Prof Ridd has a PhD in Physics and was the head of the Physics department of James Cook University from 2009 to 2016, and head of the Marine Geophysical Laboratory.
He challenged those who kept claiming the Great Barrier Reef was dying due to climate change and exposed issues of university integrity. Although subsequently Peter has been proved correct, JCU invoked a technicality to terminate his contract.
Peter has recently made a remarkable video commending Jewish contribution in science.