The stories I write have ecological themes – I am an ecologist after all. I write about interactions between plants and animals and people. I aim to inspire a fascination in the natural world by highlighting a few of the many incredible plants and animals that you can find just outside. As a scientist, effective communication is critical and this includes publication of results in peer-reviewed scientific journals but also explaining research in everyday terms.
I am now a senior lecturer at The Open University in England. Having lived for most of my life in Australia, I moved to the United Kingdom in 2015. I knew I wanted to be a biologist in high school. In my spare time I love hunting for native orchids and then photographing them.
Books
Cooke J. 2011. My Little World. Illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall. Omnibus Books, Malvern South Australia [Children’s Picture Book] more here
Anthologies
Cooke, J. 2015. My Little World in The Poetry Bug: an anthology of writing by professional poets, entomologists, intellectuals, musicians and more… by John Tennant. Parthian Books.
Cooke, J. 1992. My Special Place in Special forever : an environmental communications project. Murray-Darling Basin Commission.
Newsletter/newspaper articles
Cooke, Julia 2014. Ask Fuzzy: How carnivorous plants capture their prey. Sydney Morning Herald/Canberra Times [article]
Cooke, Julia 2011. Bernard Fennessy Memorial Lecture 2011: Julia Cooke presents My Little World. Anti-Rabbit Roundup 15:6 pdf
Cooke, Julia. 2011. Is plant ecology more siliceous than we realise? PhD summary. STEP Matters. No. 161 pdf
Cooke, Julia. 2011. Getting the science right in My Little World. STEP Matters. No. 160 pdf
Cooke, J. Ash, J. and Groves, R.H. 2003. The Ecology of Ward’s Weed (Carrichtera annua; Brassicaceae): a weed of southern rangelands of Australia.) [Extended conference abstract, Ecological Society of Australia Conference, Adelaide, 2003] pdf
Cooke, Julia. 1996. Is a Scribble just a scribble? Australian National Botanic Gardens Newsletter, Summer 4: 4
Scientific publications
See here
Science displays and walks
Cooke, J. 2010. Botanical Vampires! Parasitic and Carnivorous Plants in the Ecology Reserve [Macquarie University Arboretum Walk] pdf
Downing A. (text adaptation Cooke, J.) 2010 Campus History Walk [Macquarie University Arboretum Walk] pdf
Cooke, J. and Macquarie University Arboretum Committee 2010. Plant Evolution Walk [10 permanent signs installed on campus]
Cooke, J. Ash, J. and Groves, R.H. 2003. The Ecology of Ward’s Weed (Carrichtera annua; Brassicaceae): a weed of southern rangelands of Australia.) [Extended conference abstract, Ecological Society of Australia Conference, Adelaide, 2003] pdf
Blogs
Cooke J. 2011. Blog tour following the release of My Little World. See here
Cooke J. 2009-current http://socksinmypocket.wordpress.com/
Julia Cooke 