A/Prof Kotarba’s research examines how climate change affects cultural heritage and the communities for whom that heritage is part of living culture, identity and connection to place and Country. Culture and heritage are non-renewable resources. Once a site, cultural landscape or associated knowledge is lost, that loss can be permanent.
Sea-level rise, coastal erosion, flooding, fire and other climate-driven hazards are already affecting culturally significant places across Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific. In many cases, we still do not have adequate ways of identifying what is most at risk, understanding what those losses mean for communities, or incorporating cultural heritage into climate adaptation.
This is particularly important for Indigenous communities, where environmental change can affect not only physical places but the cultural knowledge, practices and relationships connected to Country. A/Prof Kotarba’s work addresses this gap by looking at culture and heritage as an important part of climate risk, adaptation and resilience.
A/Prof Kotarba’s research develops practical and scientifically robust ways to predict, document and respond to climate impacts on cultural heritage. She works with Indigenous communities, archaeologists, climate scientists and other researchers to combine cultural and community knowledge with environmental monitoring, GIS and spatial analysis, drone and satellite mapping, 3D documentation, underwater survey, and coastal and climate modelling.
A major focus of her current research is using these different forms of evidence to understand how landscapes and coastlines are changing, identify which cultural places are most vulnerable, and monitor those changes over time. This includes my work with Traditional Owners in Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait), where we are combining cultural knowledge with mapping, seasonal calendars, environmental data and monitoring to understand the impacts of sea-level rise, erosion and other coastal hazards on cultural heritage and develop practical approaches for responding to them.
A/Prof Kotarba also works at the policy level to improve recognition of culture and heritage in climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction and climate loss and damage, so that cultural impacts are considered alongside environmental, social and economic ones.