Cyclones are often treated as isolated, episodic disasters rather than historically significant events that have shaped and reflected Australian society over time. Yet these powerful natural forces are deeply embedded in the dynamic relationships between people, place and environment.

This research explores the historical, cultural and social dimensions of cyclones, examining how they have influenced communities and Australia's history.

Dr Margaret Cook is a 2026 National Library Fellow, supported by the Australian rural, regional or environmental history Fellowship, in memory of Professor Ivor Jones. 

Learn more about National Library Fellowships

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About Dr Margaret Cook

Dr Margaret Cook is a Research Fellow at the Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University. An environmental historian, her research has a focus on water and climate-related disasters. She has published extensively including A River with a City Problem: A History of Brisbane Floods and co-edited Disasters in Australia and New Zealand with the Library’s own Dr Scott McKinnon.  

Dr Cook's research challenges the idea that disasters are purely 'natural', emphasising their cultural and historical dimensions.