Dr Caroline Mather is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Rock Art Research and Management at UWA. Caroline has experience in geochemistry, geology, hydrogeology and environmental science and its application in Western Australia. Caroline's current research aims to develop high-resolution palaeoenvironmental records from carbonate spring deposits and other geological archives in Murujuga (the Dampier Archipelago), on the Pilbara coast in Western Australia. The Murujuga region is of scientific and cultural significance, renowned for abundant and diverse petroglyphs (engraved rock art). The research will improve knowledge on the environmental conditions, fresh water availability and changing local climatic conditions relevant to the period(s) of rock art production. The outcomes will provide context on the patterns of early human occupation and migration (evidenced by rock art) within this region during the Quaternary. Prior to her role as a Research Fellow, Caroline completed and PhD in carbonate geochemistry and palaeoenvironmental research and has also worked as an environmental geochemist in the mining industry, where her role focussed on management of mine waste materials, water quality and environmental impacts of mining.

ARC Linkage Project (LP190100724) "Dating Murujuga's Dreaming: Scientific analysis of landscapes and rock art" between The University of Western Australia, University of Melbourne, University of Wollongong, Murujuga Aborginal Corporation, Rio Tinto and Woodside (2021-2025)

ANSTO Grant (AS212/PD/17516) "Carbonate spring deposits as archives of environmental change coinciding with early human occupation in Murujuga, NW Western Australia: a mineralogical assessment"

ANSTO Grants (AP13234; AP13888) "Radiocarbon dating of tufa to develop palaeoenvironmental records for Murujuga, NW Western Australia: Implications for early human occupation" (2021, 2022)

ANSTO Grant (AP15148) "Determining the age and seasonality of Aboriginal shellfish harvesting in Murujuga (the Dampier Archipelago)"

ANSTO Grant (AP16174) "Locating the 14-C bomb-pulse in freshwater tufa to improve calibrated age data in Holocene environmental records from Murujuga, NW Western Australia"

• Palaeoenvironment and climate research
• Earth surface processes
• Geochemistry and hydrochemistry
• Geomorphology
• Mineralogy
• Semi-arid and arid environments

As a geologist and geochemist in Western Australia, Caroline has strong ties to industry partners in the mining and petroleum sectors. Caroline has undertaken collaboratory research with industry partners during her doctoral degree and within her current role. Her research has numerous applications to industry and other stakeholders, including implications for water quality and management, groundwater dependent ecosystems, surface water - groundwater interactions, environmental impacts and management.

English