PhD student, Ben Elliston, is joint winner of the Wal Read Memorial Prize for best postgraduate student paper at this year's Australian Solar Energy Society Annual Conference. Ben's paper, entitled "Simulations of scenarios with 100% renewable electricity in the Australian National Electricity Market" (PDF), is coauthored by his joint supervisors, A/Prof. Mark Diesendorf from IES and A/Prof. Iain MacGill from the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications.
IES Practicum Exchange student, Cornelia Moser, has successfully defended her Master thesis at her home university.
Research for her thesis, titled Carbon Mitigation Strategies in the Electricity
Distribution Sector in Australia:
An Analysis of Activities and Opportunities in the National Electricity
Market was conducted with advice from IES academics Mark Diesendorf and John Merson.
You can download and read her thesis by clicking on the image on the left, or by clicking here.
The first edition of the Oxford Handbook of Climate Change and Society has just been published, including a chapter from Mark Diesendorf. The Handbook is a definitive analysis of how climate change affects human systems, and how societies can, do, and should respond. Key topics include the history of the issues, social and political reception of climate science, the denial of that science by individuals and organized interests, the nature of the social disruptions caused by climate change, the economics of those disruptions and possible responses to them, questions of human security and social justice, obligations to future generations, policy instruments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions & governance at local, regional, national, international and global levels.
The final report detailing the processes and outcomes of Phase One (completed on the 30th May, 2011) of our Bioenergy Assessment Project is now available to download. This report describes how bioenergy feedstocks could be generated using agroforestry in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales based upon information from engagement with stakeholders, a survey of landholder attitudes and Geographic Information System analysis. The report also includes recommendations for future planning, as well as details of how the work undertaken in this case study area can be applied to other regions.
Download a pdf version of the final report by clicking here.
The Annual General Report for 2010 is now available to view as a downloadable pdf. Thanks to Sarah Terkes for designing and compiling this report for the Institute.
Highlights of 2010 included a broad expansion of research activities, a new staff structure and an operating budget that came in well below revenue.
You can download a copy of our annual report by clicking here.
On Friday 17th June, the Australian Metereological & Oceanographic Society (AMOS) held a postgraduate student symposium at the UNSW Climate Change Research Centre (CCRC). The symposium focused on the area of Climate Change and Variability: Science, Impacts and Adaptation. Two PhD students from the Institute of Environmental Studies, Nahid Sultana and Johannes Luetz, both presented and chaired sessions at the symposium. More details on the following links: [ Flyer ] [ Program ]
Members of the Leadership Networks for Climate Change project, run by Sarah Terkes of the Institute of Environmental Studies, have been working with animation students to create a series of videos to "simply explain" climate change. The first of these videos is above.
Beatrice Pegard with her supervisors John Merson (left) and David Oldroyd (right).
Beatrice Pegard, a student of the Environmental Policy & Management Post Graduate Research Program, graduated yesterday with the award of a PhD for her thesis entitled Fire Risk and Fire Management in the context of global climate change: an analysis of the Provence region of Southeast France and the Blue Mountains region of Australia.
Everyone at the Institute of Environmental Studies wholeheartedly congratulates Beatrice on her achievement and we are glad to be maintaining a relationship with her through her ongoing tutoring, teaching and research assistant roles.
In November 2010, the Institute of Environmental Studies organised and hosted a workshop on climate change adaptation and governance, with funding from the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) Network for Social, Economic & Institutional Dimensions.
This workshop brought together over 75 academics, students, government officers and practitioners to share their research and discuss both the future of the network and the issue (climate change adaptation and governance) at hand.
The workshop ran for three days at the AGSM building on the UNSW campus, culminating in an educational field trip to Botany Bay run by Associate Professor Paul Brown (pictured above). Much positive feedback was received from the workshop participants and a synthesis report was compiled. Click here to download and view the synthesis report.
Timo Leiter, a research intern with the IES (through the UNSW practicum program), claimed first prize at the Post Graduate student workshop at the NCCARF Climate Adaptation Futures Conference, for his poster on the need for Monitoring & Evaluating Climate Change Adaption at a local level.
His poster can be viewed by clicking on the image on the left.
On Wednesday 1st June, the IES hosted a free public seminar from Dr Heinz Schandl - a Senior Science Leader in the Social and Economic Sciences Program of CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems. Heinz presented on Sustainable Resource Use in the Asia-Pacific Region: A major policy challenge. His presentation slides and the information flyer are available to download: [ Powerpoint Slides ] [ Flyer ]
Researchers and stakeholders met at the Institute of Environmental Studies on the 11th March to view the final report and discuss the outcomes of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute's “Managing Ecosystem Change” project which was funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage grant from 2007-2010. The project aimed to build the knowledge base to inform management of ‘drivers of ecosystem change’ (frequent fires, climate change, and invasive species) in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (GBMWHA). This is the largest forested area in NSW and like all areas, faces challenges resulting from climate change that managers need to plan for.
The meeting was a positive and constructive summation of the project, with researchers and students giving presentations (see links below) on their work to an appreciative audience of partners* (see list below). The project included nine post-graduate student research projects, with topics including “Apex predators in the GBMWHA”; “Effects of climate change on plants and dispersal options”; “Preventing the spread of lantana”; and “Maximising fauna persistence and representation using habitat suitability models”.
The final stage of the meeting was spent in discussion about the challenges and successes of a project that involved researchers from a range of disciplines and natural resource managers across several agencies. Three key questions were addressed: what worked? what didn’t? where to from here? All agreed on the need to maintain the valuable partnerships that have been developed.
While this was the final report of this project, the partners expressed a desire for the collaboration to continue in the future. Much was learned by all involved about how to construct a multi-disciplinary research program that integrates a diverse group of researchers and managers. Key future steps include ongoing collaborative research and integrating outcomes into management of the World Heritage Area.
An Executive Summary that includes the feedback from partners is being prepared. The final report and executive summary will be available on this website soon.
* DECCW Parks & Wildlife Division, Blue Mountains City Council, DECCW Policy and Science Division, NSW Department of Primary Industry (Vertebrate Pest Research Unit), Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority
Professor Clive Spash is a renowned ecological economist and climate expert whose paper, The Brave New World of Carbon Trading, caused a controversy within the CSIRO, resulting in his resignation. Thanks to the IES and the Centre for Energy and Environmental Markets at UNSW, Clive will be giving a free public seminar on the topic of Carbon Trading. Please RSVP as places are limited. When: Wed 3rd March 3:30 to 5:00pm Where: Law Theatre G02, UNSW (Grid F8 on the Kensington Campus Map) RSVP: Sarah Terkes s.terkes@unsw.edu.au More information: Seminar Flyer | clivespash.org | News Articles
NRMA Motoring & Services is calling for action to head off increasing dependence on imported oil.
Join in a conversation led by Terry Tamminem, author of Lives Per Gallon: the true cost of our oil addiction, on possible strategies to reduce Australia's transport oil dependence by adopting alternative fuels and technologies such as hybrids and electric cars fuelled by renewable energy. All welcome. No charge.
When: Thursday 4th March 10am to 11:30am Where: Room LG19, John Goodsell Building, UNSW (Grid F20 on the Kensington Campus Map) RSVP: Sarah Terkes s.terkes@unsw.edu.au More information: Lives Per Gallon Flyer
The Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute is an independent not-for-profit organisation that brokers research to support the conservation of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
The Institute’s members include government managing agencies and universities.
We are seeking to recruit a dynamic and experienced Research Manager to be responsible for the research activities of the Institute, in particular for identifying research needs, brokering the implementation of projects and facilitating uptake of research outcomes into management of the World Heritage Area. This is an ideal opportunity for someone interested in collaborating with a wide research network to take a whole system approach to environmental issues through implementing inter-disciplinary research that crosses ecological, socio-cultural and economic aspects.
The successful applicant will have post-graduate qualifications, preferably in environmental or related research, and a proven record of research collaboration and the capacity to attract research funding. The current position is for 2 days a week located primarily at the University of NSW in Sydney, at a fulltime salary rate ranging from $78k-$85k depending on qualifications and experience, plus on-costs. The contract is performance-based for a min 6 months (renewable), to commence no later than March 2010.
Information packages: Sarah Terkes (02) 9385 5759 or s.terkes@bmwhi.org.au
Inquiries: Dr Rosalie Chapple (02) 9385 5653 or r.chapple@bmwhi.org.au
Applications addressing selection criteria and including resume with details of two referees should be forwarded to:
Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute
Vallentine Annexe, University of NSW
Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
or s.terkes@bmwhi.org.au
Applications close: Monday February 1st 2010
The Institute of Environmental Studies recently organised a free Public Symposium and Book Launch on the theme Climate Action: How Citizens Acting Together can Save the Planet.
Following the addresses, Mark's new book, Climate Action: A Campaign Manual for Greenhouse Solutions, was launched. Mark Diesendorf's powerpoint presentation is available to view, as is the audio recording of the symposium.
Mark was also interviewed briefly on the ABC Four Corners TV program, 'The Coal Nightmare' (7 September 2009). The program transcript, together with extended video interviews of all participants, is available to view. Further details: [ flyer ]
August 09 : PhD candidate Crelis Rammelt has successfully submitted his thesis on Development and Infrastructure in Marginalised Communities : Safe Drinking Water in Rural Bangladesh. His three year tenure at the Institute of Environmental Studies was punctuated with regular research field trips to Bangladesh where his programme “Arsenic Mitigation and Social Mobilisation” is being implemented through the Arsenic Mitigation and Research Foundation.
Crelis has a role as an action researcher with the Arsenic Mitigation and Research Foundation, a role that involves describing the details and processes of the programme, which he successfully summarises in the poster on the left (click to enlarge).
Mar 09: Public Lecture on Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change: Trade off or complement? The first in the IES 2009 series of environmental and development fora featured renowned climatologist, Dr Stephen Schneider from Stanford University in the USA. This event took place on Monday 16th March at 10:30 am in Leighton Hall, John Niland Scientia Building. Over 200 people participated in the seminar, which was filmed for posterity.
>>> READ MORE
Jan 09 : Administrative Assistant Position Filled:
The IES warmly welcomes the successful applicant, Kerrie Whalan, to work in our front office alongside Sofia Haidar. A staff profile for Kerrie will be put up on the website shortly. We wish Kerrie the best of luck and hope she enjoys working with us!
Nov 08: Student & Staff Research Seminars a Success: The IES has been conducting a series of informal student and staff research seminars, involving PhD and Post-Doc students presenting their research to other students and staff for feedback and discussion. >>> Read More
Nov 08: Public Forum on Conservation Through Sustainable Use: From South Africa to Australia. The focus of this seminar was on sustainable use as a parallel and compatible conservation strategy to protected
areas. >>> READ MORE
Nov 08: Public Lecture and Book Launch on Positive Development: From Vicious Cycles to Virtuous Circles through Built Environmental Design. This talk explained how urban areas can generate clean energy, water, air, soil, and biodiversity - and also have net positive social and ecological impacts. >>> READ MORE
Sep 08: Environment and Development Forum on Why Environmentalism Needs Equity:
learning from the environmentalism of the poor to build our common future. Ms Sunita Narain, Director of the Centre for Science & Environment (CSE) in New Delhi, gave a presentation lecture which was followed by an open discussion forum. >>> READ MORE
Aug 08: Robert Nurick appointed Senior Lecturer and Teaching Coordinator: Dr. Robert Nurick, co-founder of the not-for-profit organisation Development Focus, has accepted the position of Senior Lecturer and Teaching Coordinator for the Institute. Dr. Nurick arrived from the UK in August and commenced work immediately, teaching both Economics and Addressing Environmental Issues to our MEM students. >>> Read More
Jul 08: Goodbye to Alex, hello to Sue: Esteemed FATE Project Officer Alex Baumber has left the Institute in his capacity as an employee to start work on a PhD with the IES. Starting in July 2008, his thesis will look at ways in which bioenergy land-uses can provide incentives to revegetate degraded landscapes.
>>> Read More
May 08: Environment Development Forum on Climate Change, Migration and Environmental Refugees. Footage is now available of this event which included presentations from Professor Andy Pitman, Dr Jane McAdam and Anna Samson from the Refugee Council of Australia followed by an interactive discussion. >>> READ MORE
May 08: Hans-Josef Fell lecture on The Rise of The Renewable Energy Age. Footage is now available of this event which comprised a free public lecture from German Greens MP Hans-Josef Fell, father of the successful feed-in tariffs now being implemented in over 50 countries around the world, on practical steps to combat climate change >>> READ MORE
Apr 08: New staff member Sarah Terkes: The IES has appointed a new staff member, Sarah Terkes, to take on a variety of roles within the Institute. Sarah's background is in business & events management, information systems and web design and she intends to draw on all her skills to help ensure the smooth implementation of all Institute operations relevant to her role.
>>> Read More
John Merson appointed Director of the Institute of Environmental Studies: The IES is excited to receive Dr. John Merson, an experienced Director and environmental scientist, as the new Director of the Institute. Dr. Merson brings with him a wealth of knowledge, expertise and an ambitious yet practicable vision for the future of the Institute.
>>> Read More
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