Events

Due to the ongoing situation with restrictions due to Covid-19 there have been no regional events held by ILWS in 2021.

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Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there were no regional events held by ILWS in 2020. The ILWS online Conference, held November 26 and 27 is detailed in the National events.  Program and abstracts

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Field Day on the banks of the Edward/Kolety River

A highly successful field day in collaboration with the Yarkuwa indigenous Knowledge Centre and the Edward-Wakool Angling Association (EWAA) was held on December 14, on Country at one of the MER Edward/Kolety-Wakool programs monitoring sites on the Edward/Kolety River, about 40km from Deniliquin. In attendance were about 40 people from Yarkuwa, EWAA, CEWO, NSW DPIE and the CSU Edward-Wakool environmental flows team. The day included explaining about the fish larval surveys, the research on turtles and sharing knowledge and experiences in a casual setting.

Workshop on the SDGs

With ILWS team support, Professor Manohar Pawar organised a two day workshop on the sustainable development goals (SDGs), held December 12 to 13, 2019, at the Charles Sturt Albury campus.

“Ten professionals from multidisciplinary background presented different chapters of the report from a Senate Inquiry in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, (published in February, 2019 and discussed its main recommendations,” says Manohar. “Drawing from the analysis and discussion, a joint authored review article is being written and it will be submitted to a peer reviewed journal for wider dissemination.”

Participants in the workshop came from CSUs Albury, Wagga Wagga, Canberra, Orange, and Sydney campuses and from all three CSU Faculties. There were Dr Belinda Cash, Dr John Rafferty, Dr Wes Ward, Dr Andrew Manning, Associate Professor Dominic O’Sullivan, Dr Ndungi Mungai, Dr Richard Culas, Dr Kiprono Langat, and Professor Manohar Pawar. Also present was Mr Dr Satyan Rajamani, a social worker from Sydney.

Living with the Hume Dam, 1919-2019

As part of the University’s Exploration Series, and with the support of the Institute, a very successful event to celebrate 100 years of living with the Hume Dam, was held at the Commercial Club, Albury, November 28, 2019.

More than 200 people attended the event, the brainchild of Institute Adjunct Professor Bruce Pennay, including the University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Vann.

Work began on the construction of the Hume Dam in 1919 and when it was completed in 1936 it was hailed as a nation-building project and an engineering and political achievement.

With the theme “How do we understand its history and legacy now in 2019?” the event brought together a mix of river system and dam managers, environmentalists, historians, Indigenous scholars, artists, photographers and musicians, who shared their stories and reflections on a centenary of the Hume Dam.

The event featured 10 speakers including ILWS Professor Lee Baumgartner.

The event was organised by Charles Sturt University working in conjunction with La Trobe University and Albury & District Historical Society. A Two Cities One Community initiative, it was held with the support of the Murray Darling Basin Authority.

Analysing social media for better public policy

A one day symposium on “Analysing social media for better public policy” attended by more than 40 people was held at the Bathurst campus, November 14, 2019.

The symposium, which aimed to advance understandings of ways that public authorities can improve their decision-making and policy by closely analysing social media, was organised by Charles Sturt University Research Fellow Associate Professor Peter Simmons, and PhD students Kane Callaghan and Rizwan Sharif with support from the Faculty of Arts and Education and ILWS team funding. The symposium brought together academic researchers focused on uses and qualitative analysis of social media in public decision-making, and people working in public policy, strategy, and communication.

During the morning session a number of case studies were presented at the symposium by various speakers. These included:

• Reacting to changes in public policy: the case of cervical screening – Dr Rachel Dodd, University of Sydney
• Public attitudes to government roles in obesity prevention – Dr Lucy Farrell, University of Adelaide, and Dr Jackie Street, University of Wollongong
• Why manual, qualitative analysis over automated? The carp release program – Dr Michael Mehmet, Charles Sturt University
• Public responses to media articles about the health effects of e-cigarette – Dr Kylie Morphett, University of Queensland
• What to do about sharks? – Associate Professor Peter Simmons, and Dr Belinda Curley, NSW DPI

The afternoon session on “Adapting and applying methods to meet policy needs” included presentations by ILWS PhD student Kane Callaghan on “What information aids policymakers and what’s available in SM?” and by Dr Kelsey Chalmers, Menzies Centre for Health Policy, on “Publicly available! Ethics of use of SM data and permissions.” CSU’s Dr David Cameron then facilitated the “Workshopping the wicked” discussion.

“The symposium discussions consistently indicated that social media provide a unique opportunity to listen in real time to public debate, to identify changes and trends in public opinion as they happen, and to inform decision making and educational campaigns,” writes Peter and Kane in the report on the event.

Launch of Investigating Bonegilla

The Discover Bonegilla annual reunion, held November 2 and 3, 2019 at the Bonegilla Migrant Reception and training Centre, at Bonegilla, near Wodonga was the ideal event to coincide with the launch the Bonegilla Migrant Experience and Block 19 tour.

More than 500 visitors attended the reunion. The Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre was a transition camp for more than 300,000 migrants between 1947 and 1971 and is a major feature in Australian history.

The tour, an online 3D virtual tour complemented by an historical investigation resource kit, has been developed by Institute Adjunct Bruce Pennay and Paul Grover, CSU and was officially launched at The Cube Wodonga, on November 4. More than 50 people attended the launch.

The tour has been studded with You-tube videos, a picture trail and a drone flight to establish geographical context.

The project was a joint initiative between Charles Sturt and the Bonegilla Migrant Experience, City of Wodonga, AlburyCity and Two-state History Education Network. ILWS provided seed-funding for the project.

https://www.bonegilla.org.au/education/virtual-tour-and-learning-resources

Social Sciences Week

Social Science Week is a national platform for social science researchers to engage with non-academic audiences to share their research and discuss key social science issues. 2019 was CSU’s first year participating in the national Social Sciences Week. Between September 9 and 15 CSU held four events, with support from each of the faculties and ILWS. The week kicked off with breakfast at Parliament House, with Dr Dominic O’Sullivan representing CSU, attended by parliamentarians Andrew Leigh, Adam Band and David Sharma. 

The first CSU event was the launch of the report “A trade of one’s own: Regional NSW stakeholder findings – barriers and proposed solutions for women in the manual trades 2019” in Bathurst on Tuesday, September 10.  On Wednesday 11th, four researchers, Rohena Duncombe, Associate Professor Susan Mlcek, Associate Professor Dominic O’Sullivan and Monica Short combined to present a  2 hour webinar titled “Social justice for all".  That evening in Canberra at the old Parliament House, Associate Professor Dominic O'Sullivan and Dr Bede Harris presented public lectures to an audience of 65. Dominic’s lecture was titled “‘We are all here to stay’: Citizenship, Sovereignty and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, while Bede presented “Constitutional Reform as a Remedy for Political Disenchantment in Australia”

The final event was a public lecture held in Albury, as part of CSU’s Exploration Series. Dr Belinda Cash presented “Ageing in Australia: Changes, choices and challenges”. Dr Cash gave the audience an overview of rural ageing and provided insight into how this is experienced by couples in the NE Victoria area, based on her PhD data. Over 45  people were in attendance and the evening finished with a good discussion with people sharing their experiences.

Report Launch 'A trade of one's own'

The report Launch: ‘A trade of one’s own’ - Regional NSW stakeholder findings – barriers and proposed solutions for women in the manual trades, 2019 was held on Tuesday 10 September at the Bathurst Charles Sturt University campus.

The event was very well attended by over 60 people including industry stakeholders, tradeswomen and university staff. Wiradjuri Elder Uncle Dinawan welcomed the guests with stories of women’s country, team leader Donna Bridges gave a brief project overview and introduced Prof Mark Morrison and Prof Wendy Bowles who officially launched the report and Craig Randazzo, CEO Skillset spoke to the importance of tradeswomen in the regions.

Science Forum

The theme of this year's event was "Connecting People with Nature" emphasising the role of nature in both ecosystem and human health. It was held at the Winton Wetlands, near Benalla, Victoria, August 15 and 16.

Albury-Wide 24 Exhibition

Associate Professor Dirk Spennemann’s latest photographic project, Albury-Wide 24, explored the interaction of cultural heritage, landscape, and human experience. The exhibition, comprising of two sets of 24 photographs at various locations in Albury, was launched April 17.

“Albury’s community is changing in terms of its ethnic and social mix, but also in terms of its patterns of work and play,” says Dirk. “The aim of the Albury-Wide 24 project was to provide a snapshot of Albury as it appeared at the end of 2018. It showcased and celebrated real people in real settings, those who underpin the functioning of a city, as well as those who utilise its places and spaces.”

In the context of the Albury-Wide 24 project, he explained that people perceive and experience their surroundings in a broad frame (our binocular vision is 120 degrees), yet confined by the technology of their camera, they tend to represent it in a fragmented form.

(Pic of Judith McDonald with her image)

“This photo project used environmental portraiture, with a 120 degree distortion-free panoramic camera, to replicate human vision when capturing Albury at work and play,” he said. “On a single day, 24 people were photographed on the hour, one different person every hour from noon to noon, and additional images were captured during the following two weeks."

The images were printed on polyester film (84 centimetres x 195 centimetres) and were displayed for a four- to eight-week period at various locations throughout Albury, using windows of occupied as well as vacant commercial premises, fences, people’s balconies, and other facilities as temporary art spaces. In addition, a series of images were projected onto building facades. One image was mounted on a delivery van as mobile art. The public exhibition was accompanied by a permanent website (accessible at www.ausphoto.net) which contained a map with the locations of all displays. All images will be made available in a free book that can be downloaded from the internet (as a pdf file). The project was supported by a cultural and community grant from  Albury City, ILWS, the participants, as well as the property owners who made their premises available as public art spaces.

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SEGRA

Over 200 people gathered in Mackay for the 22nd annual SEGRA (Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia) conference over October 22-25 to discuss the theme “Beyond the Boom: Opportunities for Growth and Vitality”.Highlights of the conference were the keynote opening speaker, Professor Sohail Inayatullah (Chair in Future Studies at UNESCO) who challenged the delegates ability to see alternative futures.The now well established SEGRA Challenge attracted eight Big Ideas with the winner proposing a regional project to introduce diversified hydroponic agriculture in regional, rural and remote locations.

At the conference Professor Mark Morrison announced CSU’s research support for the Education Challenge from 2017 to the value of $100,000. He said the funding would be used to build on initial research jointly led by Professor John Hicks and Associate Professor Tom Murphy from the Western Research Institute. “Building on the research we completed in the Murray region, we will be working to identify where and what the skills shortages are, and work with local governments, education providers and schools to understand the drivers and mechanisms to create regions with a supply of potential employees,” said Professor Morrison. The new program was expected to take 18 months and would include a skills audit to identify strengths and gaps in the region.

ILWS members who spoke at SEGRA were:

• Dr Rui Bi: The Effects of aligning IT with business strategy in small-to-medium enterprise growth
• Professor Mark Morrison: Regional Australia informing strategies for education through to employment
• Associate Professor Peter Waterman (Adjunct): Safe Water Australia: securing adequate safe domestic water for rural, remote and regional Australia; and Assessing Risk and Risk Mitigation: coastal catchments

Professor Mark Morrison was also involved in the pre-conference Monday October 22, addressing  Building Regional Startups & Innovation Ecosystems, speaking at the morning session on “What is the best it Could be? and as a panel member in the afternoon session Who is Involved, representing CSU.

Wise WaterWays

Professor Robyn Watts and Institute Adjunct Dr Geoff Vietz were two of the speakers at this year’s Wise Water Ways workshop, held in Beechworth, North East Victoria, October 29 to November 2. Billed as “A Workshop in Rural and Urban Stream Management Principles and Practices,” the workshop was presented by the North East CMA, Department of Land, Water & Planning, Jacobs, Centre for Freshwater Ecology-La Trobe University, River Basin Management Society, Alluvium Consulting Pty Ltd, Charles Sturt University, Water Technology, and the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. Dr Jamie Pittock, from ANU, gave a public lecture on “Transforming River Management-What Works?” Robyn’s topic was “Environmental Flows” and she spoke on water resource allocation; environmental flows importance and assessment methodology; and streamflow management. Geoff’s topic was “Working with waterway geomorphology” and he discussed geomorphic principles for working with waterways; and practical applications of your geomorphic knowledge. Geoff also partnered with Ben Tate, from Water Technology, to speak on “Stream hydraulics and sediment movement” at another session.

NAPREC workshop

A second NAPREC (National Agricultural Productivity and Reconciliation Ecology Centre) writing workshop was held at Mulwala on October 9-10. The goal of the meetings is to develop a paper highlighting the concept of reconciliation ecology, its significance, and the role it can play in the Murray Valley. It focusses on the human side of NRM and the importance of communities, people and partnerships for successful ecological and productive outcomes. It will outline the principles of NAPREC and provide a framework for successful NRM relationships. The paper is being co-authored by ILWS members Professor Max Finlayson, Dr Wes Ward, Dr Jen Bond, Dr John Conallin, Dr Michael Mitchell, PhD student Michael Vanderzee and representatives from NAPREC, Adam Wettenhall, Shelley Scoullar and Louise Burge. In addition, NAPREC is seeking funding for a pilot project - Winter Wetland Refuge project - with ILWS helping provide academic and scientific resources. The project will connect communities, landholders, education and science in the Murray Valley.

Housing Affordability Forum

Dr Helen Masterman-Smith was one of three guest speakers at a Housing Affordability Forum, held at the Sustainability Activity Centre, Wodonga, September 27. The event was organised by Tiny Houses Albury-Wodonga and Helen presented on the nature and causes of the housing affordability crisis in Australia. The other speakers focussed on community responses to these circumstances alongside more eco-friendly housing options, like tiny houses and their possibilities and challenges of development in Australia. “It was a good networking and knowledge sharing opportunity,” says Helen who expects further forums and discussion on this topic to follow

Winton Wetlands Science Forum

On August 16 - 17 Professor Max Finlayson attended the 4th annual Winton Wetlands Science Forum ‘Risks and Drivers of Change in Wetland Management’ held at the Winton Wetlands where he provided a summary of the workshop at its conclusion. Also in attendance was Dr Wes Ward. Max, who is chair of the Winton Wetlands Environmental Strategy Advisory Panel, also attended a meeting of the panel on October 11.

Gerontology Symposium

The Australasian Association of Gerontology Regional Symposium, held in Wagga, August 8 to 10, was supported by a $40,000 grant from the Regional Conferencing Development Grants Program from the NSW Government. The symposium attracted 111 delegates from across NSW, Victoria and the ACT including a large contingent from Catholic Healthcare. Their attendance enabled CSU to showcase the work done by Associate Professor Marguerite Bramble in her role as the Clinical Chair in Innovative Practice in Aged Care held between CSU and Catholic Healthcare. The symposium commenced with an event for the delegates and the general public at the Forum Cinemas in Wagga where two short films were shown. The first film showed the incredible results gained by engaging people with dementia in an arts program. The second got the audience thinking about the rights of people with dementia to engage in activities they enjoy even though some risks may be involved.

"The keynote speakers challenged the audience in our thinking about ageing and the provision of services which was at times confronting but significant if we are to ensure we have in place a society that embraces and values the older population," says Associate professor Maree Bernoth, one of the conference's co-convenors. "One of the highlights was the inclusion of older people in the program. Uncle Charlie and Uncle Tunny from Albury, supported by Brett Biles, provided an entertaining but informative session related to the experiences of older Indigenous men. Dr Ray King presented a session about the Older Men New Ideas Groups that he established in Wagga and how important they are to supporting men especially farmers who have had to leave their farms and move into town."

NAPREC workshop

A NAPREC (National Agricultural Productivity and Reconciliation Ecology Centre) planning workshop was held in Deniliquin, June 26-28.  Professor Max Finlayson was joined by Dr Jen Bond, Mike Vanderzee and Dr Wes Ward and enthusiastic local landholders led by Shelley Scoullar and Louise Burge. The purpose of the workshop was to commence compiling a collaborative concept paper on the new research and education initiative (NAPREC) based in the Murray valley. The paper, with the working title, Reconciliation ecology in the Murray Valley, will provide important background, evidence and justification for establishing the centre.

Brainstorming session with North East CMA

Brainstorming session to develop partnerships and explore potential collaborative projects with North East Catchment Management Authority on June 20, 2018, attended by 16 ILWS researchers and five North East CMA staff. Outcomes  include assisting the CMA with analysing soil test data; and developing deer management projects.

Secret life of mistletoe

Professor David Watson gave a keynote presentation on “The secret life of mistletoe: Advances in understanding their ecological role and ecosystem function”at the Conservation in Action Conference: Research to Reality, held in Bathurst, May 16 to 17. The conference was organised as a partnership between Central Tablelands Local Land Services, Central Tablelands Landcare and Central West  Council’s Environment & Waterway Alliance.

North East Regional Water Forum 2018

The North East Regional Water Forum  was held on Wednesday, March 21, to coincide with World Water Day, March 22. The event was held at the North East Water Auditorium in Wodonga and participants included agency staff, landholders and academics. ILWS helped organise the event together with North East Water, North East Catchment Management Authority, Murray Darling Basin Authority, Goulburn Murray Water and La Trobe University.

Celebrating ILWS Authors

ILWS hosted a special morning tea for 38 guests on Tuesday 27 February to launch six books by ILWS authors.  The books that are edited by our members include chapters written by other ILWS members and show the diversity of our research expertise.  Of special note is the book “Community Forestry in Nepal”, edited by Rik Thwaites, Robert Fisher and Mohan Poudel.  It is the culmination of 10 years work and includes research which resulted in four PhDs.

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NAPREC

Nine members of the Institute were active participants in the inaugural National Agricultural Productivity and Reconciliation  Ecology Centre (NAPREC) conference held in Deniliquin, October 4 & 5. More information Video on YouTube Impressions

A NAPREC progress meeting was then held in Deniliquin on December 19. Five ILWS members met with NAPREC leaders and interested stakeholders in Deniliquin to discuss how the centre can best forward its core values of understanding, trust, ownership and partnership to encourage sustainable agricultural production in southern Australia. The morning workshop was followed by an afternoon field trip and discussions around the Frogs in Rice project funded by Rice Growers Australia.

ILWS Members Retreat

On August 21 and 22, ILWS members gathered for a retreat at St Clement's Retreat and Conference Centre, Galong to explore the society aspects of ILWS research. The main outcome of the retreat was the diagram (thanks to Associate Professor Dirk Spennemann's creative skills), which attempts to place the society focus within the broader ILWS focus.

"It gave us a clear sense of commitment to regional communities and to assisting such communities with the design of sustainable and fair futures," said Associate Professor Oliver Burmeister, who facilitated the retreat.

Third Winton Wetlands Forum

The third annual Winton Wetlands Restoration Science Forum at the Winton Wetlands, Benalla was held on August 17and 18.The aim of the forums is to provide support for research on the Winton Wetlands restoration program, as well as assist in gaining data for the management and progression of the site. It also aims to help progress the science of wetland restoration in Australia and elsewhere.

The international keynote speaker this year was Dr Patrick Grillas, one of the world's experts on wetland from the Tour de Valat in France where he and a team of scientists have been working on restoration of the Camargue system. As well as presentations from a variety of speakers, the forum included a special session (with Institute Director Professor Max Finlayson one of the speakers) on the potential listing of the Winton Wetlands as an internationally-recognised wetland.

Mid North Coast Local Health District collaboration

Associate Professor Rosemary Black is collaborating with the Mid North Coast Local Health Distract (MNCLHD) on a number of fronts. Since August 2016, she has been coordinating monthly research seminars at the Port Macquarie campus that are being well attended by both CSU staff and other regional researchers, practitioners and postgraduate students, including MNCLHD staff. She is also a member of a team of researchers based at MNCLD to assess MNCLHD research applications, and was invited to present a workshop, October 4, on Mixed Methods Research. Workshop participants included practitioners in occupational health, dietetics and medical imaging.

Health/environment opportunities workshop

Six Institute members took part in the "New Horizons – exploring linkages and opportunities between health and the environment in North East Victoria" workshop organised by the North East Catchment Management Authority to explore ways that the regional health sector could collaborate and partner with organisations involved in managing the North East region's natural resources. The workshop, held in Wodonga, Victoria, on  July 6, saw 30 people from the two sectors come together to identify top priorities for the North East region of Victoria.

A second workshop, to expand on and flesh out specific opportunities and priorities identified in the July workshop, was held on December 7 in Beechworth. Twenty three people representing both the health and the NRM sector including private landholders, ILWS, Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning attended.

2017 North East Environment Forum

The second annual North East Forum Environment Forum was held May 25, 2017 at CSU's Wangaratta study centre. Once again ILWS teamed with partners – North East Catchment Management Authority, Trust for Nature, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and Parks Victoria – to present a successful forum with 76 attendees.This year's forum theme was "Connecting People with Nature". More

Project design workshop

In May Dr Lee Baumgartner participated in a two day sustainable diversion limit project design workshop with the North Central CMA. The purpose of the workshop, in Cohuna, Victoria, was to determine the best outcomes for fish and vegetation in Cameron's Creek should planned works go ahead.

Wings on King

Professor David Watson was part of the "The Wings on King Seminar and launch – a celebration of the birds on King Island and why we need them" event, April 27-30, King Island. Professor Watson gave a presentation on "Boosting biodiversity AND the bottom-line—achieving win-win outcomes with conservation farming: The benefits of managing both simultaneously" and led a workshop on 'Defragging King Island' How to maintain/increase biodiversity and improve land management while sustaining a strong agricultural industry'. The event was held to launch an island wide restoration initiative on King Island.

Edward-Wakool Fish Forum

Three members of the Edward-Wakool LTIM team gave presentations at the annual Edward-Wakool Fish Forum held at the Barham and District Services Club, Barham on the evening of February 16. Around 80 people attended the forum.The forum is a collaboration of Murray Local Land Services, NSW Department of Primary Industries Fisheries, Charles Sturt University and the National Landcare Program. Topics were:

• From Green to Black, an overview of water quality issues in 2016 including blue-green algae monitoring and the recent flooding and hypoxic blackwater - Dr Julia Howitt
• Long term monitoring of fish populations in the Edward-Wakool River System - Dr Nicole McCasker
• Fish movement in the Edward-Wakool System - Institute Adjunct and scientist with Fisheries NSW Dr Jason Thiem

Better Parks for People

Dr Rachel Whitsed gave a presentation "Better Parks for People: development of a spatial tool to better plan parks for older residents" at a "Developing age-friendly rural communities: sharing international and local learnings" forum at LaTrobe University, February 14. Dr Whitsed is the lead researcher on the "Better Parks for People" (2016-2017) project funded by FACS NSW Liveable Communities. The forum was sponsored by the Transforming Human Societies RFA 2017 Visiting Fellow Program.

Forest gathering

Professor Robyn Watts and Dr Julia Howitt gave a presentation on the Koondrook-Perricoota Floodplain Runoff project with a focus on carbon, blackwater and hypoxia, at a symposium on February 8 at Moama, NSW, as part of the 'Connecting the dots at Koondrook-Perricoota Forest' 2017 Gathering. The project has been jointly funded by the Forestry Corporation of NSW, ILWS and CSU's Faculty of Science.

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Social Science Week September 6 to 12

To celebrate Social Sciences Week 2021, several ILWS researchers and social scientists took part and presented on a variety of fascinating topics. The event, co-ordinated by the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, provides an opportunity for social scientists to engage non-academic audiences with cutting edge social science research, to showcase the diversity and relevance of social science.

This is the third year of Charles Sturt University’s involvement in the event, organised by ILWS and Dr Jen Bond. “Social Sciences Week is a great opportunity for social science researchers to connect with new audiences to share their findings,” Jen said.

“It’s also an opportunity for other researchers and the general public to consider the contribution of the social sciences to public discussions and perhaps engage with a new topic in a new way.

“Social sciences can contribute to a range of societal issues, including the themes of Flourishing Communities, Sustainable Environments, and Resilient People, which are central to Charles Sturt University’s research focus.”

To overcome the challenges of the global pandemic, all 13 events this year were adapted to a digital platform and presented in a series of insightful live-streamed webinars, public lectures, and even a radio program. This year, Social Sciences Week included the following events:

The Next Frontier: Wilderness Therapy and the Treatment of Complex Trauma, Monday 6 September. Presented by Dr Will Dobud and Mr Graham Pringle (Program Director, Youth Flourish Outdoors) with 185 attendees. Advances in neuroscience and epigenetics within the field of trauma research and practice have progressed rapidly over the last two decades. Yet, a therapeutic practice with its roots in the ancient connection with outdoor environment still offers simple living as fundamental to healing. This presentation explored recent gains in knowledge, briefly differentiated trauma from complex trauma, compared these therapeutic processes with existing practice, and suggested a synthesis of old and new. The presenters argued that wilderness therapy is equipped to be efficacious, yet to do so the field must be prepared to explore the next frontier in the healing of human brains, bodies, and minds. The changes to therapeutic practice required may be profound but are not necessarily as complicated as complex trauma. View webinar here

Opening the Counselling Room Door: The Promise of Outdoor Therapies, Tuesday 7 September. Presented by Dr Will Dobud, Professor Nevin Harper (University of Victoria, Canada), and Dr Monica Short, with 154 attendees. This presentation, Will and Nevin, drew on the leading voices of international researchers and practitioners and provided readers with a brief snapshot of current knowledge surrounding outdoor therapies practices. Sharing outdoor approaches ranging from garden therapy to wilderness therapy and from equine-assisted therapy to surf therapy, the presentation drew common threads from therapeutic practices that integrate connection with nature and experiential activity to redefine the "person-in-environment" approach to human health and well-being. Attendees learnt about the benefits and advantages of helping clients get the treatment, service, and care they need outside of conventional, office-based therapies. The presentation described a range of approaches that can be utilised across a variety of practice settings and populations. Dr Monica Short also presented on the power of forgiveness and workshop activities that lead to a deeper understanding of the common good. View webinar here

Creating communities of hope in uncertain times, Tuesday 7 September. This webinar, attended by 79 people, included two presentations. The first, presented by Dr Monica Short, was a social work, sociological and theological conversation discussing community engagement, hope, forgiveness and relationships: “Can we celebrate any action that gently wraps spiritual warmth around human need or fear or isolation and any activity the builds a good future?” View webinar here

This was followed by the Reverend Sarah Plummer (Anglicare - NSW South, NSW West, and ACT) sharing stories of hope and her professional observations of the current experience of isolation and disconnection in Australia caused by drought, bushfires, flood, hail, mental health challenges, stress, and COVID-19, and how agencies can work with grassroots churches to promote community engagements.

From the horses’ mouth: The past, present and future of collaboration to investigate our regions’ natural resources, Tuesday 7 September: Presented by Dr Wes Ward with 22 attendees. The event consisted of three speakers (two of whom are collaborating farmers) presenting the past, current activities and future directions for improving collaboration between researchers and communities in regional Australia, particularly around natural resource management on private lands. The one-hour presentation was followed by 30 minutes of questions and comment. “Social science research can really give regional communities a voice. Our recent research is helping them get this voice,” said Wes. View webinar here.

How Can Adventure Therapy Techniques Help Prevent Behavioural Health Challenges? Wednesday 8 September. Presented by Dr Will Dobud and Dr Daniel Cavanaugh (Michigan State University, USA) with 105 attendees. This presentation delivered by adventure therapy scholars Drs Cavanaugh and Dobud, described how adventure-based prevention programs can help to prevent behavioural health risks. They described how an increased focus on improving ethics, equity, and inclusion in adventure-based prevention programming can respond to former critiques of the broader field of adventure therapy for lacking exclusivity and ethical oversight. Recommendations were also offered for adhering to ethical codes in both adventure therapy and the helping professions. View webinar here

Decolonising Ecologies: Yindyamarra Winhanganha, Indigenous Data Sovereignty, and Indigenist Standpoint Pedagogy webinar. Wednesday 8 September. Presented by Dr Peta Jefferies, Chaired by Sue Green (CSU) with 125 attendees. Hosted by the School of Indigenous Australian Studies (co-hosted by Athena SWAN Gender Network), this presentation discussed processes of silencing, the art of colonisation, and what exists beneath the dominant narratives of nationhood and identity formation. Dr Jefferies highlighted the significance and relevance of Indigenist Standpoint Pedagogy and Indigenous data sovereignty in ‘natural’ and social science research and practice. The presentation also sparked the conversation around language of the disciplines and how these create barriers, which subsequently lead to the formation of a discussion group for those interested in building relations continuing this discussion. “All research and knowledge production situated on Indigenous land, impacts Indigenous peoples,” said Peta. View webinar here

What is Intersectionality? How does Intersectionality enable us to identify and address institutional barriers to meaningful Equity, Diversity and Inclusion? Wednesday September 8. Presented by Dr Cate Thomas (CSU) and Dr Colleen Macmillan (CSIRO) with 94 attendees. Cate Thomas and Colleen Macmillan discussed and illustrated the power of intersectionality as a lens to enhance equity, inclusion and belonging. Using an intersectional model through which to centre and contextualise structures and culture that frame individual experience. In doing so using an intersectional lens facilitates a strengths-based understanding of lived experience that organisations and individuals alike to flip the script away from a narrative of deficit thinking that marginalises those at the edges of traditional hegemonic hierarchical narratives and economies of value. Taking an Intersectional approach informs an ecological appreciation of diversity that in workplaces and educational and health or other institutional settings can inform opportunities for a dialogic recognition of unique knowledges skills and perspectives and creates opportunity for rich engagement and co-creation of new diverse cultural forms and agency that create possibilities of inclusion for all. “It’s a theoretical framework to understand modern social identities, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, socio economic status disability” said Cate. View webinar here

Cultural death literacy: Navigating the new normal: The breath of life and the breadth of death, Wednesday 8 September. Presented by esteemed visiting Indigenous Scholar, Professor Lana La’opua, University of Hawaii, with 19 attendees. The event, hosted by the School of Social Work and Arts, commenced with a Ho'okupu, traditional gift giving ceremony. This was followed by a webinar by Professor Lana Ka’opua, who shared a family of concepts that potentiate success in navigating the breath of life and the breadth of death across diverse cultural contexts, using the lens of Cultural Death Literacy. I ka wā ma mua, i ka wā ma hope is a Polynesian elder wisdom which encourages understanding the past to move forward in positive ways. In the New Normal, we continuously bear witness to the breadth of death owing to racism, violence, COVID-19, and environmental disasters exacerbated by social inattention. Social workers encounter death and personal losses and are challenged to find meanings and positive ways towards the New Normal. In response, Professor Ka’opua presents the cross-cultural practice of Learning to Weave, Weaving to Learn.

AlburyCity from the Ground up, Wednesday 8 September. Speaker: Associate Professor Bruce Pennay. In his online public lecture, Bruce presents a short, richly illustrated historical overview of how Albury has been imagined, planned, represented, and experienced from the town’s beginnings to the present day. He tracks the influence of a select few town and city dreamers who shaped the fortunes and feel of the place, asking where Albury has been, where it is, and where it is going. View lecture here.

Building Your Adventure Therapy Private Practice, Thursday 9 September. Presented by Dr Will Dobud and Mr Doug Moczynski, (Gippsland Adventure Therapy), with 123 attendees. Many adventure therapy enthusiasts ask about what matters most when building their adventure-based practice. They ask about marketing, strategic partnerships, program evaluation, insurance, and land-use. In this presentation, Will and Doug examined some of the key lessons they have learned in establishing a sustainable practice. View webinar here

SICS Radio: Banned Books and the Role of Libraries, Thursday 9 September. Speaker: Dr Kasey Garrison (CSU). This episode of SICS Radio celebrated Social Science Week as well as another issue highlighted at the end of each September, Banned Books Week. Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read, particularly in schools and libraries where certain titles and topics may be challenged or censored from curious youth trying to read them. This year’s theme, Censorship Divides Us, Books Unite Us, drives this radio program featuring Australian youth author and publisher Mark MacLeod, American academics Danielle Hartsfield and Sue Kimmel, who specifically research censorship in libraries, and youth literature expert and library educator Bernadette Walsh. Together they explain different forms of book censorship, and the responsibilities of librarians and publishers, and the social implications of censorship. Listen here.

Whiteness, Race, and the British Royal Family, Saturday 11 September. Speaker: Dr Holly Randell-Moon (CSU) with 66 attendees. Dr. Holly Randell-Moon. In this webinar, Holly provided an overview of the social science research on the historical and contemporary role of whiteness and race in representations and public perceptions of the British Royal Family.

The Rivers on Fire and Flood Conference – The Journey to Resilience

Organised by the International River Foundation in partnership with ILWS and Port Macquarie Hastings Council, the event was held at CSU’s Port Macquarie campus, April 20, with 120 participants (60 in person and 60 virtually). The conference was opened by Institute Director Associate Professor Andrew Hall. The event aimed to raise awareness and calls for action to address the impacts of fires and floods on waterways and surrounding communities. ILWS members who gave presentations were:

• From the Mountains to the Sea – through drought, fire and flood on the Mid North Coast of NSW, Australia’ (key note address) - Dr Jessica Tout-Lyon, Dr Alexandra Knight
• Macca's on fire (Bushfire Impacts on Macquarie Perch in Mannus Creek) - Luke Pearce, ILWS Adjunct, NSW DPI- Fisheries
• Can fire threaten aquatic biota? The toll of the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires on aquatic biota - Dr Luiz Suilva, ILWS Adjunct, ETH-Zurich, Switzerland

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“Research for a Changing World” ILWS On-line Conference

The ILWS Conference 2020, held over November 26-27,  was an opportunity for our members to share 44 presentations on their research, new discoveries and what they have learnt from their recent research projects and activities; and showcased the work of our strong research teams.

Program and abstracts

Social Science Week September 7 to 13

Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 and the associated restrictions on travel and public gatherings, ILWS researchers and social scientists from across CSU were again able to participate and present during Social Science Week, albeit in a digital format of webinars and live-streaming.

This is the third year that Social Science Week which is co-ordinated by the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, has been held, and the second year of CSU’s involvement which was organised by Dr Jen Bond, Associate Professor Dominic O’Sullivan and Simone Engdahl.

This year the University offered 11 events ranging from podcasts, webinars, an on-line book launch, live presentations on zoom followed by interviews of expert panels, and a radio program.

The events with ILWS members were:

• Zooming into online clinical skills training, Tuesday, September 8. Presented by a team of CSU social researchers including Associate Professor Susan Mlcek with 17 attendees with included Professor Manohar Pawar.  “Every time we come together, we learn something all the time, for example, synchronistic teaching,” said Susan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J1O7hANpsI
• Conflict & extremism in invasive species management: perspectives from the social sciences, Tuesday, September 8. Presented by Dr Alexandra Knight and Dr Jen Bond with 111 attendees (including speakers and moderators) with registrations from tertiary institutions, NSW Environment, Energy and Science; consultants; Parks Vic; DELWP; LLS; Animal advocacy groups; CMA; and Agriculture Victoria. This popular webinar centred around two cases of human-wildlife conflict in North East Victoria, feral horses and deer, to discuss the increasing polarisation and extremism.  Its purpose was to bring in a social sciences perspective on the cases and show that while the issue of invasive species management or human-wildlife conflict is often seen from an ecological perspective, many of the central points of conflict are social in nature.  “One of the biggest benefits of social sciences is that it can help us see the whole picture,” said Jen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbrZYfW04p0&feature=youtu.be
• Webinar: Visions 2020 – Social science in our daily lives. Wednesday, September 9. This webinar, attended by 28 people overall,comprised of four presentations on very different topics ranging from inclusive playground design; cross cultural palliative care; bushfire volunteers through a sociological and theological prism; and social science as social action in homeless health. Janice Ollerton and Associate Professor Rosemary Black’s presentation was on Playground users’ experience of a socially inclusive playspace: The case study of Livvi’s Place, Port Macquarie, NSW. “Inclusive societies assume that everyone belongs and so it is important that Councils and developers consult with the community to ensure inclusive play spaces are designed to fit the child (regardless of their abilities) rather than expecting the child fit the environment,” said Rosy. https://charlessturt.zoom.us/rec/share/Pg9kcNUgnXcCz2rokJc3rqJ1_ylBlzy2PqCYz39J8cm_-hsqxOo7PI-XZK0cCYIM.KAuhumLZy1mHSTSz
• Can birds of different feathers flock together? Developing better research collaborations in regional Australia. Wednesday, September 9. Presented by Institute Adjunct Dr Wes Ward, and moderated by Dr Jen Bond this on-line presentation had 16 attendees. It was based on a study which investigated the perceived barriers for establishing and maintaining agency-research collaborations, using a qualitative analysis of transcripts of interviews with ILWS/CSU researchers and practitioners from North East CMA.  “Collaboration is vital for natural resource management as we don't have all the skills and expertise in one place, in one organization, in one agency,” said Wes. “I've been able to have a look at how people work together, and if they don’t work together, why not.” https://charlessturt.zoom.us/rec/share/d8zhDDoeBDZ9BKmmVejoX_FlPyeGUhFXMZLmZwNNjfgGj4MdJYeWwXtcqSWuxO6P.nbjbxjbLZU3UB6aT
• Christianity, Disability and Indigeneity: What do these mean for person-directed practice, policy and politics. Thursday, September 10. This successful 2.5hour event was attended by 42 people. It comprised of two public lectures, one by Monica Short and Associate Professor Dominic O’Sullivan who spoke on ‘I have come in order that you may have life – life and all its fullness' (John 10: 10): Faith, indigeneity and human rights,’. Two panel discussions followed the lecture with the first focused on the lived experience of Indigenous Christianity. Panel members were: Christian leader within the Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship of Australia Kathie Naden, Arabana woman of South Australia and Community Engagement Officer Aboriginal Christian leader; Dominic O’Sullivan; Brooke Prentis, Wakka Wakka woman and CEO of Common Grace; and CSU Associate Professor. Partners in the event were Anglicare and the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn, Common Grace. Dominic’s lecture will be included in a staff training resource for Anglicare’s 450 staff.  “The idea that human rights are universal; that they belong to Indigenous peoples as much as they belong to anyone contests colonialism’s essential presumption that race determines a hierarchy of entitlement where the interests of some are morally superior to the rights of others,” said Dominic.  https://youtu.be/QE2dfYdr9jY
• The myth of the child offender. September 10. This on-line panel session with a Q and A was presented by members of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology Children and Young People in the Criminal Justice System Thematic Groups with Dr Emma Colvin one of the convenors/moderators. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0hsmYFtFGM&feature=youtu.be

“Social Science Week provides an opportunity for social scientists to engage non-academic audiences with cutting edge social science research and to demonstrate the diversity and relevance of social science to our lives,” says Jen. “Social Sciences Week is also a great opportunity to showcase the value of social science research being undertaken by CSU on a national stage. Our varied CSU events drew much interest from a range of people and we’re looking forward to continuously increasing that public profile and connection in 2021.”

RiverDialogue: Rivers on Fire Forum

Twenty-five researchers and adjuncts from Charles Sturt University and seven alumni were among the 120 people attending the online forum “RiverDialogue: Rivers on Fire Forum” held on July 6-7.

The forum was organised by the International Rivers Foundation (IRF) in partnership with ILWS. Initiated to examine the impact of bushfires on waterways, the forum provided an opportunity for experts from government, industry, science and the community to share valuable knowledge and consider the way forward. Institute researchers freshwater fish scientist Adjunct Dr Luiz Silva and freshwater ecologist Dr Katie Doyle were on the organising committee and facilitated some of the sessions on Day 2.

Day one of the forum focussed on the human dimensions of fires and rivers.  Presentations covered how the bushfires impacted Australia’s drinking water supplies, Indigenous perspectives on caring for country, learning to work productively with fire, and building resilience capacity.

Day two focussed on stream health and included presentations by two ILWS adjunct members-  Fisheries Manager for the Greater Murray with NSW DPI Fisheries Mr Luke Pearce, and Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO Land and Water Dr Gavin Rees.

Altogether 11 experts from Australia and overseas shared their current research and personal stories on the impacts of fire and climate change on our waterways. The presentations stressed the urgent need to rethink the management of vulnerable water infrastructure, dams, treatment plants as well as managing the devastating impact of bushfires on aquatic ecosystems.

IRF are planning a face-to-face forum to continue these important discussions in early 2021 and are working on a draft Call to Action on the impacts of fires on waterways.

Frogs and flow workshop

What was to have been a two day face-to-face workshop sponsored by ILWS on frog and reptile responses to environmental water management at CSU’s Albury campus became a successful one day on-line workshop using Zoom, on July 1.

Seven presentations were given for the workshop which included two by Institute members namely:

• Introduction to water dependent snakes and lizards, Dr Damian Michael
• Introduction to frogs, Associate Professor Skye Wassens

Nearly 60 people (made up of representatives from state and commonwealth agencies and scientists from partner universities) attended the workshop which identified four key themes and areas for further collaboration:

• The role of pumping and carp management in promoting wetland health and frog breeding
• Water management for floodplain snakes
• Audio-data management
• Freshwater turtles

Link to the presentations
https://charlessturt.zoom.us/rec/share/_cFWEq-q_HtLYYnNtkzwSJIKRZbieaa80XMe-qcNmk7qmhGftgjq2tiFQIbDXHU6

Exploring the impacts of social distancing on older adults

A one hour webinar presented by Dr Belinda Cash and facilitated by Robyn Harvey on April 28 had an excellent uptake with an audience of more than 860 participants including both older adults and a wide range of professionals from coming from the health care sector, community organisations and local government.

The webinar, presented by CSU and the Australian Association of Gerontology,  is associated with an innovative program developed by Robyn called Leadership in Healthy Ageing which aims to get academic knowledge in practice through teaching leaders of health and aged care services in  North East Victoria.

The aim of the webinar was to explore the potential impacts of the COVID-19 related restrictions on different groups of older adults and to begin the conversation about strategies and solutions to ensure suitable and adequate supports are available to encourage positive physical and mental wellbeing for all older Australians.

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Murray Darling Basin forum

As part of this year's SEGRA (Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia) conference, August 20-22, at Barooga, NSW, the Institute, in partnership with others, ran and coordinated a special pre-conference Murray Darling Basin forum on Monday, August 19. The forum featured presentations on four challenges in the morning with working group deliberations and ideas capture sessions in the afternoon. The theme of this year's SEGRA conference was "Rivers of Opportunity: Activating your potential."

Official welcome of CSIRO Land & Water’s Managing Water Ecosystems group

The University’s official welcome to the team from CSIRO’s Land & Water to the Albury Wodonga campus was held on Tuesday, April 30. Twenty five people attended the launch which included Institute members (Institute Director Professor Max Finlayson facilitated the event), CSIRO staff, Cr Amanda Cohn, Albury City’s Acting Mayor, and Paul Child from NSW OEH.

The welcome began with a Welcome to Country by Wiradjuri elder Yalmambirra followed by a welcome to the CSIRO team from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Engagement) Professor Heather Cavanagh......."I think its days like today, where we bring together lots of different people with different expertise,  is the start of the future; it’s the start of where we will start to see some real impact. So welcome to CSIRO, it’s wonderful to have you here. We look forward to this being a very long and productive partnership.”

She was followed by Jane Coram, Director, CSIRO Land and Water Business Unit  who said that the collaboration with CSU was “a really exciting point in our journey of understanding and working within the Murray-Darling Basin... One of the very exciting things is that we have moved from an era of organisations trying to do their own thing in isolation to really recognising that the big wins don’t come from us going it alone; they are achieved by us working together. In the science space, that’s where the breakthroughs are happening, when we bring in a range of different viewpoints and disciplinary expertise to the challenges."

The official welcome included two presentations, one by CSIRO’s Dr Gavin Rees on the project he and Dr Daryl Nielsen are working on in the Condamine River, and the other by the Institute’s Dr Lee Baumgartner, on “Investigating the Menindee Fish Kills.” There was also a tour of the laboratory on campus where the CSIRO equipment is housed.

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Aged Care

Associate Professor Maree Bernoth was an invited speaker at the NSW Nursing Association Aged Care Nurses’ Forum, Quality Matters, in Sydney, October 24. Maree spoke on nutrition and hydration as indicators of quality care

Mental Health

Associate Professor Russell Roberts was the chair of the Australian Rural & Remote Mental Health Symposium 2018 held in Hobart, Tasmania, October 15 to 17. Russell gave a presentation on ‘Rural mental health workforce, a policy imperative: Yes or No?’; and chaired a session on ‘Let’s discuss stigma’. He also did considerable media around the event including the launch of the revised Equally Well web-page.

New Age

Professor Manohar Pawar attended a public lecture on A New Age of Sustainable Development – Australia, Asia, and the World, delivered by Professor Jeffrey Sachs and organised by the The Monash Sustainable Development Institute, on Oct. 15.

SPECTRA 2018

Institute Adjunct Dr Mary Rosengreen chaired a session on "Visualisation" at the SPECTRA 2018 symposium and festival held in Adelaide, Oct 10-12. The theme of the symposium was research collaboration between artists and scientists.  The symposium was presented by the Australian Network for Art and Technology, University of Spouth Australia and Experimenta Media Arts.

Book launch

A new book Sport and Physical Activity Across the Lifespan, co-edited by Associate Professor Rylee Dionigi. from the School of Exercise Science, Sport and Health, and Associate Professor Michael Gard, from the University of Queensland, was launched at CSU’s Port Macquarie campus, in September.

When and how research has impact

As part of Dr Alexandra Knight’s 2017 Early Career Seed Grant, Alex has been involved in a collaborative research program into research impact, knowledge exchange and co-production together with researchers from ANU, CSIRO, Monash, Oxford and Auckland University of Technology. Co-funded by ANU’s Fenner School the group gathered in Canberra for 4 days in August, together with 31 invited guests (including NGOs, research and government agencies, and consultancies) with facilitation provided by an international expert on impact research Mark Read, Professor of Socio-Technical Innovation at Newcastle University, UK. along with invited international experts. The group commenced development of a professional network of knowledge exchange researchers and practitioners, as well as research into processes and evaluation of knowledge exchange, and post-colonial perspectives. One outcome of this collaboration was a public lecture on “When Science Changes Society: When and How Research has Impact” presented at ANU, August 8. This event was supported by the Fenner School of Environment and Society via the Environment and Society Synthesis Program and the Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University.

Kakadu

From July 20 to 27 Professor Max Finlayson was in the Northern Territory to attend the 40th anniversary of the Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist in Darwin. Max gave a presentation on reframing the concepts that led to the establishment of Kakadu National Park and uranium mining in a modern socio-ecological context.

National Carp Control Plan

On July 12, Professor Max Finlayson, together with Associate Professor Dr Skye Wassens, Dr Keller Kopf, Dr Paul Humphries and Dr Luiz Silva, attended a workshop on the ‘Medium to long term effects of carp reductions’ at the North East Catchment Management Authority’s offices in Wodonga. The workshop, hosted by North East CMA, was run by the National Carp Control Plan.

Asian Studies Association

Drs Joanne Millar and Jennifer Bond attended the Asian Studies Association of Australia conference in Sydney, July 3 to 5,  University of Sydney where Dr Millar presented a paper on “Agrarian and landscape transformation in Timor Leste from agroforestry development” based on household survey results from the Darwin Initiative project in Timor Leste; and Dr Bond research results from her previous work in Vietnam in a paper titled “Investigating the gendered outcomes of rice policy and climate adaptation in central Vietnam”. The pair have joined the Timor Leste Studies Association.

Cyber Security Symposium

Two ILWS members were involved in the Cyber Security Symposium 2018, held July 5 to 8, held at the International Hotel, Wagga Wagga. The symposium covered the latest development in cyber security. Our members were: Professor Mark Morrison who spoke about the Faculty’s Research, and Professor Stephen D’Alessandro, Cybersecurity CRC – Theme Leader- who spoke on ‘Privacy preserving data sharing in a hyper connected world Cyber’.

Torres Strait Regional Authority Workshop

Institute Adjunct Dr Justin Watson attended a Torres Strait Terrestrial island Ecosystems Workshop in Cairns, June 26 to 27. The aim of the workshop was to better understand the importance of the islands' vegetation, fauna, wetlands and mangroves; and to identify the key threats to ecosystems and species.

Conserving declining animal species

Dr James Van Dyke gave a seminar on applying reproductive biology to the conservation of declining animal species at Flinders University, South Australia on May 11.

Mangrove and saltmarsh conference

Institute Adjunct Dr Swapan Paul and Institute Director Professor Max Finlayson were on the organising committee of the 6th National Conference of the Australian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network, held Sydney, April 17 to 20. Dr Paul presented at the conference which was jointly hosted by the Sydney Olympic Park Authority and Macquarie University.

Rural and Remote Health

Dr Rachel Whitsed gave a presentation under the theme of mapping, measuring and clarifying rural health metrics, at the 6th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium, held April 11 and 12, in Canberra.  The symposium was run by the National Rural Health Alliance

Keynote presentation

On World Wetlands Day, February 2, Institute Director Professor Max Finlayson, gave a keynote presentation, by video to the 2018 WA Wetland Management Conference, which was held at the Cockburn Wetlands Education Centre, WA. His presentation was on "Policy failure or success in managing wetlands under climate change?

Victorian Biodiversity Conference

Dr Alexandra Knight and Institute Adjunct Associate Professor Ian Lunt were active participants in the Victorian Biodiversity Conference, held February 6 and 7 at La Trobe University’s Melbourne campus. The annual conference, which is supported by the Institute and is aimed at Early Career researchers, attracted about 280 people

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SEGRA

Professor Max Finlayson, Professor Mark Morrison, and Institute Adjunct Professor Peter Waterman, attended the SEGRA Conference in Port Augusta, SA, October 23-27 where Max:

• facilitated a Group Focus Session "Beyond 'Post-Truth' - Getting Science and Evidence Back into Policy and Decision Making" during the Researchers' Forum
• chaired a workshop session on "Sustaining Coastal Regions"
• was a panel member of a discussion on "National Conservation for Regional Policy" (which was sponsored by CSU and chaired by Peter Ryan, Senior Business Correspondent, ABC News)
• presented a challenge topic to the conference on "regional Australian informing strategies for education through to employment"
• worked with Institute Adjunct Professor Peter Waterman to further develop the Safe and Secure Domestic Water project.

Mark gave a presentation on "Developing entrepreneurial ecosystems in regional Australia through the CenWest Innovate program: A review of progress" for Spotlight 5 – Entrepreneurship and Investment in Regional Australia.

Rural and Regional Mobilities Workshop

Associate Professor Branka Krivokapic-Skoko gave a presentation on 'From 'attraction points' towards retention: What do we know about international immigrants who come to stay in non-metropolitan Australia' at a Rural and Regional Mobilities Workshop: Exploring the Impact of (Im)mobilities in Rural and Regional Communities, organised by the University of South Australia - Mount Gambier Campus, on September 26.

Queensland forum

Dr Lee Baumgartner attended the "Doing well by doing good –Queensland's Impacts & Benefits in Agricultural Research", a Crawford Fund Queensland Forum and Networking Reception, at Queensland's Parliament House, February 14.

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Launch of ASSIB project

First National Stakeholder Inception workshop and launch of the Adapting to salinity in the Southern Indus Basin (ASSIB) project held in Pakistan, August 16.

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Launch of Apna Pani

A successful webinar to launch some easy-to-use mobile phone and web-based spatial applications for the Pakistan groundwater project's farming stakeholders was held on Monday, July 27.

The applications have three integrated components – Apna Pani (meaning “our water”), and its two additional modules, Wells and Apna Farms. While both Wells and Apna Farms are mobiles Apps, Apna Farms is also available as a web-based application enabling users to estimate crop water requirements, drawing on information made available on groundwater quality and quantity, soil quality (for selected project areas) and established crop profitability profiles.

The new tools were launched by the Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Dr Geoffrey Shaw, and ACIAR’s CEO, Prof. Andrew Campbell. They were followed by a presentation and demonstration by Dr Moby Khan, a spatial scientist now based at Charles Sturt University, who leads the spatial component of the project. He explained how the Apps work and the reasoning behind their development. Pakistani farmer Sharaz Akhtar, from the village of Cheecha Watni in Punjab then shared his experiences of using the Apps.

The project’s leader and Institute Adjunct Professor Jay Punthakey also presented, giving a brief introduction to the overall project. The event was moderated by Dr Michael Mitchell. Included in the 60 plus attendees for the one and a half hour long webinar were the project’s in-country partners, representatives from NGOs, donor agencies such as USAID, and local farmers.

Global Swimways Webinar Marathon

Every two years, the World Fish Migration Foundation hosts a series of global events to celebrate the importance of free-flowing rivers. These World Fish Migration Day events usually take place on rivers, but because of  COVID-19 and most of the world in lockdown at the time, the foundation decided to move the celebration to an online platform for the first time this year.

It ran a non-stop 24-hour “Global Swimways Webinar Marathon”, a free event,  commencing May 14 which started in Oceania, focusing on Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, before moving west around the world. The webinar included presentations from over 50 local, national and global experts over nine sessions.

Charles Sturt hosted the Oceania session with Professor Lee Baumgartner giving a presentation on “300 hundred years of decline; status and trends of native fish across Oceania”; and Institute Adjunct Professor Martin Mallen-Cooper spoke on the “The Darling River catastrophe: Can we fix it?”

The event was very well-attended. There were 427 registrants, from 41 countries across the world and a range of professions from academics, managers, fishers, community members, teachers, and policy makers, with an average of 250-300 attending each talk.

Links to the presentations https://www.worldfishmigrationfoundation.com/global-swimways-webinar-marathon/

Links to the video recordings of the sessions https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCZw4vlkdudWCyNlk_tZ-3LnGdWy5XZt6

MOTA framework development workshop

A two day MOTA framework development workshop to “kick start” a new project -  Translating fish passage outcomes into policy and legislation across South East Asia - which will build on the knowledge gained from previous fish passage projects was held at the Albury-Wodonga campus, February 20-21.

The workshop was centred around the Motivation and Ability (MOTA) framework which takes a multi-stakeholder and multilevel approach to assess and compare projects and plans, centred on the integral relationship between Trigger-Motivation-Ability.

The workshop was focused on the project's main research questions and was an important step in understanding the motivations and abilities of the various actors in relation to successful institutionalisation and implementation of fish passage programs within SE Asia. Special guest and presenter was Professor Ho Long Phi, Centre for Water Management and Climate Change, Vietnam National University who has developed the MOTA framework.

Other attendees were Institute members Associate Professor Andrew Hall, Professor Lee Baumgartner, Dr John Conallin, Dr Jen Bond, Dr Nick Pawsey, Dr Wayne Robinson, Dr Nathan Ning, Mr Vu Vi An, Rezki Antoni, Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Centre, Inland Fisheries Resources Development and Management Department, Indonesia, Chann Aun Tob, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Cambodia  and Hannah McPherson, Hendricks Consulting, Australia.

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Journal article writing workshop

As part of the activities associated with the 'Improving groundwater management to enhance agriculture and farming livelihoods in Pakistan' (2016-2020) project, the Institute hosted a four day journal article writing workshop at Charles Sturt University’s Albury-Wodonga campus, December 2-5, for members of the Pakistan Groundwater project who had attended the Australian Groundwater Conference (AGC) 2019, November 24-28, in Brisbane.

The aim of the workshop “From conference presentation to journal article – building your capacity for academic writing” was to assist research project partners from Pakistan in preparing journal publications from the papers they presented at the conference.

ILWS researchers were also invited to participate in the workshop, which was designed and facilitated by Dr Judy Redman, with support from ILWS members Drs Michael Mitchell and Catherine Allan. PhD candidates Ghulam Zakir Hassan and Vu Vi An took up this opportunity.

Workshop on resilience in semi-arid landscapes of South Africa and Australia

Building on networks/collaborations established at the 2018 Fish Passage conference, a "Workshop on resilience in semi-arid landscapes of South Africa and Australia" was delivered by Institute and the University of Mpumalanga in October.

ILWS team funding covered some of the costs of running the workshop including the travel costs to bring five experts from South Africa, Dr Mduduzi Ndlovu (University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela, South Africa, Senior Lecturer, SBES), Danie Pienaar (KNP, Director Scientific Services South African National Parks), Robin Petersen (KNP, Scientific Services Scientist), Dr Sam M. Ferreira, large mammal ecologist at SANParks, and Dr Gordon O’Brien (University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela, South Africa, Senior Lecturer, SBES). Their visit included with workshops to scope existing work, emerging opportunities and project ideas at CSU’s Albury-Wodonga campus, October 8-9, and was followed by field visits, October 10 to 12. The visit also provided an opportunity to network with a number of the Institute’s aquatic and terrestrial ecologists and member of NSW DPI fisheries staff and other Government agencies.

“We were looking at collaborative opportunities between South Africa National Parks, ILWS, NSW DPI and the University of Mpumalanga, looking at where we may be able to work together in the aquatic/terrestrial space,” says Dr Lee Baumgartner.

Workshop on the rapid assessment of the ecological character of wetlands

Between September 11 and 13, ILWS funded a three day workshop hosted by the Sydney Olympic Park Authority with the specific aim of developing a framework for the rapid assessment of the ecological character of wetlands. Coordinated by ILWS adjunct Rob McInnes and attended by the ILWS members and adjuncts, Professor Max Finlayson, Professor Nick Davidson, Dr Swapan Paul, Dr Ritesh Kumar, Professor Lijuan Cui and Dr Yinru Lei, along with wetland experts from Australia, the workshop dissected the current understanding of wetland character and evaluated the existing approaches to assessment. During the workshop, the emphasis shifted to reviewing the definition of ecological character, and interrogating whether the multiple values of wetlands were genuinely captured in the current construct and, therefore, were the existing approach to delivering wise use fit for purpose. The workshop further investigated whether the dynamic linkages and interactions among the biotic, non-abiotic and human elements could be more clearly defined in order to move towards the development of a framework for the rapid assessment of the ecological character of wetlands. The objective of the such a framework would be to ensure that a systems view of wetland, with values as the leverage point for evaluation, was developed.

The attendees at the workshop discussed the approach to developing a framework for the rapid assessment of wetland ecological character, given the need to embed further human values. They intend to develop their ideas through the submission of a peer-reviewed paper, as well as working towards a tool-kit approach to the rapid assessment through the development of practical applications in inter alia India, China, Myanmar and Australia. As part of a longer-term road map they will investigate showcasing the workshop outputs at various international events including INTECOL 2020, the Society of Wetland Scientists’ meeting, Quebec, 2020 and potentially the next Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention (COP14) in China in 2021.

Workshop on transdisciplinary research

As part of a visit to the Institute by Pakistan partners in the ACIAR scoping project Living with Salinity in the Indus Basin: SRA 2 a  two day workshop to explore framings for transdisciplinary research in complex contexts” was held at the Albury-Wodonga campus August 22 and 23. The visitors were among the 32 invited workshop participants which included ILWS members, PhD students and adjuncts; researchers from the Graham Centre including its Director, Associate Professor Marta Hernandez-Jover, the Faculty of Science the Faculty of Businesses, Justice and Behavioural Sciences, and ILWS stakeholders such as North East Water and the North East Catchment Management Authority. The workshop was organised by Dr Michael Mitchell with the support of Associate Professor Catherine Allan. Two guest experts brought in for the workshop were Professor Ray Ison, from the Open University, based in the UK; and Dr Mark Stafford-Smith, an Honorary Fellow with CSIRO. Ray led a session on “Systemic co-inquiry” during the workshop, and Mark a session on “Integrating the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.” Both sessions were interactive with workshop participants working in groups.

Ray’s session introduced the tool of “conversation mapping” to discuss the topic “Doing transdisciplinary research is…..” with members of the groups bringing their own histories and understandings to explore the issue. The technique is used as a stepping stone for a systemic co-inquiry. For Mark’s session groups of workshops participants were asked to look at how their work interacted with the SDGs, and means of implementation.

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2018 International Conference on River Connectivity
(Fish Passage 2018)

Hailed as a resounding success, the conference, which incorporated the First Symposium on Hydropower and Fish Management, attracted over 350 delegates from over 30 countries around the world to the Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury, NSW, December 10-14.

Photo Dr Zeb Hogan and the giant Mekong catfish at the public lecture

It was the first time the conference, co-hosted by NSW Department of Primary Industries- Fisheries and the Institute for Land, Water and Society, has been held in the Southern Hemisphere. “We were keen to show the recent advances we have made in Australia and in Southeast Asia in fish passage technologies,” says conference co-convenor Dr Lee Baumgartner as to why Australia put up its hand in 2016.  (Fellow convenor was Matthew Gordos, from NSW DPI.)

Other than the many and varied conference presentations, other highlights of the conference were the announcement of the 2018 Distinguished Project Award which went to a research team led by Dr Lee Baumgartner; the launch of the Wetland Book 1 and 2, of which Professor Max Finlayson is the lead editor; the public lecture by National Geographic Channel presenter and University of Nevada academic Dr Zeb Hogan; and the announcement of the 2018 Career Achievement Award which went to Institute Adjunct Professor Mallen-Cooper.

A special 16 page insert to our newsletter Connections Issue 53 contains an overview of the conference as well as interviews with just some of the many speakers and partners with whom the Institute has connections.

Visit to China

During October 26 to November 1 Professor Max Finlayson was in China to attend the China Academy of Forestry’s 60th Anniversary in Beijing and a project meeting in Hangzhou. Max attended the anniversary and gave a talk on ‘local to international experiences in science communication in promoting science innovation and participatory research’ at a meeting arranged by the Ecological Committee of the Science Writers Association, and a talk entitled “The Future for Wetlands: Opportunities and Benefits,’ at the Institute for Wetland Research of the China Academy of Forestry. Max, an Official Visiting Professor with the Academy, was invited to join the ecological committee of the China Science Writers Association.

Conference of Parties of the intergovernmental Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Professor Max Finlayson along with Institute Adjuncts Professor Nick Davidson, Dr Anne van Dam, Dr Ritesh Kumar, Dr Swapan Paul, Rob McInnes and Dr Lisa-Marie Rebelo attended the Ramsar Triennial Conference in Dubai - Conference of Parties of the intergovernmental Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, October 21 to 26. Max, together with Professor Roy Gardner, from Stetson University, Florida, presented the Global Wetland Outlook to approx 1000 delegates from 170 governments, and environmental NGOs. Max’s presentation brought an end to his 25 years of formal involvement, as a technical advisor, to the Ramsar Convention.

Also at the conference Lisa presented a report, The use of Earth Observation for wetland inventory, assessment and monitoring: An information source for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands,  co-authored by Max; and Nick also spoke at the “Climate management, adaptation and key legal issues for Ramsar wetlands” conference side event led by the Society of Wetland Scientists (of which Max is the President-elect) on October 26.

Wonders of the Mekong

On October 17 and 18 Dr Lee Baumgartner and ILWS PhD student Vu Vi An participated in a “Wonders of the Mekong” workshop organised by Fish Bio and the University of Nevada and funded by USAID and the National Geographic Society.
Lee presented a keynote talk Innovative monitoring techniques and how technology could be incorporated into monitoring in the Mekong.  An, another keynote speaker, gave a talk on his research on fish ear bones and fish movement.

World Lake conference

Professor Max Finlayson attended the 17th World Lake Conference in Ibaraki, Japan, October 13-19 where he gave an Invited Plenary on lakes, ecosystem services and SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). The International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC), of which Max is a member of its Scientific Committee, was one of the conference’s host organisers.

International Water Association conference

Professor Max Finlayson attended the 16th International Water Association (IWA) Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control, in Valencia, Spain, October 1-5 where he gave an Invited Plenary on ‘Artificial wetland systems for water quality sand biodiversity and ecosystem services’.

European Consortium for Political Research

Associate Professor Catherine Allan attended the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) General conference in Hamburg, August 22-25. Over 4000 papers were submitted to the conference, and around 2500 were accepted. Catherine presented a paper ‘Jumping off the treadmill: reforming natural resource governing through systemic co-inquiry.’ “This explained the starting conditions for the Systemic Inquiry into NRM Governance in Victoria, and posited my team’s focus on systems approach as a way to ‘upscale’ current approaches to deliberative policy analysis (DPA).” says Catherine. “DPA is an integrative concept that sees policy analysis as embedded in, rather than separate from, practice and participation." Catherine has been undertaking this work with Moragh Mackay, Ray Ison, Ross Colliver, Phil Wallis, Laura Mumaw and Luisa Perez-Mujica, since around 2016.

WorldFish Rice Symposium

Dr Lee Baumgartner and Dr John Conallin attended and presented at a three-day WorldFish Rice Fish Systems symposium in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, August 6 to 8. The two co-presented on fish migration and fish passage options within rice-fish systems and the effects with regards to the work that is starting in Myanmar. John was also on a panel which discussed the role of flooding within fisheries and rice production, and the effects (positive and negative) flood control can have on fisheries and infrastructure.

Social marketing

The International Social Marketing Conference was held July 15 and 16 in Singapore where Dr Michael Mehmet gave a talk on his Equally Well project and his Shark Sentiment research, and  Dr Jodie Kleinschafer presented the findings of the NDIS research relating to service provision in Western NSW.

International Astacology Conference

Dr Maggie Watson attended the International Astacology Conference at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 9  to13 where she presented work funded by the ILWS on Murray Crayfish. Her talk was titled ‘Normal Biochemistry of the Murray Crayfish Euastacus armatus where she discussed monitoring work she, Marty Asmus NSW DPI Fisheries and Shane Raidal CSU SAVS Wagga, are trialling on captive Murray Crayfish.

Social work, education and social development

Professor Manohar Pawar was invited to join a panel at a symposium to speak on Social development and social work education: interaction and synergy, organised by the International Association of Schools of Social Work and the International Council on Social Welfare at the the Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development 2018 (SWSD 2018), Dublin, Ireland, 4-7 July 2018. While there he presented two papers, one based on his ARC Discovery project ‘Searching for virtue ethics: A survey of social work ethics curriculum and educators’, and the other on ‘Community Development, Empowerment and Social Entrepreneurship by Thankyou.’

What does accounting smell, look and feel like?

Institute researcher Dr Dianne McGrath was on the organizing committee of the Accounting & Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ)’s Accounting Education Special Interest Group’s Symposium held in Auckland, New Zealand on June 30. This year’s theme was “Accounting and the Senses."

Training workshop in Myanmar

Senior Research Fellow Dr John Conallin was invited to partake in an “Ecosystem Functions and Services in Integrated Water Resources Management training of trainers workshop in Myanmar, June 25 to 29. The workshop was hosted by IHE Delft and the Myanmar Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Irrigation.

Australia’s Long-term Intervention Monitoring project

From June 10 to 15 Professor Robyn Watts attended the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) Summer Meeting in Victoria, Canada BC where she presented a paper  “Improving outcomes of environmental flows through adaptive management: Australia’s Longer-term Intervention Monitoring project” in a session on Environmental Flows: Recent Science, Applications, and Policy Implementation.

Society of Wetland Scientists’ conference

Professor Max Finlayson attended the Society of Wetland Scientists’ conference in Denver, Colorado, May 29 to June 1, where he gave talks on ‘International wetlands and climate policy: The huff, puff and bluff’ and ‘Wetland climate adaptation policy and management.’

International Symposium of Spatial accuracy

Dr Rachel Whitsed presented a paper, Whitsed, R., Horta, A., Soares, A. and Jelinek, H. (2018) An Uncertainty-Based Approach to Quantify the Spatial Representativeness of Local Health Datasets, at the 13th International Symposium of Spatial Accuracy in Beijing, China (21-25 May)

Red Panda Conservation Workshop

The Red Panda Conservation Workshop: Ensuring the future of red panda landscapes through national and regional collaboration, held May 1-3, 2018, in Bhutan. Organised by ILWS researchers, Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, Department of Forest & Park Services, and WWF Bhutan.

Urban Development and Wetland Conservation

Institute Adjunct Dr Swapan Paul gave a presentation at a special symposium at Nanjing University, China, organised with the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Feb 2-4, on the successful marriage between urban development and wetland conservation within Sydney Olympic Park.

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Impact of river development

Dr Lee Baumgartner, Dr Wayne Robinson, Dr Luis Silva and PhD student Vu Vi An attended the American Fisheries Society's 147th Annual Meeting at Tampa, Florida, U.S., August 20-24 where they ran a symposium on the impact of river development on tropical fisheries and An gave a presentation on diadromous fish in the Mekong River.

International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD)

Professor Manohar Pawaris now at the helm of an international organisation dedicated to creating peaceful solutions to the problems of humanity's survival at the local, national and global levels, gave his incoming presidential address at the ICSD's 20th International Scientific Conference in Zagreb, Croatia, July 7-11.

Mangrove decline

Professor Max Finlayson is a member of the Global Mangrove Watch, an Alliance whose purpose is to provide an update on the change in global mangrove cover since 1995. He attended:

• the 37th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment in Tshwane, South Africa, May 8-12, where, as a joint author he presented a paper on mangrove decline in Kakadu National Park; and
• June 5-9 attended the Society of Wetland Scientists annual meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he gave a presentation on the die-back of mangroves in Kakadu National Park

Tour guides forum

Associate Professor Rosemary Black was invited to present a keynote on "Researching tour guides and guiding: Mapping the past, charting the future" as the International Research Forum for Guided Tours, held in March at Roskilde University, near Copenhagen, Denmark. This conference held bi-annually brings together researchers, students and practitioners interested in tour guides and guiding.

Myanmar project partnership opportunities

Prof Ken Irvine from Delft-IHE, The Netherlands, and Prof Doug Shaw from The Nature Conservancy, Minnesota, USA were among the international visitors in Albury Feb 7-9 to discuss Myanmar project partnership opportunities. Also in attendance were Dr John Conallin (from Delft-IHE and co-organiser/facilitator with Dr Lee Baumgartner) and Institute Adjuncts Dr Martin Mallen-Cooper, from Fishway Consulting Services and Dr Tim Marsden from Australasian Fish Passage Services.

The ILWS hosted workshop brought together experts with specialities in economic development, fisheries, sediment, river flow, wetlands, sustainable development, to consider opportunities for Basin scale planning for Myanmar. The team from spent three days in detailed discussions regarding potential research priorities on water and land development issues in Myanmar. They settled on four thematic areas for further development:

• Migratory fish ecology and connectivity
• Sustainable hydro-power
• Irrigation systems and off-channel habitats
• Integrated water resource management in Inle Lake

The meeting was extremely productive and has set the scene for future international collaboration.

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Innovation in Landscape Conservation

The North East Catchment Management Authority's "Innovation in Landscape Conservation" environment forum held on Tuesday, May 17 at CSU's Wangaratta Study Centre certainly "hit the mark." Around 80 landholders, NRM agency representatives, Landcare group members and others with an interest in the environment, attended the all day event which included the John Paul Memorial Lecture (given by the Institute's Dr Dale Nimmo), the launch of the North East Conservation Fund, the experiences of the Mount Elephant Community Management Inc., and an interesting talk on conservation funding by Gerard O'Neill, CEO Bush Heritage. The afternoon sessions on deer management and fish ecology (with the Institute's Dr Lee Baumgartner) were equally interesting. The event (with partners the Institute, Trust for Nature, and DEWLP) is planned to become an annual one.

Photo  `from left Ben Fahey (Parks Vic), Neil McCarthy (NECMA), Sue Campbell

Panel discussion on Fish ecology from left Glen Johnson (DEWLP), Matt Barwick (NSW DPI) and Lee Baumgartner

Mekong Fish Passage Conference
Applying Innovation to Secure Fisheries Productivity

This conference was part of the  ACIAR  "Quantifying improved fisheries productivity at fish passage rehabilitation sites in Lao PDR" project.

Over 160 local and international delegates attended the conference which was hosted by one of the project's partners, the Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre, in Vientiane, Lao PDR, November 14-17.

Project leader Dr Lee Baumgartner, who was on the conference's organising committee, said the conference brought together global experts in the field of riverine development, fish passage and aquatic ecosystem management and demonstrated how applied research could be used to enhance policy and decision-making across the Lower Mekong Basin. Lee gave a presentation on "From research to uptake: Expanding a fishway construction program in Lao PDR." Also at the conference was the Institute's Dr Wayne Robinson, and Visiting Academic Professor Luiz Silva from the Federal University of Sao Joao del-Rei in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The Mekong River Commission "Catch and Culture - Environment Vol 22, No 3 has published four articles based on the conference.

Biocultural Knowledge Project Workshop

A workshop, organised by the Institute in collaboration with Murray Local Land Services, for a new Biocultural Knowledge Project was a great opportunity for those with an interest in the biocultural values of wetlands and rivers to get together, listen to some presentations, share knowledge and network. Twenty four people representing CSU and the Institute, Murray Local Land Services, Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations, Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations, Murray Darling Wetland Working Group, Albury City Council, Murray Darling Basin Authority, Macquarie University, University of Western Sydney, and NSW Office of Environment & Heritage attended the workshop held at Wonga Wetlands, Albury, on Tuesday, December 6.

Presentations were:

• Neil Ward, MDBA on " MDBA Aboriginal Partnerships"
• Dr Emilie Ens, Macquarie University on "Mapping documented Indigenous biocultural knowledge"
• Dr Jessica Weir, University of Western Sydney on "Biocultural knowledge practices"

Samantha Strong, ILWS, also presented her Draft Research Inventory on "Biocultural knowledge of aquatic resources in the Murray River region" which participants were invited to add to. The Inventory was the focus of the afternoon's discussion.

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ILWS Annual Book Launch

LWS held its annual book launch on Thursday, 29 October 2015 at The Gums, Albury-Wodonga Campus from 10.30 to 12 noon.
This year the launch celebrated the publication of seven books:
"Wetlands and Human Health" Edited by Prof Max Finlayson, Prof Pierre Horwitz, Prof Philip Weinstein
"Adventure Programming and Travel for the 21st Century", A/Prof Rosemary Black, & Prof Kelly. S. Bricker, (Eds.)
"Tour Guiding Research: Insights, Issues and Implications", Prof Betty Weiler & A/Prof Rosemary Black
"Reflective Social Work Practice : Thinking, Doing and Being", Prof Manohar Pawar and Dr Bill Anscombe
"Handbook on Trade and Development", Prof Oliver Morrissey, A/Prof Ricardo A. López, Prof Kishor Sharma
"Benalla Migrant Camp : A difficult heritage", A/Prof Bruce Pennay
"Public Relations Ethics and Professionalism: The Shadow of Excellence", Dr Johanna Fawkes

With 35 people attending the authors were invited to answer the following question:
What makes a very busy researcher decide to add more to their already full plate and write a book? Certainly it can't be the dreams of being able to retire on the royalties of best sellers like JK Rowling so why do they do it? To read their answers see the ILWS Blog

http://ilws-blog.csu.edu.au/2015/12/02/what-makes-a-very-busy-researcher-decide-to-add-more-to-their-already-full-plate-and-write-a-book/

SEGRA

The Institute was well-represented at the Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia (SEGRA) conference hosted by CSU at its Bathurst campus Tuesday October 20 to Thursday October 22.

From Left Prof Max Finlayson, Ms Kater Charters, SEGRA conference organiser, Prof Eddie Oczkowski and Prof Kishor Sharma.  Photo Bruce Andrews

Institute Director Professor Max Finlayson, as a member of the conference's program committee, was involved in the planning for the conference which attracted more than 200 participants from around Australia.

ILWS involvement in the conference included :

• Professor Kishor Sharma who led the Spotlight 1: Challenges, Issues and Strategies for Developing Regional Industry session and spoke on "Internal Migration Across Regional Australia: the impact of industrial change"
• Prof Mark Morrison who was a co-presenter of "The Roles and Linkages in Employment Growth Across Australia's Regions", and chaired a session on Building Resilience under the SEGRA Regional Best Practice Showcase (case studies. He also facilitated Spotlight 8: Factors Influencing the Success of Regional Business and presented on "Determining the Factors Influencing the Success of Private and Community-Owned Indigenous Business Across Remote, Regional and Urban Australia" together with Institute Adjunct Prof Jock Collins and A/Prof  Branka Krivokapic-Skoko
• Prof Eddie Oczkowski spoke on the " Emerging Trends in Skills Shortages in Regional New South Wales: the case of the Riverina region" together with Prof Kishor Sharma
• Prof Jock Collins presented on "Permanent and Temporary Immigrants and Rural Development in Australia" with co-presenter, A/Prof  Branka Krivokapic-Skoko.  A/Prof  Krivokapic-Skoko also presented on " Pacific Seasonal Workers in the Australian Horticultural Sector ' with co-presenter Prof Collins.
• Adjunct A/Prof Peter Waterman is on the SEGRA National Steering Committee and was the Challenge Chairman for the SEGRA Challenge, Challenge 1: How might we respond to carbon in the real world?  He also chaired the session Sustainability in which Institute Advisory Board member Dr Lorne Butt gave a presentation on the "Mudgee Learning Resource Hub: innovation in education and infrastructure design in TAFE NSW."
• Dr Valerie Ingham, together with Dr Sarah Redshaw presented on "Exploring Community Resilience and Vulnerabilities in the Blue Mountains"
• Institute Adjunct A/Prof Ian Gray gave a presentation on "Rail Freight for Regional Development."

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Andy Vann, welcomed delegates and provided a very clear message about leadership and the role of universities in our regional communities.

Water and Justice

The Institute and CSUs Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CAPPE) held a "Water and Justice Mini-workshop" on Friday, March 13 in Canberra.

The workshop's eight participants, including researchers from ANU, will discuss future research collaborations after a morning session with  Dr Adrian Walsh from the University of New England speaking on "Water as an idiosyncratic Distributive Good."

Launch for Water Monitoring Projects

The official launch of the Institute's two major environmental water monitoring projects funded by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO) was held on Wednesday, February 18 at the Albury-Wodonga campus.

After a Welcome to Country by Yalmambirra, presentations were made by CSU's Vice Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann, Mr Ben Docker, from CEWO, and the leaders of the two five year projects - Associate Professor Robyn Watts, for the Long-Term Intervention Monitoring Project in the Edward-Wakool River System, and Dr Skye Wassens, for the Long Term Intervention Monitoring Project in the Murrumbidgee River System.

Professor Vann said the projects "ticked all the boxes" in terms of what research he would like the University to be delivering.

"These projects, in particular, are great examples of projects that are collaborative across universities, with government, with industry and with communities...they're absolutely focussed on real, practical and tangible outcomes for the environment and the community and are great from every perspective. They're 'poster children' of where I'd like research at CSU to be at."

Forty-four people including research team members, the Executive Dean of CSUs Faculty of Science, Professor Tim Wess, ILWS members and representatives from partner agencies including Dr Bob Creese, Director of Fisheries Research, NSW Department of Primary Industries and  Mr Gary Rodda, General Manager of  Murray Local Land Services, attended the launch.

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Getting on the Rails

Twenty eight representatives from regional councils and businesses, rail interest groups, transport consultants and regional transport committee members attended an afternoon symposium on Wednesday 17 September at the Albury-Wodonga CSU campus.  The presentations by Adjunct Associate Professor Ian Gray and Reid Mather, from the Victorian Alliance of Councils for Rail Freight were followed by a lively discussion with questions from the audience. Presentations by Reid Mather  Rail Freight PDF and A/Prof Ian Gray Regionalisation of Rail Freight PDF

Climate Change and the Community Forum

Climate change was certainly on the agenda in Albury on Tuesday, August 19. (Read the full story)

First there was the Climate Change and the Community forum held in the morning at the Albury Entertainment Centre which organised by the Murray Darling Association with the support of the Institute, Albury City Council, the Regional Centre of Expertise Murray-Darling and the Australian National University.

The event was attended by more than 120 people made up of the local Member for Albury, Hon Greg Aplin; Mayors, Cr Kevin Mack from Albury, and Cr Paul Maytom from Leeton; councillors and staff from Indigo Shire, Rural City of Wangaratta, City of Wodonga, Albury City Council and the Alpine Shire; government department staff; representatives from the Murray Darling Association; CSU students and staff; community members; and staff and senior secondary school students from Albury High and Victory Lutheran College.

Presentations (PDF)

1. Setting the Scene (from the global to the local), Mr Barney Foran, ILWS
2. The effect of climate change on health and health services, Ms Tracey Oakman, Director Public Health Unit, Murrumbidgee and Southern NSW Local Health Districts
3. Climate change and the impact on people, communities and well being, Dr Shelby Gull Laird, ILWS
4. Climate change - how does it relate to young people and what can we do, Mr Lewis Tinley, CSU student and Australian Youth Climate Coalition member

The second event held on the Tuesday was a "Living with Australia's climate: A community conversation on climate, weather, fire & water" also held at the Albury Entertainment Centre. This was an Australian National University event with climatologist Professor Janette Lindsday from the Fenner School of Environment and Society, and Dr Philip Gibbons, a bushfire expert also from the Fenner School. Institute Director Professor Max Finlayson was the moderator for the event which drew a crowd of more than 70 people.  Pic Prof Janette Lindesay, Dr Phil Gibbons, (from ANU) Albury City Mayor Cr Kevin Mack and Max

Our Place - Riverina and Murray

The launch of the Our Place - Riverina and Murray project and showcase of the projects' achievements so far on Monday, August 18 at the Albury-Wodonga campus was certainly well attended.

More than 55 people were present including community members from Holbrook and Albury, a large contingent from the Albury Wodonga Community College and Albury's Bhutanese community, Office of Environment and Heritage and Albury City Council staff, and CSU's Albury Head of Campus Professor Julia Coyle who gave the official welcome.

South-West Regional Manager for the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), Mr Graeme Enders launched the project which aims to assist communities to protect their local natural environment and to live more sustainably.

He said the Our Place project provided a program, in partnership with Charles Sturt University, to go to local towns and communities, get people together, and discuss what is important to individuals and the community, what are the issues that are being faced, and how OEH and/or the University could be of assistance in shaping a response. Read more

Our Place Regional Community Survey Presentation - Dr Helen Masterman-Smith (PDF)

Building trust between communities and agencies

The booklet, Trust: A Planning Guide for Wildfire Agencies & Practitioners, was launched by Professor Bruce Shindler from Oregon State University, USA, on Thursday, May 1, at the Wodonga Fire Station.

Photo L- R Prof Bruce Shindler, Wodonga Station Officer David Brown and Prof Allan Curtis

Around 20 people representing the Country Fire Association (CFA), NSW Rural Fire Services, the State Emergency Services, the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, North East CMA, the Victorian Government's Integrated Fire Management Planning and ILWS attended the launch at the Wodonga Fire Station on Thursday, May 1 over a morning tea.

Rural Lifestyles Book Launch

More than 30 people attended the launch of a new book Rural lifestyles, Community Well-being and Social Change: Lessons from Country Australia for Global Citizens at a morning tea held on the Wagga campus on Friday, March 7. The book, edited by Dr Angela Ragusa and published by Bentham Science, was launched by the University's Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann.

Pic from L to R. David Gilbey, Dr Angela Ragusa and Prof Andrew Vann at the launch

Prof Vann also wrote the book's Foreword which tells of his personal experience when he moved from the U.K. to regional Australia. "In regional Australia, I have found people matter, individuals matter and there is a much greater opportunity for a sense of genuine contribution to community and to feel you have made a real difference," Professor Vann said.

"Regional Australia is critical to the health and wealth of the whole nation and we need to ensure that rural and regional communities are involved in setting policy and determining solutions that affect their future."

The book includes chapters from a number of ILWS members including Dr Robert Tierney, Professor Kevin Parton, Dr Susan Mlcek, Dr Angela Ragusa and Dr Andrea Crampton on topics such as social and economic change in rural communities, mental health nursing, human services delivery in remote and rural communities, and water and knowledge of health risks.

Key Messages

"What it means to live in rural Australia today is different to what it was, say 50 years ago. It's different because of technology; it's different because of policy changes and governance in terms of how local communities and development are planned, or not; how is transport and infrastructure allocated and with what consequence; how does federal government's discretionary spending flow downstream to communities to be able to offer services, i.e. beds in hospitals, acute care facilities; money to higher education and institutions, transportation, roads etc ....all your key main areas. Meanwhile, some things reveal similar trends over time. For example, rural communities still need to deal with cyclical drought. But other things are different because of what humans have done and the decisions that have been made," - Dr Angela Ragusa.

The book deals with issues contemporary country Australians face and have to deal with every day. "These are the new things that have made us have a rethink on how we use our limited resources, how we get people to work together and with what effect," said Dr Ragusa. "It hasn't all been a push from urban Australia, but much impetus has come from there. In some sense it's a response to an urban push, and not one that has always been thought out."

An example of one recent urban 'push' is the decision to relocate some refugees from inner city environments to regional Australia "so they could thrive." "Decentralisation, as a strategy to move people out of the metropolitan areas, can be a positive policy," said Dr Ragusa. "But, if they are pushing people (such as doctors, health care professionals and educators) into rural communities that don't have the infrastructure needed, such as transport to help healthcare professionals see their clients, employment opportunities, equipment in hospitals to provide treatment or services to assist refugees to feel comfortable, and negotiate cultural differences between rural Australia and, say Africa, then these are challenges that really start at a policy level, but trickle down to rural communities who are being asked to deal with them. They might be the brainchild of someone in Canberra or Sydney, but how do rural communities cope and deal with the day-to-day reality? These day-to-day realities have stories that need to be told."

The book includes a chapter, written by Dr Oliver Burmeister from the School of Computing and Mathematics, on how introducing new technologies to rural and regional seniors may improve their well being. "A lot of seniors in rural areas experience social isolation, so, if we introduce technologies, then this may be a resource we can provide that might help them get connected back to their families, into new interests and hobbies, particularly in Aged Care facilities," said Dr Ragusa. "Through Oliver's research, decision-makers may use evidence to consider adopting resources that might not be very costly, but may have a really big impact on improving rural seniors' lives."

Another chapter in the book, written by ILWS member Dr Andrea Crampton, looked at drinking water, a natural resource, and asked the question "Is it the same in the country versus the city?" "In reality, although the legislation and the policy might look the same in practice it is tested at half the frequency," said Dr Ragusa.

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Ramsar Workshop: Detecting Change in Ecological Character

This workshop, which involved the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the Institute and the Self-Sustaining Regions Research & Innovation Initiative CRN based at Ballarat University, was held in Queenscliff, Victoria, November 5 to 8.

This workshop brought key paleoecological researchers together with limnologists and ecologists to explore means of better understanding the nature of change and variability in key Ramsar wetlands across the globe.

The meeting included members of the Ramsar Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) with a view to encouraging ecological character assessment processes to better utilise and take into account the palaeoecological record.

Murray-Darling Basin Seminar Series "Celebrating Australian Freshwater Fish"

Over 40 people joined Dr Paul Humphries, co-editor, Dr Nicole McCasker and Dr Rick Stoffels (CSIRO/MDFRC) co-authors of "Ecology of Australian Freshwater Fishes" on Wednesday 18 September for the launch of the book. They discussed some of the more remarkable features of the freshwater fishes of Australia before the book's launch by Dr Anthony (Rex) Conallin from the Murray CMA.
From left : Dr Nicole McCasker, Dr Anthony (Rex) Conalli, Dr Paul Humphries ( and Dr Rick Stoffels (CSIRO/MDFRC)

Public Debate - How can we best secure Australia's future food security?

Food security is an issue of critical significance to Australia's future. In the lead up to the 2013 Federal election ILWS held a highly successful event on Wednesday, August 14 at the CD Blake , Thurgoona, which provided an opportunity for the public to hear the views on this important issue from three CSU academics and candidates standing for election in the Seats of Farrer and Indi.

More than 130 people representing a wide cross-section of the community including local and state government, community health, Catchment Management Authorities, tertiary institutions, the ILWS advisory board, farming and the business sectors attend the event to hear Hon. Sussan Ley. Federal member for Farrer; Mr Gavin Hickey, Country Labor Party candidate for Farrer; Ms Jenny O'Connor, the Australian Greens candidate for Indi; and Ms Cathy McGowan, an Independent candidate for Indi.

The three CSU academics who addressed different perspectives of the issues were : Professor Deidre Lemerle, Director of the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation who spoke on production aspects; Associate Professor Susan McAlpin from CSUs School of Dentistry and Health Sciences who spoke on health aspects; and Professor Allan Curtis, Professor of Integrated Environmental Management with ILWS who spoke on environmental/social aspects of the issue.

To hear the podcasts of their presentations go to the CSU News site.

Final report on outcomes from the Debate PDF

Canadian expert at Regional Rail Revival Forum in Blayney

Mr Ed Zsombor, a Canadian rail expert spoke to 105 people attending a seminar in Blayney on Friday 10 May about the potential for the redevelopment of freight railways in regional areas and how interstate and overseas railways have been revived for national and local benefit.

The Regional Rail Revival seminar at the Blayney Community Centre was hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU), Blayney Shire Council and Lachlan Regional Transport Committee, with the support of Cowra, Harden, Weddin, and Young Shire Councils. Speakers include Mr Ed Zsombor, Director of Rail Services, Province of Saskatchewan, Canada; Mr Bryan Nye, CEO Australasian Railway Association; Mr Frank Lander, Senior Policy Officer, Department of Transport Victoria; and adjunct Associate Professor Ian Gray, ILWS. For audio files and PDF's of presentations Read more

Adaptation policy for the conservation and management of nationally and internationally important wetlands Workshop

A two-day workshop to discuss what information Australia needs to meet its international obligations for its inland and coastal wetlands covered by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands has been hailed has "very forward-looking and very interesting" according to international wetland expert Prof Nick Davidson.

The workshop, hosted in by the Institute, in associated with the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) and the Society of Wetland Scientists (Oceania chapter) was held at the Arthur Rylah Institute in Melbourne April 16-17.

Photo from left:Prof Max Finlayson Hugh Roberston (Department of Conservation, New Zealand), Paula Warren (Department of Conservation, New Zealand), Kerry Bodmin (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, New Zealand) and Marc Schallenberg (University of Otago, New Zealand, Photographer Di Crowley)

The 25 participants included researchers, policy makers and wetland managers from each of Australia's state government agencies, the Federal government, New Zealand, and representatives from the Murray-Darling Basin Association and the Australian Conservation Foundation.

The meeting was convened by Institute Director Prof Max Finlayson and Prof Davidson, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ramsar Convention Secretariat and Institute adjunct, was a key-note speaker.

Photo from left: Dr Jamie Pittock, Prof Max Finlayson, Dr Dave Rissik, Prof Nick Davidson (Photographer Di Crowther, from the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries)

Australia is a founding Contracting Party to the Ramsar Convention and over the past 40 years has designated a national network of 65 Wetlands of International Importance, or Ramsar Sites, covering over eight million hectares. Prof Davidson said there were a number of issues which came out of the workshop, one of which has been known for many years, and that is the need for good base-line wetland inventory.

"This would provide us with a basis to work out how to handle the problems that wetlands face which include the effects of an increasingly rapidly changing climate," said Prof Davidson. "If you don't know where the wetlands are it is difficult to work out how to deal with managing them most effectively."

Photo: Participants at workshop include Dr Jamie Pittock (ANU), Marc Schallenberg (University of Otago, New Zealand), Kerry Bodmin (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, New Zealand)

The full interview with Prof Davidson appears in May 2013 Connections magazine

Prof Max Finlayson was interviewed on ABC Rural on Friday April 26 about Kakadu and other wetlands and the need to protect them.

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"Sustainable Tourism The Millennium Development Goals" Book Launch Morning Tea

Thirty seven ILWS members and guests attended a special morning tea on Tuesday December 4 to congratulate Associate Prof Rosemary Black on the release of the book Sustainable Tourism & The Millennium Development Goals: Effecting Positive Change; Dr Black is co-editor of the book which was launched in the U.S. at the global sustainable tourism conference in September.

Photo from left Patrick Cobbinah, Associate Prof Rosemary Black and Prof Max Finlayson

Rosemary described her time as an adventure travel guide working in Nepal 20 years ago as the foundation to her career working at the University lecturing in Ecotourism. During her guiding years, she worked with co-editor Dr Kelly Bricker who was also a guide at that time and embraced the opportunity to collaborate on the book when they worked together at the University of Utah when Rosemary was on study leave. "There are many ways sustainable tourism can make a big difference to local communities" said Rosemary, "choosing locally owned accommodation options, hiring local guides, being just a few". In describing some of the case studies in the book Rosemary said "There are some great success stories, including the 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking Company, a tour guide company in Nepal, run by 3 sisters who operate trekking tours for women and their business supports the empowerment of local women by giving them tourism and business skills as well as increasing their confidence and economic independence."

Celebrations for the Sustainable Water SRA

Nearly fifty people, including representatives from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO) and various partner agencies, attended a special morning tea and presentation held on Tuesday, November 20 to celebrate the continued success of two exciting projects in the Murray-Darling Basin for the Institute's Sustainable Water Strategic Research Area.

Both projects are funded by CEWO and will monitor and assess the ecological responses to environmental watering in the Edward-Wakool and Murrumbidgee river systems during the 2012-2013 water year.

Partners in the Edward-Wakool project, led by A/Prof Robyn Watts are the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Murray Catchment Management Authority, Monash University, the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and the Wakool River Association.

Partners in the Murrumbidgee project, led by Dr Skye Wassens, are the NSW Department of Primary Industries, the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority, the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, and the University of NSW.

Both A/Prof Watts and Dr Wassens gave presentations on previous work done in the two river systems and on the current monitoring projects.

As well as the projects in the Edward-Wakool and the Murrumbidgee, CEWO is also funding similar monitoring projects in the Goulburn-Broken river system and Lower Murray.

Ecology of migratory fish in the Lower Mekong Basin

A lunchtime presentation by visitor to ILWS, Dr Phousavanh Phouvin, a researcher from the National University of Lao, to about 20 people on Thursday 15 November at the Albury-Wodonga Campus included a broad overview of the challenges faced by fish in the Lower Mekong Basin.

Dr Phouvin, who has been based at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre for the past three months, spoke on his research into aspects of hydro plant design that cause fish injuries and mortality.

Dr Phouvin's work is closely linked with a current collaborative project between ILWS and Narrandera Fisheries Centre. After his presentation, Dr Phouvin was presented with a Crawford Fund Fellowship Award for early to mid-career researchers by the Crawford Fund's Chief Executive, Dr Denis Blight, AO. Dr Blight said Dr Phouvin was the first researcher in the fisheries science field to receive the award. "I am struck by the similarity of issues faced by Laos and the Murray Darling Basin, and hence the potential for cooperation and collaborative research," he said.

Murray-Darling Basin Seminar Series Seminar 9 , November 15

was presented by Neil Ward from the MDBA Presentation entitled 'Filling the Gap'

Neil spoke about about some of the current challenges and successes in Indigenous engagement in the Murray-Darling Basin and his view of how we can help 'close the gap' with Indigenous Australians.  His presentation provided insights into how Indigenous people are having their views heard in the current Basin Planning process and what influences they have had on the Basin Plan.

Environmental Justice and Governance: Strategies for building environmentally sustainable and socially just communities Symposium

A symposium called "Environmental Justice and Governance: Strategies for building environmentally sustainable and socially just communities"  was held in Wagga Wagga, November 8 to launch the Institute's new Environmental Justice and Governance for Change Strategic Research Area.

The new SRA has evolved from the former  Innovative Perspectives on Energy and Climate Change SRA.

The symposium, which was attended by 22 people, featured guest speaker Prof Stewart Lockie, a preeminent rural social scientist from the Australian National University who heads its School of Sociology.

Photo from left : Dr Helen Mastermann-Smith,
Professor Stewart Lockie and A/Professor Vaughan Higgins

Stewart (who did his undergraduate studies at CSU)spoke on a number of topics designed to stimulate ideas/discussions related to some of the issues around environmental justice and governance. They included how rural and farming communities are now much more impacted upon by globalization compared to 20 years ago; global megatrends that will change the way we live; resource use and economic growth;  Australians' views on climate change; the Anthropocene  (a geologic term used to describe the impact of human activities on the Earth's ecosystems); and how people pull together in natural disasters and how that behaviour changes with technological or drawn-out disasters.  
The key note address was followed by two panel discussions on

1. Strategies for building environmentally sustainable and socially just communities: political and equity dimensions

2. Strategies for building environmentally sustainable and socially just communities: cultural and knowledge dimensions

Murray Darling Seminar Series Number 8 - Making the dead speak

Dr Paul Humphries presented " Making the dead speak: how historical ecology can aid freshwater conservation and management." to 45 people on Thursday November 1.

Although it goes without saying that knowledge of ecological condition, patterns and processes is essential for effective conservation and management of freshwater ecosystems, this knowledge is difficult to acquire or at least difficult to acquire at relevant time scales. This is because: (a) most ecological studies are carried out over periods far too short to get a good understanding of the dynamics of communities, assemblages, species, populations or even individuals, let alone how these interact with environmental conditions; (b) the environment is in its current state because of everything that has come before, and influences or disturbances may not be obvious or have disappeared; we are, in effect, seeing the ghost of disturbances past; (c) we are often unwittingly seduced into thinking that the environmental conditions which prevailed when we were young or at the start of our careers are some kind of baseline towards which we should be heading; and (d) the past is all we have to predict the future, so without an appreciation of past conditions and relationships, we may make bad conservation and management decisions.

This seminar argued for the use of historical ecology in aiding conservation and management of freshwater ecosystems. Paul's talk presented some ideas, approaches and research, mostly relating to fish in lowland rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin.

Dr Paul Humphries with research
assistant Tamsin Greenwood

Food Security in Australia: Challenges and Prospects for the Future

Food Security in Australia: Challenges and Prospects for the Future one day forum was attended by over 50 people on Tuesday October 30 at the Albury-Wodonga Campus of CSU. The events of the day included the launch of the book "Food Security in Australia: Challenges and Prospects for the Future edited by Quentin Farmar-Bowers, of Deakin University and ILWS researchers Dr Joanne Millar and A/Prof Vaughan Higgins. The key note address was delivered by Cathy McGowan AO, well known rural consultant in agriculture and rural development and a live broadcast by the ABC country hour with Libby Price. The presentations were given by guest speakers from CSIRO, University of Melbourne, University of Tasmania, Charles Sturt University and the Albury Wodonga Regional Food Security Network.

The talks were well received with many questions and a lively discussion took place after lunch on two key topics 1) education and engagement in food literacy, and strategies for using the political agenda on food security to promote further research and action.

Free Preview of the eBook version link found here: http://www.springer.com/food+science/book/978-1-4614-4483-1.

Food Equity, Access and Production

Dr Emma Rush, Charles Sturt University: The Ethics of Food Security [PDF]

Dr Graham Turner, CSIRO: Australian Food Security Dilemmas – Comparing Nutritious Production Scenarios and their Environmental, Resource and Economic Tensions [PDF]

Land Use Planning and Food Production

Dr Nicole Cook, University of Melbourne: By Accident or Design? Peri-Urban Planning and the Protection of Productive Land on the Urban Fringe [PDF]

Jane Roots, Charles Sturt University: Farming in Rural Amenity Landscapes – Maintaining Food Productivity in a Changing Environment. [PDF]

Robyn Krabbe, University of Tasmania: Community Supported Agriculture and Agri-Food Networks: Growing Food, Community and Sustainability? [PDF]

Kylie Gillison, Gateway Community Health: Local Solutions- The Albury Wodonga Regional Food Security Network [PDF]

To purchase the book go to Springer

Murray Darling Seminar Series Number 7

The seventh in the Murray-Darling Seminar Series, held on Thursday, October 24 at CSU's Albury-Wodonga campus, drew a crowd of around 30 people including a good contingent from the Murray CMA's Deniliquin office, who were in town for a training program.

The seminar was presented by the Murray CMA's Anthony (Rex) Conallin, Catchment officer-Water, who gave an interesting and thought-provoking presentation based on a case study for his PhD research which examined the invasion and spawning risk posed by common carp during an environmental water allocation from the Murray River to the Banrock Wetland in SA in 2008.

From his research Rex said there may be some scope to vary the timing of watering to benefit native fish and hinder the invasion and spawning of adult carp. However the benefits of this approach were likely to be short-lived without additional management interventions such as wetland drying.

"Another difficulty with this approach is that the effects of altering Environmental Water Allocations timing on wetland ecosystems are limited," he said.

"Managers favour delivery during the natural flooding period (August to November) but this overlaps with peaks in carp movement and spawning." Presentation slides PDF

Murray Darling Seminar Series - ILWS presentation

The first of the seminars to be presented at Charles Sturt University as part of the Murray Darling Seminar Series was very well supported with 40 people attending the seminar given by Institute Director Prof Max Finlayson, on Thursday, October 4, 2012.

Max's presentation, on 'Climate Change Adaptation for the Murray River' covered a number of areas including how climate change is expected to impact on wetlands along the Murray River; our different responses as we adapt to those impacts (adaptation includes the allocation of environmental water as well as various environmental works and measures designed to spread water across the wetlands, and allow it to drain, and fish to migrate); and a case study on the Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert at the mouth of the Murray to illustrate some of the quandaries faced.
Max emphasised that local communities and local Catchment Management Authorities needed to be more involved in management decisions as they do understand the 'big picture' issues. "Local communities need to be informed, engaged and resourced so they can contribute to the necessary management decisions," says Max. "Other countries are better at doing this than Australia. We do the science well but on many occasions miss out at the community level."

After the presentation, people had the opportunity to network and chat while they enjoyed a glass of CSU wine, beer/apple juice from Beechworth with breads and cheeses from Milawa and dips from the King Valley.

Aussie Morning Tea

With so many of our new PhDs on the Albury campus coming from overseas this year, we decided to welcome them (and our new Aussie PhDs) and their supervisors with an Aussie morning tea with traditional favourites such as vegemite sandwiches, Pavlova, lamingtons, Anzac biscuits, and damper! Institute director not only welcomed the new students to the Institute in a suitably decorated School of Environmental Science tearoom but also provided the entertainment when he spun the billy so the students could have a cup of Aussie bush tea. The 11 new students at the morning tea were Paul Amoeteng, from Ghana, Chaka Chirozva from Zimbabwe, Theresa Groth and Joey Walters-Nevet from the US. Deepa Kumar, originally from India, Shasha Liu from China, Luisa Perez-Mujica from Mexico, Buddi Poudel and Eak Rana, both from Nepal, Erika Cross from Mildura, and Adrian Clements from Albury. The students also had the opportunity to share their interests and hobbies in an ice-breaking activity with communications officer (web) Simone Engdahl. The Border Mail ran a story on the morning tea on Tuesday August 14. Read more

Murray Darling Seminar Series

More than 50 people have attended each of the two seminars in this series so far…. a good sign that the series, for the Albury-Wodonga region, is meeting its aims. The collaborative series involves the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre, La Trobe University, Charles Sturt University (ILWS), the Murray Catchment Management Authority and the North-East Catchment Management Authority.

The seminar's first speaker Ian Burns, Director Environmental Hydrology for Murray-Darling Authority spoke on " Determining environmental water requirements & the environmentally sustainable level of take". The second seminar examined Fish deaths, Azolla and water quality: History and future prospects for the Broken Creek and was delivered by Gavin Rees, a senior scientist with the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre who also suggested some long term prospects for the management of Broken Creek, especially on the back of the 2012 floods. Jeff Curtis Associate Professor, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of British Columbia, Canada was the speaker at the third seminar and his presentation was on" An introduction to the past, present and future of water science, policy and management for the semi-arid Okanagan Basin, British Columbia."

The topic of seminar 4 held on Thursday 6 September 2012 was Mobile Biochar Technology Development and presented by Andrew Briggs Waterways Project Officer, North East Catchment Management Authority. The current practice of burning debris heaps from waterway restoration works is attracting increasing scrutiny from community groups and government institutions due to concerns about greenhouse emissions, fire and occupational health and safety. The NECMA has taken a proactive approach to these issues and commenced a project in partnership with Earth Systems to develop a mobile device to convert woody debris into biochar.

Exhibition Marianas Wide

The exhibition Marianas Wide held in the NMI Museum of History and Culture, Garapan, Saipan, CNMI from June 13 - August 18, 2012 captured a fleeting moment of Marianas history--a two-week period in early August 2011.     The photographs represent people going about their daily lives; at their rancho, at the night-market, at church at work, taking time out to go fishing or just shooting the breeze. Shot on Guam, Saipan and Tinian, these images by ILWS researcher Dr Dirk Spennemann, reveal the diversity and complexity of the Mariana Islands and provide a historic 'snap-shot' of life in the Islands in the early years of the twenty-first century.

"As we move through our daily lives, the field of our standard three-dimensional vision covers an angle about 120º. Most cameras can frame only a small fraction of that, thereby disembodying the subject photographed and from its wider environmental setting." says Dirk. To contextualize people in their environment, at work or play, the artist used a vintage 1960s Panon Widelux. These Japanese 35mm film cameras were designed to reproduce a panoramic image covering 120 degrees; the same breadth of vision that the human eye sees.

Publishing with Impact Workshop

Eight ILWS PhD students and post-doctoral fellows had the opportunity to take part in a two day "Publishing with Impact" workshop held at the Albury-Wodonga campus, June 14 and 15. The workshop was presented by Dr Camilla Myers from CSIRO Publishing and covered understanding the science publishing culture and why it is important to publish; the skills required to write well structured and easy-to-read scientific articles; how the editorial decision-making and peer-review process works; and the protocols and ethics of scientific publication. Participant PhD student Manu Saunders described the workshop as " truly was the most valuable workshop I have ever attended and I got a great deal of information and resources out of it that I know will help me to develop my career." Read more about her views on the workshop in her blog.

Low-risk Climate Change Adaptations Options Workshop

Climate change is expected to have major impact on the health of rivers in South Eastern Australia. So far the emphasis, particularly in the Murray Darling Basin, seems to have been on environmental flows as a means of keeping our rivers healthy but what other options are there and are they practical and cost-effective? With this question in mind, about 25 scientific experts, representatives from the three Catchment Management Authorities where the options are to be tested, the Murray Darling Basin Authority, and government agencies attended a workshop hosted by the Institute for Land, Water and Society at the Lake Hume Resort, May 7 to 9.

Left to right. Dr Anna Lukasiewicz, Prof Max Finlayson, Prof Peter Davies (Uni WA) Mr Fin Martin (Lachlan CMA).

The workshop was coordinated by Dr Anna Lukasiewicz, ILWS post-doctoral research fellow working on a National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility project called 'Identifying low risk climate change mitigation and adaptation in catchment management while avoiding unintended consequences.' Principal investigator is Institute director Prof Max Finlayson and co-researcher Dr Jamie Pittock, from ANU. The three Catchment Management Authorities involved in the project are the Goulburn Broken in Victoria and the Lachlan and Murray in NSW. The workshop is to be followed by stakeholder interviews, smaller workshops in each catchment and a report with recommendations. Link to full story on workshop [PDF]

Landscape Logic Book Launch

Seventeen invited guests attended the book launched for the new Landscape Logic book on May 2 at the Wodonga offices of the North East Catchment Management Authority. Chair of the Landscape Logic project's Advisory board, Institute adjunct and former commissioner of the NSW Natural Resources Commission, Dr John Williams launched the book and spoke on how this book offers the hope of a better way forward, what we have learnt along the way and the story of the science and the investment in natural resources that will be of use to policy makers and researchers. The ILWS team of social scientists, led by Professor Allan Curtis (also a co-editor of the book), contributed to five chapters to the book.
http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/21/pid/6769.htm

Left to right. Prof Allan Curtis, Prof Ted Lefroy (UTAS) and Dr John Williams, Institute adjunct.

Managed Aquifer Recovery (MAR) in Australia Workshop

A workshop on Managed Aquifer Recovery (MAR) in Australia, held on April 26 and 27 in Canberra at the Australian National University, was co-convened by ILWS Professor Allan Curtis, together with Professor Tony Jakeman from ANU and Associate Professor Bryce Kelly, University of NSW.

(The organizers Allan Curtis and Tony Jakeman are in discussion with Chris McAuley (DSE, Victoria) and Adam Sluggett (MDBA) at MAR workshop at ANU, Canberra. Pic By Andrea Rawluk)

The invite-only workshop was intentionally limited to 25 participants who represented the key science disciplines within the NCGRT. Representatives from the Murray Darling Basin Authority, the National Water Commission, the relevant Queensland, NSW and Victorian government departments and the farming industry also attended.

The workshop examined the opportunity for MAR in farming landscapes by considering where water might be sourced; the capacity to store water in aquifers; the extent and type of demand for this technology; the environmental benefits, costs and risk associated; and  the socio-economic benefits and costs.

Dr Andrew Stone, CEO of the non-profit, American Groundwater Association, was the keynote speaker.Participants also listened to and discussed presentations by a range of disciplinary experts before working in smaller groups to explore the opportunity for MAR in specific farming contexts in Queensland and Victoria.

( left: Wrap up discussion: Led by Tony Jakeman, participants discuss some findings and next stages for research at the end of the MAR workshop. Pic Andrea Rawluk)

'Economic, Social and Environmental Sustainability of the Murray-Darling Basin'

About 40 people attended CSU's first public lecture in the 2012 series presented by ILWS Professor Kevin A Parton at the Orange Campus on April 20.

His talk on the sustainability of the Murray-Darling Basin and the trade-offs between economic, social and environmental objectives of increased flows of water in the Murray-Darling system (Australia's largest river system) was well received and generated many questions from the audience.

Presentation slides [PDF]

(pics by Mark Filmer)

During the lecture, Professor Parton detailed arguments for and against the proposed transfer of 2 750 gigalitres per year from irrigation into environmental flows. He considered the costs to irrigation farmers, the amounts of environmental water needed, gains for Murray-Darling communities from the plan, and the effects on the 'losers' from the plan. His preliminary research indicates a number of hypotheses that are worthy of further examination. First, several estimates suggest that the costs to farming will be small as long as irrigation water is purchased at its full market value. Second, there appear to be significant thresholds of environmental water flows which would be required to capture any worthwhile environmental benefits.  Third, under various proposed compensation schemes, communities overall in the Murray-Darling Basin may benefit (rather than lose) from transfers of water within the above range. Fourth, there would be some losers from the transfer, especially those dependent on irrigated agriculture who have no irrigation entitlements. This would include local businesses supplying services to irrigated agriculture.

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Mistletoe Menace Exhibition

An exhibition featuring a selection of the botanical illustrations used in A/Prof David Watson's first book, Mistletoes of Southern Australia was held at the Albury Library Museum, from Saturday 10 December 2011 to Sunday 12 February 2012 . The exhibition titled 'Mistletoe Menace' featured the work of Albury artist Robyn Hulley as well as that of textile artist Rebecca Mayo who uses mistletoes to explore ideas about women, families and values.

Pacific Reminders Photographic Exhibition

Through the distorted lens of art photography, an exhibition by Associate Professor Dirk Spennemann explored a personal view of many of the sites in the Pacific region which played key roles in the War with Japan between 1941 and 1945. This exhibit explored aspects of the Pacific War in a large geographic arc, spanning from Australia in the South to the wind-swept Aleutian Islands of Alaska in the North.

The exhibition was shown at the Exhibition Space of the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne from December 3, 2011 - January 15, 2012.

"Pacific Reminders" ran for six weeks over the Christmas period at the Shrine's Exhibition Space. Over that period, the shrine had over 100,000 visitors. Not everyone would have viewed the exhibition but even if only 10% of visitors looked at the exhibition, that's 10,000 people!

Improving Rural Livelihoods and Environments in Developing Countries Workshop

Four potential research areas were identified during a 2 day workshop for the new ILWS Improving Rural Livelihoods and Environments in Developing Countries SRA held August 30-31 at the CSU's Albury campus. They are:

• Entrepreneurship and culture
• Improving Livelihoods for smallholders Shrimp (India/Indonesia)-Dairy (Pakistan) & Forest Products  (Indonesia / Nepal)
• Global Carbon Policy and Local Livelihoods
• Integrated Research in ILWS related to developing countries: opportunities & challenges

These new areas for research will require integrated research and interdisciplinary collaboration and could develop into PhD projects or more general research projects depending on aims and funding sources.

Pic above: ILWS members and invited guests attending the workshop

The twenty-eight ILWS members who took part in the workshop were able to explore research issues and opportunities for collaboration in setting a research agenda with invited guests Dr Richard Callinan (University of Sydney), Dr Bob Fisher (University of Sydney), Dr Hem Baral (Himalayan Nature Pty Ltd). Presentations covered integrated research on community forestry, aquaculture, disaster management, foreign aid effectiveness, role of tourism and community development in Asia.

International view of managing water resources

Scientists and administrators from India visited ILWS in August 2011 to investigate how Australia is addressing the sometimes conflicting uses for limited water resources. The group, who were from Loktak in Manipur state and Chilika in Orissa State, attended a specially-organised three day workshop at the Albury-Wodonga campus before going on a three day field trip to visit surrounding natural and artificial wetlands.

During the workshop at the campus the Indian visitors heard presentations from Institute researchers (Prof Max Finlayson, A/Prof Robyn Watts and Prof David Mitchell) as well as presentations by Dr Daryl Nielsen, Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre, Dr Jamie Pittock, Australian National University, Patricia Bowen, Murray Catchment Management Authority, Dr Maria Bellio, University of NSW, Prof Cao Lei, University of Science and Technology of China, John Foster, DSEWPC, Dr Carmel Pollino, CSIRO, Dean Ansell, MDBA, Judy Frankenberg, Murray Wetlands Working group. A range of topics covered including wetlands and dam re-operation, managing wetlands in the future-coping with global change, and integrated river/wetland management – dams, energy and climate.

The group at Lake Cowal

After the workshop the group set off on a three day tour of wetlands to see first-hand conditions in the field. The itinerary included a visit to the Fivebough Wetlands with Mike Schultz, the Leeton sewerage treatment plant, the Narrandera Fisheries Centre , a tour of the Lake Cowal Foundation education centre, hosted by Mal Carnegie , Projects manager of the Lake Cowal Foundation and on the final day a trip through the Barmah wetlands and tour by boat along the Murray River with Keith Ward from Goulburn Murray CMA.

ILWS workshop throws spotlight on ecosystems services in the Murray-Darling Basin

Two international experts were key presenters at an ILWS-organised ecosystems services workshop in Canberra on 24-25 August.

The workshop, attended by 40 people, was funded by CSIRO, ILWS, State Water Corporation (NSW) and the MDBA . Professor Robert Johnston of Clarke University in Massachusetts and Associate Professor Dolf de Groot of Wageningen University in The Netherlands participated in a series of presentations which examined the experiences of several overseas counties in the use and valuation of ecosystems services and highlighted some of the challenges of valuing ecosystems services in Australia.

Ecosystems services are essentially the benefits we gain from natural or environmental resources and processes. They have a significant effect on human health and wellbeing, so have an economic and social value. However, differences in opinion sometimes arise when it comes to identifying which benefits to value and then quantifying these values.

Pic right Prof Mark Morrison and David Pearce

The other speakers at the workshop were Dr Steve Cork, of EcoInsights, CSIRO Research Scientist Dr Carmel Pollino, Associate Professor Gary Luck (ILWS), CSIRO Stream Leader Coastal Futures Dr Wendy Proctor, ILWS Director Professor Max Finlayson, Professor Pierre Horwitz (School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University), Professor Lin Crase (La Trobe University), Dr Rod Duncan (ILWS), CSIRO Senior Research Scientist Dr Neville Crossman, ANU Adjunct Professor Dr Neil Byron, CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellow Shuang Liu, UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures Research Director Dr Roel Plant, ANU Director of International Programs for the UNESCO Chair in Water Economics and Transboundary Water Governance Dr Jamie Pittock, and The Centre for International Economics, Executive Director, David Pearce.

A major theme of the presentations and two roundtable discussions was the importance of economists, ecologists and sociologists working together to help refine and improve methods for identifying and valuing ecosystems services. To date, inter-disciplinary differences, particularly in approaches to valuing benefits, has resulted in limited inter-disciplinary collaboration.

Photo right A/Prof Dolf de Groot from Wageningen University had the opportunity to catch up with one of his Masters students Ms Hiyoba Ghirmay, from Eritrea, who is living in Australia and working for CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences (Adelaide)

The two-day workshop was held at a time when Australia's Murray Darling Basin Authority is assessing the likely social and economic impacts on local communities of options for its sustainable diversion limits for the basin. Several staff from the MDBA attended the workshop and Tony Webster, the Authority's General Manager Social Economic Analysis, spoke about this assessment process.

"To my mind the purpose of this workshop was to bring together the experts from around the country... to see how much we really know, and how quickly that can be pulled together in a way that will help inform better decisions". Dr Jamie Pittock, ANU. Photo Left

CSU researchers are currently working with the CSIRO to complete a project entitled 'Multiple Benefits of the MDBA Basin Plan', which will include an outline of some ecosystems services benefits to Basin communities.

Why is the direct role of plants and water in the climate change debate ignored?

Visiting international academic, Dr Jan Pokorný, has been on a mission to have plants and how they cycle water, brought forward in the climate change debate.

While he understands why carbon emissions have come to the forefront of the debate and doesn't dispute the fact they are one of the causes of climate change, he believes the critical role plants have in distributing solar energy and equalizing temperature extremes is being overlooked and under emphasised.

" When you do the scientific numbers, the effect of greenhouse gases on climate change is nothing compared to the energy fluxes when you remove vegetation," says Jan, who was in Australia for three weeks in March as a visitor to the Institute.

And, going by his presentations at special seminars in Canberra and Thurgoona in March, he and his colleagues have the scientific facts and figures to back up their argument. (Presentation)

His presentation at CSIRO on Tuesday 22 March was to a group of twenty five and included scientists, members of farming organisations and the International Scientific Research Panel for Natural Sequence Farming including former governor general Major General Michael Jeffery.
Wednesday 23 March more than twenty ILWS researchers, students and members of the public gathered for his presentation at the CSU Thurgoona Campus.

Dr Pokorný is a plant physiologist and wetland ecologist from the Czech Republic who has most recently been researching the role of the plant-water cycle in climate change mitigation and why its significance is largely ignored in the political-scientific discourse on climate change.

He has co-authored a book called "Water for Recovery of the Climate" (www.waterparadigm.org) and also directs ENKI, a public benefit corporation focussed on applied research of environmental issues (http://www.enki.cz/index.php?l=en).

A Climate Change Workshop

More than 60 people attended an ILWS workshop in Canberra on March 2 to hear several prominent speakers, including an academic named as one of the world's 75 most influential people, address two key questions relating to climate change.

Adjunct Professor Bjørn Lomborg, an economist at Denmark's Copenhagen Business School and the Institute Director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, headed the list of speakers, who also included award-winning Canadian architect Michael Green, as well as leading economists Dr Ben McNeil (University of NSW Climate Change Centre) and the ILWS's Dr Rod Duncan, who is based at CSU Bathurst.

(From Left A/Prof Bjørn Lomborg, Dr Rod Duncan, Michael Green, Dr Ben McNeil, Prof Mark Morrison)

The four speakers addressed two questions: "What should Australian government policy be in managing climate change? How should the Australian government build resilience into the economy and community given greater variability in climates?"

Professor Lomborg has written several books on climate change including The Skeptical Environmentalist and the new Smart Solutions to Climate Change. He focuses on the importance of technology and innovation in changing the supply/demand equation rather than more traditional mitigation strategies such as carbon pollution reduction or taxation schemes.

ILWS researcher Professor Kevin Parton, who is Head of the Orange Campus of Charles Sturt University, said the workshop was very informative.

Professor Lomborg's main point was that we need to have governments spend money on research and development to develop green technologies. Research is relatively cheap, and the returns to this research will be significantly positive. We need to develop cheap green technology and not expensive conventional technology (as we would under a carbon price scheme).

Michael Green is the founder of mgb Architecture + Design, a firm of 30 employees specialising in environmentally sustainable design. Mr Green has a passion for designing buildings with light carbon footprints. He is particularly passionate about using sustainably grown wood products in buildings.

He told participants that he was a strong supporter of a new green technology – wooden high-rise buildings. Special wood laminates, known as LSL panels, make such buildings possible. LSL panels are made from young trees (10-12 years old) and so can be grown from rapidly renewable forests. Mr Green said Japan has numerous high-rise wooden buildings, including a 19-storey building dating back 1,400 years. The only thing preventing the development of such buildings in most cities in the world today was unnecessarily restrictive local building regulations, he said.

Dr McNeil, who is a senior research fellow with the UNSW's Climate Change Research Centre, argued that Australia needed to encourage new green industries which would be able to compete in international markets. At the moment, Australia effectively had 'protected carbon' and this was discouraging the development of new green technologies.

Dr Duncan's key point was that humans are very bad predictors of the future. Dr Duncan, who is the leader of the ILWS's Ecosystems Services Strategic Research Area, argued that there was no reason to believe that predictions of climate change will be any more accurate than many previous predictions that have proved wildly inaccurate. He also argued that there was no reason to believe that we could make good predictions about the likely course of future green technology.

However, Dr Duncan said we could expect some form of new technology to develop in response to climate change, so we needed to act to establish the best conditions under which innovation and invention could most easily take place. The workshop was chaired by ILWS researcher Professor Mark Morrison.

Participants included numerous public servants from the Federal Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, as well as many economists and academics from the University of Canberra and the Australian National University.

Mistletoes of Southern Australia Book Launch

The venue chosen for the launch of A/Prof David Watson's first book Mistletoes of Southern Australia and an exhibition of 25 of the botanical illustrations featured in the book proved to be idea with good lighting, plenty of space and a lovely park-like setting.

Around 100 people gathered at Domain House, adjacent to Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens, late Friday afternoon, February 25 to celebrate David and artist Robyn Hulley's combined achievement.

A/Prof David Watson and Robyn Hulley

The book, which has been published by CSIRO Publishing, is a comprehensive guide to half of Australia's 91 known mistletoe species. It contains over 100 colour photographs (many taken by David, a keen photographer) and 51 of Robyn's watercolour illustrations.

The book represents the first thorough treatment of mistletoes in Australia and is the first 'field guide' to mistletoes world-wide. It provides an up-to-date summary of the biology, ecology and management of mistletoes in Australia.

Institute adjuncts Barney Foran and David Roshier

The book was launched by the CEO of Birds Australia, Dr Graeme Hamilton, who praised the work and said he was looking forward to reading the book and learning more about mistletoes. Both David and Robyn spoke on their experiences in creating the book.

A/Prof David Watson and one of his former PhD students Dr Anna Burns

Also at the venue was an exhibition of work by Rebecca Mayo, a mixed media artist and print-maker whose work features mistletoes. On display were two garments Rebecca has made using fabric printed with a mistletoe motif and mistletoe dyes.

Book sales on the evening were handled by volunteers from the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne with profits going back to the group.

The book has a recommended retail price of A$49.95 from bookstores, order online from CSIRO Publishing or call 1300 788 000.
Artist Rebecca Mayo

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Getting the Balance Right- 9th Australasian Conference on Social and Environmental Accounting Research (CSEAR)

"Getting the Balance Right" was the theme of this year's conference convened by ILWS member Dianne McGrath from the School of Accounting.  Held at the CSU Albury campus December 5 - 7, the program included examples of practical applications of working with the environment, papers from a range of social and environmental accounting foci, and plenary speakers from a range of disciplines.  The walking plenary tour of the campus and wetlands, demonstrating working examples of functionality and best environmental building practice, followed by a networking function held in the first 6 star accredited energy efficient commercial building in Australia was a highlight of the conference.

The presentations from the plenary speakers received accolades for the insight from non accounting disciplines. Professor Max Finlayson, Director of CSU's Institute for Land, Water and Society, drew on his experience and involvement in projects around people, ecology and water to reflect critically on the success or lack of success of these interactions.  Mr Bernard Murphy, Chairman of leading Australian law firm Maurice Blackburn, provided a perspective from the legal discipline, in particular the role of class actions as a motivator for corporations to consider social and environmental impacts in decision making. Professor Ken McPhail, the final plenary speaker, spoke on Corporate Accountability and Human Rights.

Vision of Social Development in the Globalised Asia: Commonality and diversity.

Charles Sturt University in partnership with Seoul National University organised an international conference on Vision of Social Development in the Globalised Asia: Commonality and diversity, at Seoul National University, Korea, November 10-12. The conference partially supported by the ILWS and led by Professor Manohar Pawar as the President of the International Consortium for Social Development, Asia Pacific Branch was attended by 120+ delegates from 20 countries.

Pic from left Profs. Chambers, Shank and Pawar

Conference sessions focused on areas including community development, women's rights, issues of poverty and children, international social development, social policy, elderly issues, and poverty. A special part of the conference on the second day was a student forum organized by students from Ehwa Women's University, Graduate School of Social Welfare.

UNESCO International Workshop on Challenges and Solutions for Dam Re-operation

A UNESCO Statement on Sustainable Dam Planning and Operations calling for much greater investment in sustainability practices is one of the outputs from an international workshop held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, October 27 to 28.

The Institute was one of the three sponsors of the workshop "Challenges and Solutions for Improving Dam Operations and Planning" which was convened by A/Prof Robyn Watson and Brian Richter, co-director of The Nature Conservancy's Global Freshwater Program which is a U.S. NGO. The other sponsors were UNESCO's Division of Water Sciences which is headed by former Institute member Prof Shahbaz Kahn and The Nature Conservancy.

The workshop was attended by 18 people from the U.S., Australia, South Africa, China, Nepal and Brazil, including scientists, managers involved in river operations and people working on programs to improve dam operations and decisions on new dams.

Outcomes, other than the UNESCO Statement, include précised information on various case studies that will be included in the World Water Report and a technical report published by UNESCO with papers from the presentations at the workshops and papers that are a synthesis of the findings and the group workshop.

Celebrating Book Launches by ILWS members.

A morning tea held on Monday, October 18 at the Gums Café in Thurgoona provided an ideal opportunity for the thirty-one staff, students and guests who attended to celebrate three books published by ILWS members in 2010. The books were:

• Demographic Change in Australia's Rural Landscapes: implications for Society and the Environment which was edited by Gary Luck, Digby Race, Rosemary Black and published by Springer and CSIRO Publishing. (Flyer PDF) Order Book & Book Review
• Social Development: Critical Themes and Perspectives, edited by Manohar Pawar & David Cox and published by Routledge, New York
• Community Development in Asia and the Pacific, by Manohar Pawar and published by  Routledge, New York

Photo  from left Dr Digby Race, A/Prof Gary Luck and Prof Manohar Pawar

Professor Manohar Pawar described how the process of research for a conference paper led to 21,000 words, too many for a journal article, but the start of his writing a book on Community Development in Asia and the Pacific. He also reflected on the satisfaction derived from working on his second book, a collaborative effort with Adjunct Prof David Cox of LaTrobe University.

A/Prof Gary Luck said that the first book he has edited, Demographic Change in Australia's Rural Landscapes, was five years in the making and was an example of the integrated research the Institute strives to do. It, along with a forum 'The changing nature of our rural neighbourhoods' held in November 2008, were outputs from the Institute's former 'demographic change in rural areas' integration group. A number of the chapters in the book were written by ILWS researchers, many of whom come from different disciplines.

Demographic Change in Australia's Rural Landscapes Chapter authors and the titles.

1. Patterns, drivers and implications of demographic change in rural landscapes; Digby Race, Gary W Luck, Rosemary Black.
2. Amenity-led migration in rural Australia: A new driver of local demographic and environmental change?; Neil Argent, Matthew Tonts, Roy Jones, John Holmes.-
3. Sea- and tree-change phenomena in Far North Queensland, Australia: Impacts of land use change and mitigation potential; Iris C. Bohnet, Nicky Moore.-
4. Seeking trees or escaping traffic? Socio-cultural factors and 'tree-change' migration in Australia; Angela T Ragusa.-
5. Demographic change and rural nature; Gary W Luck.-
6. Agricultural areas under metropolitan threats: Lessons for Perth from Barcelona; Valerià Paül, Fiona Haslam McKenzie.-
7. Agricultural land ownership change and natural resource management: Comparing Australian and US case studies; Emily Mendham, Hannah Gosnell, Allan Curtis.-
8. Land-use planning and demographic change: Mechanisms for designing rural landscapes and communities; Joanne Millar.-
9. Demographic change and the implications for commercial forestry: Lessons from south-east Australia; Hugh T L Stewart, Digby Race, Allan Curtis.-
10. Why farming families decide to maintain native biodiversity on their farms and the implications of demographic change for conservation policies; Quentin Farmar-Bowers.-
11 . Immigration and multicultural place-making in rural and regional Australia; Kirrily Jordan, Branka Krivokapic-Skoko, Jock Collins.-
12. Too bad to stay or too good to leave? Two generations of women with a farming background – what is their attitude regarding the sustainability of the Australian family farm?; Ingrid Muenstermann.-
13. Doing more for fewer: Health care for declining rural communities; Ann Larson.-
14. Staffing rural schools: A new perspective; Colin Boylan.-
15. Fly-in fly-out: The challenges of transient populations in rural landscapes; Fiona Haslam McKenzie.-
16. Demographic change in rural Australia: Future opportunities and challenges; Gary W Luck, Rosemary Black, Digby Race.

To purchase the book go to CSIRO Publishing Link

Biodiversity Discovery Day - Celebrating the Year of International Biodiversity.

Orange Botanic Gardens Sunday October 17 was the location for a fun day to raise awareness in the community of why we should and how we can help enhance biodiversity in our region. Activities included nature based games and competitions for families and children, talks for gardeners and farmers, talks on CSU research on helping communities to devise strategies to improve biodiversity and biological /ecological survey equipment demonstrations. Dr. Andrew Rawson (climate change), Dr. Anne Kerle (vertebrate fauna of the Central West), Maryanne Smith (woodlands), Nigel Hobden (Orange wildlife) and Bev Smiles (Travelling Stock Reserves) and Dr Cilla Kinross's talk on wildlife on farms and in gardens) there were videos by Scott Banks of peregrine fame and Rod Shrimpton.  The program was varied, interesting, entertaining, colourful and, most importantly, informative in relation to the plight of our biodiversity, here in the Central West of NSW.

Checking for bugs during the Biodiversity Discovery Day

Water on Tap?

The Water On Tap? Exhibition, at the Albury Art Gallery ran from October - December 2010, brought together science, art and practice. ILWS Social scientist Dr Penny Davidson said she organised the exhibition as a way of sharing information about the research around water undertaken by the Institute and its scientists with the community.
"We do a lot of research around water but are we really sharing that information with the community who, particularly as a result of the drought, are also concerned about water and would like perhaps to better understand the importance of the links between humans and all living things and water?" said Dr Davidson.
The exhibition, which celebrated National Water Week (October 17 to 23) included photography, textiles, mixed media, sound, sculpture, information panels, video and a computer generated flyover of the Murray River. The three sponsors were the Murray Catchment Management Authority, the ILWS and AlburyCity.
"The art, not only helps tell the science story, but provokes all of us to think a bit differently about water and offer new insights," said Dr Davidson.
The 'practice' element to the exhibition was depicted in a display of one the Murray CMAs projects – the Edward-Wakool Environmental Water Management project.

From left Murray CMA board member Brian Royal, Dr Penny Davidson, and Cr Neville Hull at the exhibition opening

"By the three elements coming together for this exhibition, it demonstrates they are all interlinked, just as our whole web of life is interlinked with water," said Dr Davidson. "Science doesn't stand alone, it meshes with art, and practice doesn't stand alone, it meshes with science and art, and art doesn't stand alone, it draws its fodder from practice and our scientific thinkings."

ILWS PhD Presentations

To celebrate four years of ILWS scholarships, six of the eight PhD students with ILWS scholarships gave an interesting selection of short presentations at Thurgoona on Wednesday afternoon, September 22. After afternoon tea and an introduction by Institute director Prof Max Finlayson, an attentive audience of about 30  listened and asked questions of the presenters – Sylvia Zukowski, Katherine Behrendt (from Bathurst), Manu Saunders, Jane Roots, Anna Lukasiewicz and Wayne Deans – on their various PhD topics covering everything from pollination services in almond plantations to building Australia's future landscapes. Also down from Bathurst was Katherine's supervisor and the Institute's Associate Director, Prof Mark Morrison. The students and some of their supervisors then went on to enjoy an evening meal in Albury and a lively discussion on ways to increase publications and opportunities for mentoring with the Dean of the Faculty of Science Prof Nick Klomp.

(Photo above From L to R Dr Rik Thwaites, Dr Digby Race, A/Prof Robyn Watts, Sylvia Zukowski, Manu Saunders, Wayne Deans, Prof Max Finlayson, Anna Lukasiewicz, Jane Roots, Katherine Behrendt, A/Prof Gary Luck, Prof Mark Morrison, A/Prof Ian Lunt)

Topics of the presentations

• Sylvia Zukowski. What information is required for sustainable recreational freshwater fishery regulations in Australia? (pdf)
• Manu Saunders The relationship between landscape management and pollination services in almond plantations (pdf)
• Anna Lukasiewicz How is social justice incorporated into Australian water management? (pdf)
• Katherine Behrendt Production, Consumption and Protection: Modelling the Value trade-offs in an Agricultural Landscape (pdf)
• Jane Roots Integrating community and landscape values for planning multifunctional rural landscape (pdf)
• Wayne Deans Building Australia's Future Landscapes within the emerging nexus of climate, energy, water, waste, food and fibre and human well-being (pdf)

Innovative Perspectives on Energy Workshop

At the turn of the 20th century electric cars were a serious competitor to the internal combustion engine. As an urban runabout it offered many advantages due to the ease with which it could be driven and was thought of as particularly suitable for women.  The early petrol car was an "adventure machine", a "toy for the boys", not least because it was unreliable and took a lot of skill to drive and maintain.  In the end it was the versatility of the petrol-engine car that won out over the environmental benefits of the low emissions of the electric car.

The current debate in future transport options mirrors these historical concerns.  So what can the history of transport (or mobility) offer to the public debate on transport, emissions, urban congestions, rural transformation and how we might move ourselves and goods in the future?

Are there lessons from the past that offer useful strategies for the challenges facing us in transport, energy distribution and consumption?

(L to R) Dr Masimo Moraglia, Professor Hans-Luidger Dienel, Professor Colin Divall, Assoc Prof Ian Gray

These topics were addressed in three very interesting presentations by international guests, Professor Colin Divall , History, University of York, Professor Hans-Luidger Dienel of the Berlin Technical University Institute of Society and Technology, and Dr Massimo Moraglio, Berlin Technical University to members of the IPE Strategic research area at a one day workshop in Wagga Wagga on August 30. The workshop which began with a short overview Institute Adjunct Barney Foran on the international energy issue, was attended thirteen participants including two members of CSIROs Division of Sustainable Ecosystems.

A past ILWS PhD student Sonia Graham, who now works for CSIRO, completed the morning presentations with an overview of the results of a recent social research project on environmental impacts of Australian household consumption and lifestyles.

The presentations provided the basis for the afternoon discussions which included possible research directions, funding sources and opportunities for international collaborative research possibilities   Further work will be undertaken to develop the ideas proposed at the workshop to flesh out the ideas to create research proposals.

Adaptation Options for Wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin Workshop

A workshop which focussed on climate change adaptation options for sustainably managing wetlands in the Murray –Darling Basin now and into the future has identified many of the key issues and challenges facing the Basin and policy makers.

Organised by the Institute and the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) the workshop was was held at CSIRO, Black Mountain, in Canberra on July 12 and 13.

It was attended by 18 technical and water management experts including representatives from the Murray Darling Basin Authority, NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water, CSIROs Water for a Healthy Country Flagship and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Presentations which helped lead the discussions included "What climate change may mean for floodplain wetlands in the MDB" by Flagship Director for Water for a Healthy Country Dr Bill Young ; "Wetland adaptation in the Basin: Beyond environmental flows" by WWF Research Associate with ANUs Fenner School of Environment and Society, Mr Jamie Pittock; and "Wetland restoration, adaptation and Ramsar Convention Guidance" by Deputy Secretary General of Ramsar, Professor Nick Davidson, who is based at the organisation's Swiss headquarters. Prof Davidson is also an Institute adjunct.

Some of the issues identified and discussed included  the relationship between global climate change and natural variability; scales of adaptation; how to work out the risks and how to manage for risk; the fact that the MDB is already in transformation; how to work within the different governances; and social factors.

"Wetlands in the Basin are already under intense pressure from past and current management practices, including water allocations, and the drought," said Institute director  Professor Max Finlayson.  "Climate change is expected to exacerbate all these issues and further complicate how we manage our wetlands with large parts of the Basin, particularly in the south-east, expected to be warmer and drier in the future."

Max  currently heads the 'Wetlands and Climate Change' theme of the Scientific Technical Review Panel for the international Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

The workshop will provide input into the Murray-Darling Basin planning processes and other program planning and was part of the formal input by Ramsar's Scientific Technical Review Panel on climate change.

(L to R) Prof Nick Davidson from Ramsar, National coordinator for NCCARF's Water Resources and freshwater Biodiversity Network, Brendan Edgar, and Prof Max Finlayson

(L to R)John Foster, Director, Wetlands Policy and Legislation, Aquatic Systems Health Branch; DEWHA , Dr Andrea Wilson, ILWS and  Dr Sarah Ryan, an Hon. Fellow with CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.

Slopes to Summit

The Institute was one of the sponsors of an open day held on Sunday, May 23 to launch a new regional conservation partnership, Slopes to Summit. The Farm and Environmental Open Day was held at a property at Woomargama and attended by more than 200 people.

The day acknowledged some of the great work being done by farmers and landholders in the Upper Murray region to increase the quality, size, and connectivity of native vegetation, and the vital role they play in sustaining the health of the region, especially in the face of climate change.

Speakers on the day spoke on an array of topics from soil health to native grasses, managing native pastures,and habitat restoration for wildlife, including threatened and declining woodland dependant birds. Dean of the University's Faculty of Science Prof Nick Klomp gave an entertaining talk on 'Quirky science; be amused not alarmed'  while the Institute's A/Prof Dave Watson talked about mistletoe and led a tour of the restoration trials at the property. PhD student Ian Cole spoke on native grasses.

Dr Andrea Crampton was kept busy at her information stand promoting the results of her local drinking water study and said she enjoyed many interesting discussions with participants about their own water management practices, suggesting ways to minimise potential risks.

The Slopes to Summit project covers an area from woodlands north-west of Albury to the foothills of Mt Kosciusko.  It is a partnership which connects landholders and supporting organisations together - working towards a common long term goal of landscape resilience.

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Russian Visit

In early December the Institute hosted a delegation of eight Russian comprising 8 MP's, project managers and departmental officials from the Lower Volga Region in Russia. As part of a nine day tour studying Australian wetlands and water management systems, the group visited the Albury-Wodonga campus at Thurgoona and had a guided tour of  the wetlands by adjunct professor David Mitchell. They also heard presentations by the Institute's Dr Paul Humphries and Dr Jonathon Howard (following on from a presentation by Prof Max Finlayson earlier in the tour), and Adrian Wells, from the Murray Darling Association and NSW Murray Wetlands Working group.

In a "two-way" exchange of information ILWS members heard a presentation by the Russian translator and project consultant Harald Leumanns on a five year project "Conservation of wetland biodiversity in the Lower Volga Region" which has been funded by the United Nations Development Program and Global Environment Facility . As a result of the project the total surface of protected nature areas will increase almost three times.

Pictured left: Victor Ivanovich, Harald Leummens with Prof Sue Thomas, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

The group also visited Wonga Wetlands, Yanga National Park, Werribee Wetlands, Sydney Olympic Park, Barmah State Forest, Lake Mokoan and had meetings with representatives from the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts, the National Water Commission, Murray Darling Basin Authority and CSIRO –Water for a Healthy Country Flagship.

Pictured left: The Russian visitors tour the wetlands at CSU's campus at Thurgoona.

Understanding rural landholder responses to climate change

National Forum 17-18 November, 2009, Albury  The Institute for Land, Water and Society, in partnership with Landscape Logic CERF, Future Farm Industries CRC, CSIRO and NCCARF held a two day Forum to discuss and debate the current and future social and institutional issues which challenge researchers, resource managers, policy makers, and members of rural communities. Read more

E-Crew 2009

"Environmental and Resource Economics Early Career Researchers Workshop
3-4 November, 2009, Bathurst Link to brochure and program

"Wetlands and Waterbirds: Managing for Resilience" Conference

The Institute was a co-host, together with the Fivebough and Tuckerbil Wetlands Trust, Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority and the Waterbirds Society of the "Wetlands and Waterbirds: Managing for Resilience" conference held at Leeton, NSW, from November 9 to 12.

Co-convened by the Institute's Dr Iain Taylor, the conference attracted key scientists (both national and international) working in this field including Dr S Balachandran, assistant director of the Bombay Natural History Society, India; and A/Prof  Chris Elphick, University of Connecticut, USA who both spoke on research in their respective countries.

Institute members at the conference included:

* Prof Max Finlayson, speaking on "Effects of climate change on wetlands and waterbirds in Australia and the Asia-Pacific Flyway"
* Dr Iain Taylor—"The habitat requirements of waterbirds on Australian inland wetlands"
* PhD candidate Anna Lukasiewicz — "Equity in water governance in Australia'
* Prof Mark Morrison — "How much do people value wetlands and waterbirds?"

Since 2000 Fivebough Swamp, a Ramsar-listed swamp on the edge of Leeton has been managed by the Fivebough and Tuckerbil Wetlands Trust, a non-profit making community organisation chaired by Mike Schultz.  The swamp supports a high diversity and abundance of waterbirds including seven species listed as threatened within NSW, five species exceeding 1% of their total global population and 24 listed under the Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement. At the conference, Mr Schultz outlined the main management approaches which have included zoning Fivebough Swamp and using a variety of controlled grazing regimes.

Pictured (above): Mike Schultz, chair, Fivebough & Tuckerbil Wetlands Trust; Dr Chris Elphick, University of Connecticut; Dr Iain Taylor, ILWS and Dr Peter Smith, DECCW

On the last day of the conference, there was a tour to Yanga National Park which is located within the Lower-Murrumbidgee Floodplain in south-western NSW and includes some of the most significant and important wetland habitat in NSW. It also supports the largest known population of the endangered Southern bell Frog in the State.

ILWS Research Forum

One of the eight adjuncts attending the inaugural ILWS Research Forum held in Wagga Wagga on 16 and 17 June commented that it was a valuable opportunity to get people from across the Institute together and work towards one goal. The Forum was held to to focus on setting a research agenda to tackle the big issues facing the Murray Darling Basin.

Around 70 ILWS researchers from Orange, Wagga, Albury Thurgoona and Bathurst campuses attended the forum. Environmental issues including restoring and sustaining our wetlands and valuing ecosystem services were up for discussion as well as economic and social areas such as the future for regional natural resource management, human wellbeing and healthy communities, and developing regional business enterprise.

Guest speakers who presented in their area of expertise were:

Prof Jan McDonald, Griffith University (pictured right, with Prof Mark Morrison)
Dr Wendy Craik, Productivity Commission
Ms Roslyn Dundas, ACTCOSS (ACT Council of Social Service)
Dr Denis Foley, University of Newcastle
Dr David Godden, Department of Environment and Climate Change
Dr Sue McIntyre, CSIRO
Dr Neil Ward, Murray Darling Basin Authority

Two Inaugural Awards for Research Excellence were presented at the Forum, with the winner of the Individual Award presented to Dr Jo Millar for her research focusing on environmental and livelihood issues affecting rural communities in regional Australia and South East Asia. The Team Award went to A/Prof Robyn Watts, Dr Catherine Allan, Professor Kath Bowmer, A/Prof Ken Page, Dr Andrea Wilson and Dr Darren Ryder who are making a significant contribution to the knowledge of adaptive management of river operations and has influenced on-ground change in dam operations.

Pictured right (L to R): Prof Max Finlayson with team award winners A/Prof Robyn Watts and Dr Catherine Allan.

Social events were an important part of the Forum program, giving members the chance to meet and talk informally. Margrit Beemster explained the photographic exhibition by Dirk Spenneman, a series of black and white images entitled "The Triple Bottom Line: no water, no hope. no chance".

Pictured left: Bitter Harvest, an image from the exhibition

During the cocktail hour the special edition of Rural Society was launched by guest editor Professor Kath Bowmer (pictured, left) who explained the challenges involved in pulling together the "Water and Gender" themed issue. Incoming editor Dr Angela Ragusa spoke of her desire to see Rural Society flourish and encouraged ILWS researchers to support the journal.

The Forum Dinner, held at a local restaurant, was a great success with music provided by Albury musician Paul Gibbs and Rod Duncan and Mark Morrison ran a very entertaining and challenging trivia quiz.

Pictured right: Enjoying dinner are (L to R) Zelma Bone, Max Finlayson, Roslyn Dundas, Rachel O'Brien, David Watson and Justin Watson.

A summary of information collated at the break out group sessions held throughout the Forum will be posted online soon.

Speaker Presentations(all .pdf)

Topic 1 - Living with climate change, Prof Jan McDonald, Griffith University
Topic 1 - Living with climate change, Prof Kevin Parton, CSU
Topic 2 - Restoration of rivers and wetlands, Prof Max Finlayson, CSU
Topic 2 - River and floodplain research, A/Prof Robyn Watts, CSU
Topic 3 - Regional natural resource management, Jonathon Howard, CSU
Topic 4 - Healthy communities, Roslyn Dundas, ACTCOSS
Topic 4 - Healthy regional communities, Dr Wendy Bowles, CSU
Topic 5 - Indigenous entrepreneurship, Dr Dennis Foley, University of Newcastle
Topic 6 - Ecosystem Services, Dr David Godden, Department of Environment and Climate Change
Topic 6 - Valuing the Murray and Coorong, Prof Mark Morrison, CSU
Topic 7 - Biodiversity, A/Prof Ian Lunt, CSU
Snapshot - Energy Futures, Barney Foran, CSU
Snapshot - Occupancy Mapping, Dr Neil Ward, Murray Darling Basin Authority

Charles Darwin Celebrations

Institute members were active participants in the University-wide events organised to celebrate the 200th birthday of the 'father of evolution,' Charles Darwin on Feb 12.

Morning teas, complete with large birthday cakes, were held at the Wagga Wagga and the Albury-Wodonga (Thurgoona) campuses. The highlight of the morning tea at Albury-Wodonga was A/Prof David Watson and wife Maggie's new baby son Charlie who slept through the celebrations despite the media's interest in photographing and filming him. Dr Paul Humphries also welcomed the School of Environmental Science's six new honours students describing them as "the next generation of scientists to discover and push back the frontiers of science as we are hopefully doing now."

Picture above: Staff on the Wagga Wagga campus battle with the wind to light the 200 candles on Darwin's cake.

In Wagga a large contingent of staff gathered to help blow out the 200 candles, which took several attempts despite much effort. Wagga High School students were also included in the activities on Tuesday with the screening of the film "A flock of dodos" at the Riverina Playhouse. This was followed by a question and answer session with academics including ecologist Dr Skye Wassens.

Picture below: Dr Paul Humphries, Dr Peter Pridmore and Dr Dennis Black at the Botanic Gardens gathering.

On Thursday evening about 40 scientific colleagues
joined Dr Paul Humphries and others from the Institute for a glass of champagnes and another birthday cake, complete with 200 candles, at Albury's Botanic Gardens at 5.30pm. Environmental scientists Dr Peter Pridmore and Dr Dennis Black from La Trobe University at Wodonga said it was great idea to celebrate Darwin's Birthday as did the former education officer at Wodonga Wetlands, Mike Copland and Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre macro-vertebrate ecologist John Hawking. "It's a good opportunity to catch up with colleagues," said Mr Hawking.

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Hosted by the ILWS 'demographic change in rural areas' integration group, this successful forum held on 26 November attracted around 80 people from across Victoria and NSW. Participants heard the latest research on this topic and gained perspectives from local landholders and business leaders. The forum included a feedback session to discuss future research needs. A diverse mix of people from local, state and federal government, CMA's, local industry and business, NGO's, landholders, researchers attended.

Pictured (above): Forum convenor Gary Luck with speakers Cameron McKern and Mary Terrill.

Pictured (left): David Mitchell, Penny Cooke, Deanna Duffy
and Janice Horsfield.

Speakers included Prof Jim Walmsley (UNE),
Dr Neil Argent (UNE), Dr Angela Ragusa (CSU),
Cameron McKern (YCDCo),
Emily Mendham (CSU) and
landholder Mary Terrill.

Pictured (left): Jim Walmsley, Gary Luck and Neil Argent.

Australian Forest Growers 2008 National Conference

After two years of planning, the Australian Forest Growers 2008 National Conference held in Albury-Wodonga at the Albury Convention Centre, October 19 to 22, was indeed a credit to all those involved.

The smoothly run conference, with the theme Forestry for a Better Future: climate, commerce and communities attracted 270 delegates from across Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the U.S. and Europe. It has been hailed as the most important forestry conference to be held in the region in 20 years.

Pictured (L to R): Dr Digby Race, Tony Cannon and Barney Foran.

The Institute for Land, Water and Society played a major role in the organisation of the conference with senior research fellow Dr Digby Race the convenor of the conference; conference and events co-ordinator Kate Roberts on the conference organising committee; and communications coordinator Margrit Beemster involved in publicity/media for and during the conference. Institute adjunct research fellow Barney Foran was a keynote speaker at the conference. His views on tree crops being an efficient source of bio-energy and call for large scale plantings of trees across Australia were well received both by the conference audience and regional, national and international media. Also presenting at the conference was PhD student Hugh Stewart who spoke on the role of planted forests in rural landscapes.

Digby said the successful conference engaged a diverse range of people involved in forest growing, processing and marketing.

"The conversation at this conference has evolved from previous AFG national conferences where the discussion was formerly about the technical side of growing trees," said Digby. "The industry is really addressing new frontiers for forest growing in Australia, such as bio-energy, emissions trading and biodiversity. The desire is growing for forestry and agriculture to co-exist to enhance Australia 's economy, landscapes and communities."

Mr Tony Cannon, the President of the Australian Forest Growers which is a national association representing the interests of private forest growers, congratulated the conference organisers on a successful event. "The conference you organised was a truly quality conference and it was a fantastic effort," said Tony. "On behalf of AFG I extend a big thank you for what you have achieved.

Pictured in the ILWS trade display,
(L to R): Dr Digby Race, Barney Foran, Binod Devkota, Kate Roberts and Lukas Wibowo.

"I think one of the achievements was reinforcing the importance of farm forestry in the forestry sector's mix in Australia.  I hope this can help to add weight to the need to reverse the decisions by some governments to reduce services to private growers. The diversity of attendees was one of the conference's great strengths as it has exposed a range of people who may not normally get close to the real tree growers … to see the innovation and challenges that occur on the ground.

"Above all the conference was an extremely enjoyable event."

Environmental Services – fact or fiction for landholders?

One hundred and twenty people, many of them landholders, participated in a one day seminar on September 17 which aimed to inform people of the pros and cons of Government environmental services programs; and to clarify the processes around carbon trading.

Pictured (L to R) : Attendees Warren Vogel, Dr Joanne Millar, Sue Brunskill and Lachlan Campbell from the Australian Alpine Valleys Agribusiness Forum

The seminar, which included addresses by Institute members Prof Max Finlayson, Prof Mark Morrison and Prof Allan Curtis, was organised by the Australian Alpine Valleys Agribusiness Forum in conjunction with the North East Catchment Management Authority with the support of North East Water, Plantations North East and the Institute for Land, Water and Society. It was held at CSUs Nowik Theatre in Albury.

Pictured (L to R): The Institute's Jenni Greig and Prof Mark Morrison who spoke on  "Evaluation of Current Options" and Vicki Ratcliff, the Director of Environmental Stewardship with the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage & Arts.

The Institute's Dr Joanne Millar, who was on the organising committee, said the committee felt the day was very successful as it attracted both agency staff and landholders and it did a lot in terms of explaining what environmental services actually are.

"It also explored a lot of questions around carbon trading and how and if it may relate to agriculture," said Dr Millar.

The event was well covered by the media with coverage by
Prime TV Albury, the Victorian Country Hour and the Border Mail.

Pictured: Institute director Prof Max Finlayson (left) with Mick Keogh (right), Director of the Australian Farm Institute.

"So Much Sky" Launch

The launch of A/Prof Bruce Pennay's brochure "So Much Sky" at the Albury Library Museum on Friday, September 12 as part of History Week 2008 was an opportunity for those who attended to hear of and share in the experiences of migrants passing through the Bonegilla Reception and Training Centre at Albury, NSW from 1947-1971.

Among those who spoke at the launch was John Petersen, manager, migration Heritage Centre, NSW, who is based in Sydney, and acting mayor of Albury City, Cr Henk van de Ven.

Bruce (pictured right), an historian and Institute adjunct, said Australia, in 1947 when the centre opened, was very much Anglo/Celtic. "We then opened our doors to people who were some how different, who didn't speak English," he said. "This challenged Australia and its ideas of cultural diversity." Just as challenging, for the migrants, was their arrival in a new country.

Left: Draga Williams, was a migrant from Serbia who went through Bonegilla. She is pictured with Bruce Pennay and an item of clothing she has donated to the Jindera Museum.

Hard copies of "So Much Sky' are available at the Albury Library Museum and the Bonegilla Migrant Experience Heritage Park. It is also available online.

Echoes of the Past, Voices of the Future Launch

The opening of a photographic exhibition of images and traces of German settlement in the southern Riverina, Echoes of the Past, Voices of the Future, drew a crowd of more than 50 people to the Albury Library Museum on Thursday, September 11.

The 30 stunning sepia images, taken by Institute archeologist and cultural heritage manager A/Prof Dirk Spennemann (pictured, right) help tell the story of the many hardworking German farmers who left South Australia in the mid 1860s to select cheap farming land in the fertile Southern Riverina and establish communities at towns like Jindera, Gerogery, Walla Walla and Edge Hill.

The exhibition, a joint venture between ILWS and Albury City to celebrate History Week 2008, was opened by the leader of the Institute's Communications, Arts & Education discipline group Dr John Rafferty and the museum's team leader, collections & assets, Ms Pam Owen (pictured, left). It included a display of artefacts from the Jindera Museum.

About 40 people attended Dirk's public seminar at the museum on the following Saturday morning on the history of German settlement in the region. Dirk is intending to tour the exhibition to other towns settled by Germans in Australia.

Launch of Barking Owl Video

The tiny hall at Wooragee near Beechworth in North East Victoria was packed to the brim with more than 130 people attending the launch of "Where are…the Barkers?" on September 5.

The short film, which was three years in the making, was produced by the Wooragee Landcare Group and is based on former ILWS PhD student Natasha Schedvin's research into barking owls in the North-East. The entertaining 37 minute docu-drama has been developed to appeal to a wide range of audiences including landholders, land managers and students of all ages. While the "star" of the film is Berry Barker, a local Barking Owl, the film also features Dr Schedvin, (now a wildlife ecologist at Healesville Sanctuary), local landholders and children.

It is intended to increase awareness and understanding of a little known or understood species and its habitat requirements in order to help secure its survival as a species. The film is the work of local film maker Jan Osmotherly and co-director Glen Scolfield. "I found Natasha's research on Barking Owls fascinating," said Jan. "I was surprised to discover we had our own rare species here for a start and then a bit alarmed to find that are not only endangered but declining because of continued loss of habitat, poor seasons and fire in our area."

Pictured L to R, Former ILWS PhD student Natasha Schedvin, co-director Glen Scholfield, ILWS supervisor A/Prof David Watson and film-maker Jan Osmotherly.

For copies of the DVD contact Glen Osfield on osfield@optusnet.com.au . A four page information sheet is also available to accompany the DVD.

Exhibition: Concrete Poetry

While many people find their first engagement with art or creative work as complex or inaccessible, the use of game-playing can allow anyone to become part of the creative process. Concrete Poetry is a new exhibition at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery (Saturday 14 June – Saturday 5 July 2008) by Dr Andrew Keen, Associate Professor at the School of Visual and Performing Arts, CSU that offers a playful and engaging format accessible to children and adults alike and links the visual to the verbal experience.

Following its world premiere at Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Concrete Poetry will be travelling to Queensland University of Technology and RMIT University in Melbourne, before heading overseas to the University of Westminster in London and the Museum of Modern Art in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Rural Australia without Petroleum?

ILWS and the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation hosted a public forum and workshop on the implications of diminishing international supplies of petroleum and the possibilities for biofuels industries in rural Australia on 12 and 13 March in Wagga.

Pictured left, Prof Peter Sinclair and right, Prof Julian Hine.

Speakers included Prof Peter Sinclair an environmental sociologist and oil industry analyst at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, Dr Barrie May, a biofuel researcher from CSIRO Mt Gambier and author of "Biofuels in Australia: Issues and Prospects" (link to RIRDC site and executive summary of report) and Prof Julian Hine from the University of Ulster, UK.

Over 50 people attended the forum and 25 invited guests participated in the workshop to share understanding of the 'peak oil' issue and consider the most important implications of oil depletion and substitution. Questions including; How can rural communities adapt to increasing fuel costs and the potential for biofuel production? and How will the development of a biofuel industry affect investment, employment and the growth/decline of rural communities? were considered.

Pictured above, Prof Deirdre Lemerle and Dr Barrie May

Convenor A/Prof Ian Gray said groups including the Council of Social Services and EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation are keen to work together on collaborative research projects with details to be released soon. Prof Peter Sinclair's paper Peak Oil and Corporate Policy (PDF 1MB) is available here or visit his website www.ucs.mun.ca/~oilpower for more information.

Pictured L to R, Andrew Honan (Railway Technical Society Australia), Katherine Barlow (NSW Dept of Transport) and forum convenor A/Prof Ian Gray.

Photographic Exhibition - "Estudios del bosque: studies of the forest "

11 January to 30 March 2008
Albury Library Museum, Albury NSW

As part of his first public photographic exhibition at the Albury Library Museum from Jan 11 to April 6,  ecologist  A/Prof David Watson gave a talk on the evening of February 11. A large crowd of more than 80 people listened appreciatively to David as he shared his experiences in tropical rainforests. David's research has taken him to 17 countries with an emphasis on central South America where he has spent a total of two years in the forests of Latin America studying its plants and animals. The audience also had the opportunity to view a wider selection of his amazing images than the 20 photographs on display. "Rainforests are by their very nature, dark, wet and secretive, and taking photographs is difficult," says David. "This exhibition is like a small window into that mysterious world through the eyes of a scientist."

The evening was introduced by Institute director Prof Max Finlayson who commented on David's success and skill in being able to photograph in forests where "the ground moves under you as you walk, you are always wet, and there are always ants crawling up your legs." The exhibition, hosted jointly by the Institute and Albury City, was, according to Max, an excellent example of how science and the community can engage.

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Seminar: Trust in Business Relationships

The ERD group ran a workshop on Tuesday 27 November 2007 to showcase the results from David Dowell's Doctoral thesis which focused on the development of trust in business-to-business relationships and its effect on firm performance. Prof Louise Young (UTS) also presented 'Two decades of trust research' at this workshop. The workshop attracted 67 attendees from the Bathurst region, including over 40 representatives from Bathurst businesses. The workshop was a good opportunity for those in the community to hear research conducted by the university into business in their region.

E-CReW 2007

The ERD group hosted E-CReW ( Environmental and Resource Economics Early Career Researcher Workshop) in Bathurst from the 12-13 November. It was a great success attracting 65 participants and mentors from 7 countries. Mentors attending this year's E-CReW included Prof Michael Hanemann (University of California) head of the California Climate Change Centre, Prof Laura Taylor (University of North Carolina), Prof John Rolf (CQU), Prof Allan Curtis (CSU), Dr David Godden (DECC), and Dr Don Gunsekera (ABARE). Participants commented that they enjoyed the casual setting in which they where able to receive feedback on their research from leaders in the field. The continued success of E-CReW has ensured that it will be run again in the coming years.

Associate Prof Rosemary Black

Book Launch

The launch of "Quality Assurance and Certification in Ecotourism" by Associate Prof Rosemary Black (pictured, left) was held on Tuesday, 20 November, 2007 at CSU's Thurgoona campus.

Conflict in the Arctic: rem(a)inders of the Japanese invasion of Alaska

Assoc Prof Dirk Spennemann's recent visit to the remote, uninhabited Kiska Island in the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia was the focus of an ILWS hosted event at the Bandiana Army Museum in Wodonga on Oct 25.

Sixty three people, including a number of army personnel and members of the region's RSL clubs, came along to hear Dirk's interesting lecture "Conflict in the Arctic :

From Left: Major Graham Docksey
and Assoc Prof Dirk Spennemann

rem(a)inders of the Japanese invasion of Alaska " which was complemented by photographs that Dirk took during his trip. Dirk says he was amazed at the condition of the guns and other relics of the island.

"I was damp all the time but I was prepared and my equipment and cameras performed better than I expected," said A/Prof Spennemann. "But I loved it and aim to go back to do a joint project with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US National Park Service working on all of the island's heritage, not just the guns. Even though the island has Aleut (the indigenous people of the region) heritage sites, it hasn't been inhabited since the mid 1800s which means you don't have a 'civilisation layer'. It's a military base pure and simple. That makes it unique."

Better Bush on Farms Conference

Pictured at
the Conference are Trevor
Verlin, with CSIRO's Andrew Bennett
and Paul Ryan (co-convenor)

The Better Bush on Farms Conference was held at CSU's Thurgoona campus on Wednesday, 19 September and was jointly hosted by ILWS, CSIRO, the NSW Environmental Trust and the Conservation Management Network.

Around 140 people attended the conference to listen to the latest research findings of ILWS members and natural resource management agenices in southern NSW and Victoria, and to discuss issues relating to the implementation of on-ground incentive programs to protect native
vegetation on farms.

Cross-boundary farming - is it an opportunity to sustain Australia's farming activities?

A seminar on the opportunities and pitfalls of cross-boundary farming was held in Wagga on Friday, 7 September. Guest speaker David Brunckhorst of the University of New England presented his research from the Tilbuster Commons project.

Participants included conventional, hobby, and organic farmers, Ph.D. students, CMA's, councillors from Wagga, a property lawyer, representatives of the NSW Farmers' Association, the CWA and federal and state politicans. The forum sparked a great deal of interest - people had a lot of questions and participated in the different lively sessions.

During the discussions it became clear that there is a role for individual farm ownership, collective management and for sharing the resources. Such a system can contribute to more sustainable farming practices in Australia. The latest weather forecast predicts that the drought will continue. Therefore it is anticipated that increasingly farms may be taken over the large corporations and that the family farm will be in jeopardy. -contributed by Ingrid Muenstermann, Forum co-convenor

Professor Sam Lake
and A/Prof Robyn Watts

Drought: The Creeping Marauder and its effects on aquatic ecosystems

Prof Sam Lake's talk in Albury at the Nowik Theatre on 4 July attracted an audience of 55, including people from catchment management authorities, the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre and La Trobe University. Prof Lake, who is a leading figure in Australian and international freshwater ecology, gave a fascinating presentation, describing our perceptions and types of drought; how it has shaped human history; its impact on aquatic ecosystems; and predictions of what we can expect as a result of climate change.

"We are very poorly set up to deal with drought," said Prof Lake (pictured left with CSU's A/Prof Robyn Watts) from Monash University's School of Biological Sciences. "As a result of climate change we can expect to have more dry periods, and ones that are more protracted and at present we know very little about what effects these might have on our river systems."

Prof Lake said Australia 's policy makers and natural resource managers tend to be reactive when it comes to droughts when instead they need to be proactive. "Knee-jerk reactions to drought are not the answer," he said. "We need long-term planning and strategies that protect rivers rather than sacrifice them."

Some of the changes he advocated included implementing new and ongoing restoration programs for degraded systems; identifying and protecting those systems with biota which need to be conserved; removing and/or circumventing unnecessary barriers in waterways; investing in solar desalinisation; allowing the flood plains to be flooded, and altering farming practices to suit our variable climate.

Prof Peter Cullen gave the closing speech

5th Australian Stream Management Conference

Held in Albury in late May, 275 delegates attended the conference over four days, including a day of field trips. ILWS Director Prof Allan Curtis said, "The conference was a success in terms of enhancing the knowledge and networks of a very enthusiastic group of practitioners. It has provided an excellent opportunity for the different practitioners to be exposed to the cutting edge science around climate change and the assessment of the ecological health of our rivers."

The conference organising team

Prof Curtis said, "Despite the changes we are all facing there has been remarkable optimism especially when we have seen examples of innovative approaches such as the use of Market Based Instrument, the temporary sale of water, or large investments." A peer-reviewed conference proceedings publication of almost 100 papers is available by contacting Kris Gibbs.

Adaptive management workshop

Catherine Allan (Standing)

On the 18th and 19th of  April, a group of environmental researchers and managers gathered at the Lake Hume Resort to discuss the use of Adaptive Management. Adaptive Management is proposed as a way of addressing the 'wicked' problems (including climate change) currently faced by natural resource and environmental managers.

The workshop was convened by Catherine Allan and Allan Curtis from the Institute of Land, Water and Society, in Albury, and George Stankey from Oregon in the USA. Participants attended from Queensland, New Zealand, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. The key outcome from the workshop was a commitment to develop an accessible and useful book for would-be practitioners of adaptive management, and a framework and time plan for that development.

For further information contact Catherine Allan (pictured above, standing).

Innovations in rural and regional paramedic roles

A/Prof Peter O'Meara with Ric Bouvier, a retired general practitioner with a long history in ambulance education

Ambulance authorities and paramedics ". need to actively build partnerships and alliances with local communities and other health professionals if they are to achieve greater integration with rural communities and the health system." This recommendation to the National Rural Health Alliance came from participants in a workshop held before the 9th National Rural Health Conference in Albury on 7th March 2007. They also called for the allocation of sufficient resources to ensure that the needs and expectations of rural communities can be met on an equitable basis.

Workshop participants in the " Innovations in Rural and Regional Paramedic Roles workshop" were drawn from throughout Australia including Victoria, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania . The workshop was organised to explore innovations in rural and regional paramedic roles that had been raised in the recently completed Beyond Emergency Response research project.

Workshop participants identified that future paramedic roles would extend in response to changes in the availability and roles of the rural health workforce. For instance, in those towns where medical practitioners are unavailable and nursing resources are stretched, paramedics could use their existing or new knowledge and skills to provide a range of primary health care and public health services to local communities. Practical steps were discussed in order to successfully integrate these extended paramedic roles into the health system. Two actions that can be taken are the establishment of the educational and legal frameworks that help facilitate a new vision for the future of paramedic practice in rural Australia. At a policy level, paramedics, ambulance authorities and rural communities need to participate in the process of influencing government policy and undertake further research into extended paramedic practice.

Future Frameworks for Regional Rail

A joint initiative between Engineers Australia ­ Railway Technical Society of Australasia and Charles Sturt University.

The aim of the 'Future Frameworks' symposium was to explore the capabilities and frameworks for sustainable regional rail.

These frameworks recognise the benefits of an integrated and balanced approach between road and rail within regional logistics chains. The symposium was held in February, 2007 at Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga.

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Hot Topic

Excellent attendance at a recent public forum on global warming held at LaTrobe University's Wodonga campus on November 20 confirmed public interest in this critical issue.

The evening forum "Global Warming ­ What can we do? What do our pollies propose?" was presented by the Institute together with La Trobe's Department of Environmental Management and Ecology, School of Life Sciences. The forum, attended by an estimated 150 to 180 people, provided for an informative and interesting discussion on the positions of our major political parties, and how we, as a regional community, can respond to the challenges posed by climate change.

The speakers were Bill Baxter (National Party), Lisa Mahood (ALP), Helen Robinson (Greens) and Tony Plowman MP who represented Bill Tilley (Liberal Party).

Institute director Prof Allan Curtis gave an overview of climate change concentrating on the predicted changes and the social and economic impacts in this region of those changes.

Head of the Department of Environmental Management and Ecology, Assoc Prof Phil Suter who chaired the evening said the forum was an example of the region's two universities working together to inform the community on important issues.

Globalisation, Development, and Human Security in the Asia-Pacific Region

Poverty, post-disaster rehabilitation and community development issues were intensely debated at an international conference on the influence of globalisation on economic development and human security in the Asia-Pacific.

About 150 participants from nearly 20 countries attended the conference held in Thailand in October and organised by A/Prof Manohar Pawar in collaboration with Japan 's Taisho and Kyushu Universities, and Thailand 's Thammasat University.

A strong theme emerging at the conference concerned Thailand 's policy focus on a 'self sufficiency economy'. This new model advocates the country's social policy for a modest life, resilience and the role of reasoning to progress society.

A/Prof Pawar said," The conference was not only a great success, but also laid a solid foundation for the group's intention to play a role in bringing the region's millennium development goals to fruitation." Any organisation interested in hosting the next conference should contact Manohar.

Launch of The Impact of Drought on Secondary Education Access in Australia's Rural and Remote Areas

(L to R): Kay Hull MP,  Julie Bishop MP,  Margaret Alston and Jenny Kent

The Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop visited CSU on 24 August to launch Professor Margaret Alston and Jenny Kent's report "The Impact of Drought on Secondary Education Access in Australia's Rural and Remote Areas". Unfortunately FRRR patron and head of the Myer Foundation, Ballieau Myer could not attend but a gathering of 50 guests heard the Minister speak about the importance of the research in presenting a real picture about life for students in rural and remote areas.

The report was funded by the philanthropic organisation, The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) as part of their charter to support communities to respond positively to change and build social and economic wealth in rural and regional Australia. The Department of Education, Science and Training also funded the report.

Taking the heat out of prescribed burning

Speakers pictured at the forum (L to R):  Peter Farrell, John Boal, Bruce Shindler  and Ian Lunt

This public forum, held on August 15 at the Nowik Theatre in Albury at 6pm attracted an excellent crowd of more than 80 people with a good cross-section of landholder, NSW Rural Fire Brigade, Country Fire Authority, land management agencies, local and state government and the health sector representatives.

The evening, which was chaired by the Institute's director Prof Allan Curtis, was informative and interesting with the keynote speaker Prof Bruce Shindler, a social scientist from Oregon State University providing an international perspective on prescribed burning while discussing his research on enhancing its social acceptability. He told his audience that they should encourage others in their communities to get engaged in the steps involved in the planning processes for prescribed burning.

"In the U.S. if you don't have a community fire plan you don't get fire money," he said. He also stressed the need to build "trust" between communities and agencies. "Sometimes difficult choices have to be made and you need to be honest about that," he said.

Other speakers in the evening which included a lively question and answer session and the opportunity for participants to chat over a glass of wine or a cup of tea were:

• Peter Farrell, Manager Fire North East (Department of Sustainability and the Environment) speaking on what is prescribed burning and when it is used and why,
• John Boal, Manager Community Safety, North East area (Country Fire Authority) on future fire management for the CFA; and
• Dr Ian Lunt, a principal researcher with the Institute who spoke about the role of fire in forest ecology.

HERITAGE FUTURES: Global and Local

A successful public seminar presented by Assoc Prof Dirk Seminar at the Nowik Theatre in Albury on June 6 saw a crowd of some 40 people enjoy Dirk's interesting presentation on Heritage Futures: Global and Local. Starting with a quote "My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there" from Charles Kettering, former head of General Motors Dirk dispelled some of the myths about heritage, namely that something needs to be old, pretty, historical and that time needs to have elapsed to make it worth preserving.

Dirk went through a range of examples of things he believes we need to look at now to assess their future heritage value."We need to consider now what we will leave for the next generation. If something is likely to be of significance we need to manage it now. If it doesn't turn out to be important, we can always take it off the list."

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Bird Flu Public Information Sessions

Speakers pictured  at the Wagga forum (L to R): Dr David Roshier, Lauriston Muirhead,  Jim Pratley (chair),  Dr John Glastonbury and Tony Kolbe

ILWS hosted three public information and panel discussions on "Bird Flu-A Local Perspective" in Albury, Wagga Orange. The events focused on the implications of the spread of avian influenza on human and bird health, and planning for a possible outbreak in the region.

The Albury event held on November 3, 2005 saw almost 100 people enjoy lively discussion and debate. The evening was chaired by Professor Nick Klomp, with four speakers: ecologist Dr David Roshier, a Senior Research Fellow in ILWS explaining the movement of birds within Australia and between south-east Asia and Australia; district veterinary officer with the Department of Primary Industries, Dr Jeff Cave speaking about avian influenza from an agricultural perspective; Tony Kolbe, Director of Population Health Greater Southern Area talked about public health and planning and Albury City Environmental Health Officer, Lauriston Muirhead explained the local response to a bird flu outbreak.

Over 45 people attended the event in Wagga on March 21, 2006 with Dr David Roshier and Tony Kolbe speaking again. They were joined by Dr John Glastonbury from CSU's School of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences and Kevin Prior from Wagga Wagga City Council. An audience of local medical and veterinary professionals as well as interested community members enjoyed lively discussion.

The Fishes, The Silence and The Gum Trees: historical accounts of fish in the Murray River

Dr Paul Humphries spoke at a public seminar in Albury "The Fishes, The Silence and The Gum Trees: historical accounts of fish in the Murray River" on September 13, 2005. Attracting over 110 people, the fish ecologist talked about his research investigating historical aspects of rivers and their fish inhabitants. He also spoke about the insights gained into the patterns and problems that exist today.

Communities and Catchments Conference

The Institute's first major event, the Community and Catchment Conference held on August 18, 2005 at the University's Wagga Wagga campus was highly successful with some 130 people attending. The conference was an opportunity to showcase the quality and depth of social research being conducted at ILWS. Presentations ranged from the use of GIS and assessing irrigation practices to understanding amenity values along the Murray and power relationships in regional governance.

Institute presenters included Institute Director Professor Allan Curtis, Associate Professor Ian Gray, Dr Catherine Allan, Dr Darryl Mayberry, Jonathon Sobels, Steven Gibbs, Jonathon Howard, Dr Digby Rance including people involved in landcare and catchment management as well as managers in charge of investment in research and development from government and industry attended.

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