Research Areas
Our research is focused on specific research areas where we have the research expertise, breadth of knowledge and interest to better support the strategic development of research across CSU and to tackle the challenges facing rural and regional communities.
These Strategic Research Areas are issue focused, team-based, interdisciplinary, underpinned by disciplinary excellence, and are output (the products of research) and outcome (the external use, adoption, or influence of an output) oriented. They reflect our current and emerging strengths in both people and areas of research. There is also an increasing recognition of the impacts of our research, that is the longer range social, environmental and economic benefits.
| Strategic Research Area | Leader(s) |
| Social Research for Regional Natural Resource Management | Prof Allan Curtis |
| Sustainable Water | A/Prof Robyn Watts |
| Social Aspects of Climate Change Adaptation | Prof Kevin Parton /Prof Mark Morrison |
| Sustainable Business Development in Regional Australia | Dr PK Basu/ Prof J Hicks |
| Woody Regrowth in Rural Landscapes | A/Prof Ian Lunt |
| Environmental Justice and Governance for Social Change | Dr Helen Masterman-Smith / A/Prof Vaughan Higgins |
| Ecosystem Services | Dr Rod Duncan |
| Improving Rural Livelihoods and Environments in Developing Countries | Dr Joanne Millar |
Research Rankings
ILWS was a major contributor to CSU obtaining a ranking of 4/5 for Environmental Science and Management in the 2012 national ERA research assessment undertaken by the Australian Research Council. A ranking of 4/5 indicates the research is considered to be above world standard.