Alan Dorin is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University. He researches the ways in which technology assists discovery in the ecological sciences and in human creativity. Through his work in Artificial Life, Alan explores the key attributes of organisms that enable them to live in complex environments. In particular, Alan's research addresses one of the most important current global problems - how insects, especially bees, contribute to human food production and natural ecosystem sustainability.

The simulations and technology, that he and his interdisciplinary team of researchers, students, and industry collaborators create, are used to improve agriculture and horticulture, and to assist us in maintaining natural ecosystems as our climate changes. The technologies that this same team develops help us to monitor the natural world, so that we can better understand how ecosystems are changing now, and predict how they will change in the future.

Alan promotes an understanding of the relationships between technology, environment and human endeavour by nurturing curiosity and encouraging students to form their own bridges between disciplines. His co-taught unit on Understanding Art, Science and Technology, has for several years, been ranked by the students as one of the university's very top courses.