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Dr Meagan Dewar
Contact details are only visible to registered journalists. To register click hereLecturer (Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability)
Federation University Australia
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Expertise
Wildlife disease, Wildlife health, Antarctica, high pathogenicity avian influenza, HPAI, Bird Flu, microbial ecology, Southern Ocean ecosystems and marine wildlife, Infectious diseases in polar wildlifeMedia
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Previous media experience
I have previous experience speaking with the media in all formats. I have also completed specialist pieces for the ABC 7:30 report on bird flu in Antarctica. I am comfortable doing all forms of media and discussing areas related to my research and expertise. I also conduct lectures onboard tourist ships in Antarctica as part of my partnership with tour operators who provide transport, and accommodation for me to complete my research.
Links to media clippings
Biography
Dr Meagan Dewar is a lecturer in biological sciences with expertise in wildlife health, infectious diseases and microbial ecology, with a particular focus on Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystems and marine wildlife. Her research uses molecular and genomic approaches to investigate host-microbe interactions, pathogen dynamics and the impacts of environmental change on wildlife.Meagan’s work spans wildlife microbiomes, emerging infectious diseases and ecosystem health, including research on high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) and other health threats affecting seabirds and marine mammals. She has extensive experience applying next-generation sequencing techniques to study microbial communities and disease transmission in remote and extreme environments.
A key focus of Meagan’s work is translating science into policy-relevant outcomes. She engages with international conservation and governance frameworks through contributions to bodies such as the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), supporting evidence-based decision-making on wildlife health and biosecurity.
Personal info
Web links:
Gender:
Female
Pronouns:
she/her
ResearcherID/ORCID iD:
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0581-2422
Last updated: 29 Jun 2026