Newsletter APRIL 2006 What’s happening in water research at the University of Adelaide The Water Research Cluster continues to evolve as research projects are developed with diverse partners, with a particular emphasis emerging on sustainability. Along with an update of current activities, this Newsletter features articles on recent water policy announcements and funding calls. In this issue: • Water Research Cluster News • Water Jobs & Scholarships • New Cluster Member profile: Dr Jungho Suh • Cluster Activities: worldwide GLEON network • Water News Updates of lake ecological observatories • Prizes and Awards • Water Information Links • Who is the Water Research Cluster • Water Organisation Links • Water Research Cluster Postgraduate • Water Funding Calls Corner: The evolving science of constructed • Water Research Links –Funding wetlands Opportunities, Grants, Tenders • Water Fact File: bottled water, surprise • Water Conference Diary environmental benefits of Cyclone Larry Urrbrae Wetland nine years old (2006) (photo: Allin Hodson) 1997 Urrbrae wetland just constructed in 1997 (photo supplied by Allin Hodson) 2006 This edition edited by Anne E Jensen, Environmental Consultant contact [email protected] mobile 0407 170 706 Water Research Cluster News by Dr Paul Dalby, Water Research Cluster Coordinator ARC Linkage Seed Funding Invest Australia Seeks New Water Research Cluster The Water Research Cluster is again Innovation Projects Seminar Series offering cash support of $1,000 to Invest Australia facilitates investment into The Water Research Cluster has launched University of Adelaide staff to assist in Australia from businesses overseas. Paul a new seminar series aimed at providing a the preparation of applications to the next Dalby met with a delegation from Invest forum for researchers in the Cluster to hear round of the ARC Linkage Program. The Australia business advisors based in about research being undertaken across funding can be used to employ casual Europe who wish to identify technologies the University on water management and assistance to prepare budgets, write which require capital input or where science. The first Water Research Cluster the grants, liaise with partners, etc. there is IP available for sale. They have Seminar was held on 21 April. clients in Europe interested in water- The $1,000 is contingent on the following The speakers were: criteria being met: related technologies, particularly (but not exclusively) in technologies relating to • Prof. Christopher Findlay, new • the research project relates to water and desalination. If you have some ideas of Head of School of Economics, on is “multi-disciplinary” in nature IP/technology that would be appropriate to water related research interests • the project is ineligible for the Science present to Invest Australia or are interested in the School of Economics Faculty support of $5,000 (which in seeking more information, you may • Mr. Michael Leonard, Civil and requires the CI to be based in the either contact Paul Dalby, (see below) or Environmental Engineering, on Science Faculty and the industry go to http://www.investaustralia.gov.au/ Stochastic Rainfall Modelling in Space contribution to be 30% or greater). and Time Federation Fellows • Dr. Megan Lewis, Soil and Land If you would like to take advantage of Members and supporters of the Water Systems, on GIS and remote sensing this offer by the Cluster, please email the Research Cluster are encouraged to consider for water management following information to Paul Dalby: appropriate applications for Federation • project title Fellowships in the area of water research • Dr. Justin Brookes, Environmental • a brief description of the project management for submission to the University Biology, on water quality science and of Adelaide’s internal assessment process. technology. • the Chief Investigators and other Support from the Cluster can be sought participating researchers for developing a full submission if the initial Each speaker provided a short overview of research in their respective areas, with • a short justification on why the project application is approved internally. examples of research projects to illustrate is multi-disciplinary The Australian Research Council’s application of various technologies. It was • a list of the industry partners and their Federation Fellowships are innovative notable that each presenter emphasized contribution and highly prestigious awards designed to relationships with stakeholders which are develop and retain Australian skills. Open to expected to lead to application of their • a list of the other cash and in-kind applications from outstanding international research into natural resource management. resources sought for the project researchers, Federation Fellowships Several points of potential collaboration (including ARC and University in-kind). particularly encourages applications across the Cluster were highlighted from Australian and non-Australian The Cluster Leadership Panel will make the during the seminar, and participants researchers currently working overseas. final decision on which projects will receive were encouraged to follow these up. seed funding. The University of Adelaide will implement a Further seminars are likely to follow a similar new internal process for vetting Federation informal short format of 3-4 presenters over New Communication Fellow applications for the next round. Initial lunch or late afternoon drinks to encourage Medium Launched applicants will need to submit their CV interaction between Cluster disciplines. which will be assessed internally and the The Water Research Cluster has launched best candidates will be asked to develop a Other Seminars relevant to water science News Splash, a regular information email full application. Full submissions are due in and management are listed on the Cluster giving an update of activities, programs and October 2006. website: http://water.adelaide.edu.au news related to water related research. Each News Splash has a series of short articles of a few lines with links to further information. More details are given in Water Information Links later in this Newsletter. 2 Water ribbon flowering at Wellington Developments proposed wetland (photo: Anne Jensen) Research Cluster Profile: Introducing new lecturer Dr Jungho Suh PhD (Economics), MA (Political Sciences and Economics), BA (Economics) Position: Lecturer, Discipline of environmental issues involving physical and human geography, Geographical and Environmental economics, philosophy and governance. Next semester, he will teach Studies, School of Social (Natural) Resource Scarcity and Allocation, which he interprets as a Sciences natural resource economics subject designed for non-economists. Teaching: Sustaining a Fragile Apart from his key research interest of non-market valuation of forests, Planet; Resource Scarcity and his other research interests include: Allocation • financial aspects of the management of natural resources • the social and environmental impact of forest industry Research field: non-market development options on regional communities valuation of forests, employing the travel cost method, the • the assessment of recreation and other opportunities in natural contingent valuation method areas using multi-objective decision-support techniques. or choice modelling. Ho hopes to be an active and constructive researcher in collaboration Ho has a doctoral degree in the field of economics in January 2002 with the other cluster members. He is excited to join the cluster and from the University of Queensland, and he joined the Discipline of keen to contribute to the efforts of the water cluster by producing Geographical and Environmental Studies at the University of Adelaide sound and useful research outputs in the near future. in February 2006. Since his arrival, he has spent most of his time in Contact: Rm 811, Napier Building. teaching and coordinating a first-year subject, Sustaining a Fragile Phone No. 8303 3014 Planet, which covers a wide range of contemporary global and local Email: [email protected] Water News Updates Australian Government Private sector urged to help and quantity.” Futurist Dr Keith Suter says there is now much greater public awareness to prepare water resources develop water strategies about the situation. “It is very significant the issues paper The head of the National Water Commission way in which water has become such a hot The Australian Government is to prepare an says the private sector should be involved in issue,” he said. developing water strategies and infrastructure. issues paper on water resources which will (Source: ABC online) be formulated from reports the Government Ken Matthews made the comments in an is seeking from all states and territories address to the Australian Water Summit New UNESCO European Regional about how they intend to cope with predicted last month. The summit focused on the Centre for Ecohydrology water deficits. theme: ‘Collaborating on our Water Future’. Mr Matthews challenged the widely held view For those interested in the international Announcing the issues paper, Parliamentary that water, like sewage, is a government-only debate over the merits of Ecohydrology secretary to the Prime Minister, Malcolm domain. “We should be trying to build the or Hydrobiology as the overall paradigm Turnbull, accused the states and territories private sector into the water sector,” he said. for the framework for understanding of poor water management, especially