
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1995The University of Queensland, Bachelor of Arts with Honours / Anthropology
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1991The University of Queensland, Bachelor of Arts / Anthropology & Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
Grants and Contracts
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2023ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures
- Role:
- Director
- Funding Source:
- Australian Research Council
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2017The Deep History of Sea Country: Climate, Sea Level and Culture
- Role:
- Chief Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Australian Research Council
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2017ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage
- Role:
- Deputy Director
- Funding Source:
- Australian Research Council
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2013Using Foraminifera to Refine Understandings of Archaeological Site Formation Processes
- Role:
- Chief Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
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2013What is ‘Natural’? Locating and Deciphering Pre-Human Records of Vegetation from Northern Australian Savannas
- Role:
- Chief Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Australian Research Council
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2012Towards an Understanding of Temporal and Spatial Variability in the Aboriginal Occupation of Bentinck Island, Gulf of Carpentaria
- Role:
- Chief Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
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2012Did Human Occupation of Australia Irrevocably Alter Tropical Terrestrial Ecosystems?
- Role:
- Chief Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
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2012Developing Accurate Trans-Holocene Coastal and Ocean Chronologies: Resolving Fundamental Problems in the Dating of Marine Shell in the Tropics
- Role:
- Future Fellow
- Funding Source:
- Australian Research Council
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2012Naïve Island Landscapes: People and Environmental Change in the South Wellesley Archipelago
- Role:
- Chief Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Australian Research Council
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2011Holocene Environments of Bentinck Island, Gulf of Carpentaria
- Role:
- Chief Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Australian Research Council
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2010Using Marine Shell to Date the Dedicatory Caches of Copán, Honduras
- Role:
- Chief Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
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2009Marine Carbon Reservoir Variability in the Southern Gulf of Carpentaria
- Role:
- Chief Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
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2009Understanding Indigenous Knowledge Systems at Gummingurru (Stage 2: Recording and Excavation)
- Role:
- Chief Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
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2009Refining Shell Mound Chronologies on the Sandalwood River, Mornington Island
- Role:
- Chief Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
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2007The Queensland Historical Atlas: Histories, Cultures, Landscapes
- Role:
- Chief Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Australian Research Council
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2007Understanding Indigenous Knowledge Traditions at Gummingurru
- Role:
- Chief Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
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2006Isolation, Insularity and Change in Island Populations: An Interdisciplinary Study of Aboriginal Cultural Patterns in the Gulf of Carpentaria
- Role:
- Chief Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Australian Research Council
Professional Memberships
- Australian Archaeological Association
- World Archaeological Congres
- Royal Society of Queensland
- Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists Inc.
- Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association
- Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
- Australasian Quaternary Association
- Archaeological and Anthropological Society of Victoria
- Society for American Archaeology
- The Prehistoric Society
- International Council for Archaeozoology
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
Research Areas
- Archaeology (2101)
- Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Archaeology (210101)
- Archaeological Science (210102)
Honours
Fellow, Australian Academy of the Humanities; Fellow, Society of Antiquaries of London
- Cairns, Australia
- Website
- @SeanUlm
- Article Feed
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For media enquiries,
sean.ulm@jcu.edu.au - ORCID
- Joined
