RESEARCH, ENGAGEMENT and ACHIEVEMENTS 2017 L 2018 2 Research, Engagement and Achievements 2017/2018
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research for a changing world RESEARCH, ENGAGEMENT AND ACHIEVEMENTS 2017 l 2018 2 Research, Engagement and Achievements 2017/2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS OUR MISSION Director's Report ....................................................................................1 “TO UNDERTAKE INTERNATIONALLY Context .................................................................................................1 RECOGNISED INTEGRATED In Review.................................................................................................3 ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RESEARCH FOR RURAL AND REGIONAL Research Themes AREAS.” • Biodiversity Conservation ................................................................7 • Environmental Water .....................................................................12 OUR OBJECTIVES • Rural and Regional Communities ..................................................16 • Sustainable Development (International) ....................................... 21 · TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE OUR PROFILE AS AN INTERNATIONALLY Engagement RECOGNISED PROVIDER OF • Regional....................................................................................... 25 INTEGRATED QUALITY RESEARCH THAT ENHANCES ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL • National ....................................................................................... 30 AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN RURAL AND REGIONAL AREAS, IN AUSTRALIA • International...................................................................................34 AND OVERSEAS • Internal .........................................................................................40 · TO SUSTAIN OUR POSITION AS A • Media............................................................................................42 RECOGNISED AND LEADING RESEARCH CENTRE IN AREAS RELEVANT TO OUR ILWS PhD scholarship recipients .........................................................43 COMMUNITIES WITH AN ANNUAL RESEARCH INCOME OF $4M BY 2020 Publications .........................................................................................45 Snapshots ...........................................................................................50 · TO REMAIN A PREFERRED PROVIDER F0R RESEARCH THAT INTEGRATES Appendix .............................................................................................51 ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DISCIPLINES WITH PURE AND APPLIED RESEARCH THAT INFLUENCES AND INFORMS OUR COMMUNITY OF INTEREST, THE PROFESSIONS, GOVERNMENT AND OTHERS · TO CONTINUE TO BE RECOGNISED FOR OUR UNIQUE ABILITY TO BRING ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DISCIPLINES TOGETHER TO ADDRESS ISSUES RELATING TO COMMUNITIES AND LANDSCAPES 2 3 Director’s Report: Professor Max Finlayson Given that ILWS has been in existence for more than a decade I’ve taken the opportunity to quickly examine our objectives against our activity. There is no doubt that we have increased our research activity over the past decade. That increase has not been equal and there are some standout areas in terms of pro- jects and impact, in particular, the combined portfolio of water research exemplifies the successes. Other areas have also maintained their The Institute for Land, Water and Society (ILWS) is one of activity and some have not been as Charles Sturt University’s four Research Centres. These successful. We have been challenged to further support our “society” centres are designed to bring staff together around coherent research, but not in isolation of the “land” and “water” research. research themes, in line with CSU’s Mission and Research Equally it can be argued that our “land” and “water” research should Narrative. not be done in isolation of our “society” research. CSU is Australia's leading regional university with major campuses in the regional centres of Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Orange, Port That brings me back to the objectives that we have set, and which Macquarie and Wagga Wagga in New South Wales (NSW). It also has have largely remained much the same since ILWS formed. In this specialist campuses in the ACT in Canberra and in NSW in Goulburn, respect we have agreed to maintain and enhance our profile as an Manly and Parramatta, and study centres in Sydney (NSW), international provider of integrated quality research that enhances Melbourne and Wangaratta (Victoria) and Brisbane (Queensland). environmental, social and economic conditions in rural and re- gional areas. We certainly provide research that could enhance the Australia's biodiversity, ecosystem services, water and food security, environmental, social or economic conditions, although not equally, and ultimately the sustainability of Australia’s rural, regional and but how well do we integrate that research? Some of our research- remote communities are under threat. The Murray-Darling Basin, the ers are integrating across complex issues, but others seems to still 'food bowl of Australia' and geographic home for most of Charles largely operate within their disciplinary bounds, or undertake their Sturt University (CSU)'s campuses, is an example of the urgent disciplinary research with little regard to the other disciplines. That need for systemic research and governance. It faces pressing issues research can be of a high quality and be widely recognised, and that around water use and management if it is to maintain biodiversity, in itself should be applauded; however, where is the evidence of the agricultural productivity and rural social sustainability in the context of integration? climate change and globilisation. All of these issues are linked. We have also set and had agreed in our last internal accreditation As the systemic nature of issues becomes more apparent, the search process financial income targets, and these are being met, but very for better ways to connect scientific and other knowledge, including unevenly across the disciplines. There are ample excuses for that. I that from local and Indigenous communities, with governance and acknowledge that others may say reasons rather than excuses, but policy becomes more pressing. ILWS researchers are addressing this given that these have been proffered for much of our existence I prof- need. fer instead that we need to move past the semantics and deliver or Formed in 2005, ILWS combines research strengths in biophysical, drop the areas that can meet the objectives. There may be a case for social and economic research and has well-established partnerships maintaining them within the university – my comment applies only to with state and federal government departments, agencies and other ILWS and our agreed objectives. tertiary institutions in Australia and overseas. We have also agreed to undertake research and to influence and Since inception, ILWS has sought to facilitate trans and multi- inform our community of interest, government, professions and oth- disciplinary approaches, underpinned by integration of social, ers. Again we have some very good examples of our research being environmental and economic research aims and practices, to address used to inform our communities about the issues that they see as local, regional, national and global issues systemically. important. And it is uneven across individuals. Given the manner in It has substantial research and networking capacity to influence the which a university tends to operate that is not unsurprising to myself, governance and management of regional scale issues. As such it is it is whether this is what we want to see from ILWS. Keeping in mind an important contributor to policy-making and management decisions that we have agreed as an institution and as individuals to inform our that contribute to ensuring a sustainable future. communities etc, and that extends beyond informing the research communities that we know very well. Its focus on facilitating systemic research has positioned ILWS to address the issues that arise when managing social ecological As you read the information we have provided in this report I’d like systems that are characterised by uncertainty and complexity. you to keep these comments in mind as there is a commitment from During 2015 and 2016 the Institute was reviewed as part of CSU’s our university to undertake integrated and multi-disciplinary research, Centre Reaccreditation process. It was subsequently reaccredited for to inform our communities while maintaining or improving the quality another five years from 2017. of what we do. We are achieving a lot, and we have many ardent and dedicated researchers doing their best to meet the demands of Leadership research in an academic institution. I’d like to congratulate them and hope this report highlights both the research and the researchers, Since 2007, the Director of ILWS has been internationally-recognised and at the same time seek further commitment to our agreed objec- wetland ecologist Max Finlayson, Professor for Ecology and tives. The latter would benefit from greater discussion about how Biodiversity, and Ramsar Chair for Wise Use of Wetlands. The we have been doing this and how we can sustain these efforts in Associate Director in 2016 was environmental sociologist Associate the future, and how we evolve as the very world around us evolves. Professor Catherine Allan. Spatial scientist Associate Professor With that in mind please join me in congratulating all those that have Andrew Hall has been Associate Director since 2017. contributed to ILWS’s success, and to those that have recorded and compiled the information for this report. I am very