Transcript ANu_WI - ANU Water Initiative

THE ANU WATER INITIATIVE:
A university-wide interdisciplinary study
Karen Hussey, Daniel Connell, Will Steffen
Chair and Project Researcher, ANU Water Initiative
Convener, ANU Institute for Environment
Rationale and Vision
Water is a fundamental challenge of the 21st Century
The ANU is distinctive in its mandate to focus on key national
& regional challenges
Typically, research and policy on water have focused on one
part of a catchment, or on one issue in isolation from others,
or on a subset of impacts…
‘Specialization’ is the sine qua non of a successful academic
career
…But sustainable water management demands an
integrated, holistic approach to bridge the gap between
disciplines
Approach
The ANUWI is a cross-disciplinary, university-wide
initiative that brings together ANU researchers and
educators in the water domain
It is underpinned by the need to move towards an
understanding of the ‘water system’:
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includes all discernible physical and biological
features of water cycling
includes all aspects of human use of water
emphasizes the interactions between the physical
and biological, and the human component that
builds on the cultural and socio-economic
aspects of water
ANUWI Aims
To identify gaps in our understanding of the water system and
provide solutions to the most important and urgent of
questions – over the long term, nationally and regionally
To develop an holistic approach by building on, and
integrating, our significant strengths across disciplines
To develop new approaches to research question formulation,
collaborative teamwork, knowledge brokering and the
creation of policy-relevant solutions
Three Core Activities
Stakeholder
Engagement
Collaborative
Research
Education
and
Training
Four Themes
Water and the Rural Sector
Water and
Urban Systems
Water and Climate
Variability
Water and Human Health
ANU Water Initiative - Aug 2007
Broker alliances within the ANU and with other organisations
with complementary interests
Coordinate development of new projects that will strengthen
ANU’s research and teaching capacity
Increase awareness of ANU’s record and ability to
contribute to the public debate and to national and
international research programs
Projects under development
 Build strategic alliance with ACT Govt
 National-international alliance re drought-climate risk
 Contribution to developing agenda re adaptation to
climate change (Land and Water Australia).
 New courses
 Publications
 Website
 Outreach teaching
Stronger alliance with
ACT Govt
 Submission to Planning and Environment standing
committee re water use
 Opportunity to demonstrate ANU capacity and put
forward a detailed statement re how we could work
with ACT Govt.
 Workshop to develop submission and publicize our
aims and involvement
National/international alliances
 Link water researchers in societies with similar
cultures and climate risk
 Compare and contrast different historical experiences
re climate variability
 Cross reference the various national debates re
adapting to climate risk
Evolving agenda re climate change
 ANU potential role - teaching and debate as well as
research
 Many organizations currently defining their roles re
adaptation to climate change
 LWA is planning workshop/conference to discuss
potential contribution of social sciences to adaptation to
climate change
New courses
Research driven education
 Water major in Bachelor of Integrated Studies
(Sustainability) degree
 International water politics (masters course)
climate change, the irrigation dilemma and
hydrological systems failure – impacts of and
potential responses, implications for international
relations and national security debate
Publications
 Managing water for Australia Dovers/Hussey CSIRO
2007
 Water planning and management Handbook
international cast of authors Ed Lord Selbourne
Cambridge Press?
 International survey quantity-quality issues Ed
Hussey Cambridge Press ?
Website
Aims:
 news and comment re emerging issues re climate
change etc.
 Knowledge development area similar to Wikipedia
 Academic electronic journal
 Interactive capacity (chat rooms etc)
 Online educational activities including both course
work and research based degrees.
Outreach teaching
Course being developed for practicing water managers
in consultation with/for the National Water
Commission. Would:
• explain the National Water Initiative and explore
implementation issues
• Provide interdisciplinary coverage of integrated
catchment, climate change, emerging issues,
economic and social debates