Professor Ian Plimer, is Emeritus Professor at The University of Melbourne where he was Professor and Head (1991-2005). He was Professor of Geology (University of Newcastle 1985-1991) and Professor of Mining Geology (University of Adelaide 2005-2012).
He has been awarded the prestigious Leopold von Buch Medal for Science, the Centenary Medal, the Clarke medal , the Eureka Prize (twice) and is a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, a Fellow of the Geological Society of London and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
He has published more than 130 scientific papers. He is author of multiple best-selling books for the general public on the climate change, environment, religious fundamentalism and mining history. He is one of the most widely quoted climate realists in the world. He claims that much of the concern about human-induced global warming is the result of political activism, opportunism and is unrelated to science. He questions whether carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industry are contributing significantly to global warming because in the past the planet enjoyed ice ages during times when the atmospheric CO2 content was far higher than now. Professor Plimer is regarded as a major influence in changing the public perception of the global warming issues in Australia and is an international speaker on climate change, the environment, mining and its contribution to civilization.
He is a member of the academic advisory council for the Global Warming Policy Foundation and a member of Australians for Northern Development & Economic Vision.
Professor Plimer serves on the Boards of listed companies (Ivanhoe Australia [ASX:IVA, TSX: IVA]; Silver City Minerals [ASX:SCI]; Niuminco Group [ASX:NIU]; Kefi Minerals (AIM:KEFI]) and unlisted companies (Hancock Prospecting companies [Roy Hill Holdings, Hope Downs, Queensland Coal], TNT Mines and Yeeda Oil).