Dr Wes Ward

Wesley Ward investigates how researchers and other stakeholder groups work together. He is currently investigating how NRM researchers can better work with government agencies and landholders in regional Australia. He recently investigated how international research teams work together in local settings, in a project at the intersection of  intercultural, organisational, and technologically mediated communication. He used mainly qualitative social research methodologies in this project, but is also experienced in designing, implementing and analysing quantitative social surveys. He is particularly experienced in collaborating in inter disciplinary research groups and, as a specialist science writer, to better communicate research findings to wider audiences.

Research Interests

• Problems in agricultural and natural resource management
• Complex group and organisational communication
• Adapting technologically-mediated communication for intercultural relationships
• Improving communication by scientists

B Sc Ag (Education) University of New England 1981

Grad Dip Ag Econ University of New England 1993

MA (Org Comm - Org Comm) Charles Sturt University1998

PhD Charles Sturt University 2016

Membership of Professional Associations

Australian Science Communicators

Association for Information Science & Technology

Selected Publications

Peer reviewed Journal articles

Pawar, M., O’Sullivan, D., Cash, B., Culas, R., Langat, K., Manning, A., Mungai, N., Rafferty, J., Rajamani. S. & Ward, W. S. (2021). The Sustainable Development Goals: An Australian response. The International Journal of Community and Social Development, 2(4), 374-393. doi:10.1177/2516602620983716

Ward, W., & Southwell, A. (2020). Intercultural Relations in International Agricultural Research Teams: Perceived Issues Influencing Communication Effectiveness. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/17475759.2020.178297

Ward, W. (2020). Lessons from Laos: selecting appropriate communication media for context. Journal of Science Communication, 19(3), 1-6. [C05]. https://doi.org/10.22323/2.19030305

Ward, W.S. & Given, L.M. (2019) Assessing intercultural communication: Testing technology tools for information sharing in multinational research teams, Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.24159

Vanderzee, M., Bond, J., Finlayson, C.M., Ward, W. (2018) National Agricultural Productivity & Reconciliation Ecology Centre Conference. Ecological Management and Restoration (DOI) - 10.1111/emr.12320

Ward, W.S., & Spennemann, D.H.R. (2000) Meeting local needs? Case study of a communication project in the Pacific Islands. Public Administration and Development. 20: 185 - 195. DOI: 10.1002/1099-162X(200008)20:3<185::AID-PAD99>3.0.CO;2-1

Ward, W.S., & Spennemann, D.H.R. (2000) Getting wired: A Pacific Islands study. Australian Journal of Communication. 27: 91-104.

Thesis

Ward, W. S. (2016) Exploring In-person and Technologically-mediated Communication within International Agricultural Research Teams. (PhD), Charles Sturt University, Waga Wagga, NSW, Australia. Retrieved from http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/235880785

Peer reviewed conference proceedings

Ward, W. S., & Given, L. M. (2017) Assessing technologies for information sharing in international research teams: Developing an intercultural heuristic evaluation tool. Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 54: 446-454. doi:10.1002/pra2.2017.14505401048

Ward, W.S. (2014) Communication between agricultural scientists in international teams for rural development. Australian Science Communicators, February 2014, Brisbane, Australia.

Technical reports

Ward, W. & Vanderzee, M. (2019) Can agencies of different feathers click together? Collaborating for NRM research in North East Victoria. Institute for Land, Water and Society Report nº 125. Albury, NSW: Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University.

Ward, W.S., Millar, J.M., and Southwell, A.M. (2013) The role of communication between scientists involved in agricultural development in South East Asia. Technical Report no 69, Institute for Land, Water and Society, Albury, Australia. DOI: 10.13140/2.1.2780.4961

Training manual

Wesley Ward, Patricia Robinson, Patricia Kailoa, Paul Holford, Janne Malfroy and Paul Parker. (2004) Communicating Science. Training Manual no 3. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, Australia. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3683.8883

Other communication

Ward, W. Communication needs for science collaboration. The Comms Doctor. https://thecommsdoctor.com.au/stories/communication-needs-for-science-collaboration/

Ward, W. Collaborator needs for communication in research teams. The Comms Doctor. https://thecommsdoctor.com.au/stories/collaborator-needs-for-communication-in-research-teams/

Ward, W. Selecting the right communication tools for collaborations. The Comms Doctor. https://thecommsdoctor.com.au/stories/selecting-the-right-communication-tools-for-collaborations/

Ward, Wes. Lasagne, chopsticks, and communication in international teams. Researchers in Agriculture for International Development weblog https://www.raidaustralia.net/index.php/news/item/667-lasagne-chopsticks-and-communication-in-international-teams.

Ward, Wes. Please, can I use something else to eat my lasagne? Researchers in Agriculture for International Development weblog https://www.raidaustralia.net/index.php/news/item/733-please-can-i-use-something-else-to-eat-my-lasagne .

Current Research Activity

NRM collaborations in regional Australia

Project to investigate why and how people and institutions collaborate to address opportunities and issues in NRM in regional Australia, and to identify how these collaborative relations can be nurtured and supported. Current work includes case studies include ILWS, North East Catchment Management Authority (Vic) and the National Agricultural Productivity and Reconciliation Ecology Centre (NSW).

Completed Projects

Communication within international agricultural research teams working in Australia and Lao PDR
PhD thesis on how research scientists communicate in their dispersed teams, and how well various information and communication technologies deal with their communication needs. (2010-2016)