DoctorMatthew Fielding

An ecologist with a passion for beer, fermentation and science communication. I work at UTAS as a Teaching Fellow in the Pathway Programs. Having grown up in a low socio-economic community in NW Tasmania, I am driven to expand access to outreach and educational opportunities across regional areas. As a non-traditional university student myself, my teaching philosophy is student-focused.  After failing my TCE in College, I enrolled in the University Preparation Program (UPP), the very pathway I now teach. Following this, I completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours and a PhD in Zoology. My PhD thesis examined how trophic shifts impact scavenging dynamics on the Bass Strait Islands. I am passionate about the conservation of species and I'm particularly interested in the nexus between humans and wildlife. 

I am a strong advocate for science communication, especially in regional communities. In 2020, I co-founded Science Made Beerable - a not-for-profit that highlights the science behind beer and fermentation through blogs, reviews and videos. We also host an annual National Science Week event, "exBEERimental Science", working with breweries and industry partners across Australia.