Nic Bidwell

Professional Incarnations

I graduated with a Bsc (hons) in biology and psychology (University of Stirling) which was a slight diversion from the cold, Scottish estuaries featuring in my original plan to qualify in fish. I studied vision using electrophysiological techniques in my honours project and developed this further during my PhD in sensory neurophysiology (University of London: Queen Mary College). My doctoral and post-doctoral research (Sussex and Australian National Universities) was in motion information processing in flying insects, further details are on my research page.

I had a short interlude working as a consultant on IT and education related projects (e.g. for the UK's Office of Science and Technology). This brought me to studying for a Masters in IT (University of Queensland) and, circuitously, back to academia where I am establishing expertise in Human Computer Interaction.

A central theme throughout my career is visual ecology and embodied interactions with the world by humans, and other animals, as they wayfind through it. “Moving through the world”, expressed in my research into mobile devices (guides for wayfinding in the wild, devices for mobile biologists) and large scale gameworlds, seems to be part of my character as shown by my interests below.

Passions & Pursuits

Travel & Adventure

I have lived/worked/travelled extensively (see map). Some conversation starters: Moscow back in the USSR; Simple life on Kurong; night flying bee detectors and threats to national security; Lalibella, Ethiopia; Millenium banana wine; The Gallapogos; Breakfast with Himba ladies.

Everyday Nature

An ordinary day begins by looking across the Coral Sea on Cairns Northern Beaches, where I live. Then, come rain or shine, a cycle through the cane fields towards my office; which has a window that gazes into lush tropical rain forest.

Enduring favourites

Musician: Bob Marley; Vehicle: My bike; Film: the Tracker

Current favourites

House-hold items:Hammock & Nag Champa; Film: Lords of Dogville; Book: God of Small Things (Amarati Roi); Artist: Rothko; DJ: Paul; Musician: Angelique Kidjo/Shaggy; Designer:Willow & Asics (not together); Words: “Ephemeral”, “serendipity”, “bollocks!”