Institute of Environmental Studies: Research: Environmental Network

About IES

Future Students

Current Students

Alumni

Partnerships

Research

News & Events

	UNSW
	Institute of Environmental Studies
	Research
		UNSW Academics with Environmental and Sustainability Interests Database
		Environmental Network

IES Entrance

Environmental Network : www.en.unsw.edu.au

Launch of the UNSW Environmental Network

The University Strategic Plan supports the establishment of a UNSW Environmental Network (EN) for:.

Coordination across disciplines to enhance integration of faculty-based research and teaching with sustainable development
Access to other networks with environment and sustainability information
An internet-based network for exchange of research ideas
A network which will connect with the networks of other academic institutions in Australia and overseas

Many universities around the world with similar goals and attributes to UNSW have established ENs or similar structures tailored to the needs of their stakeholders.

The Institute of Environmental Studies has developed the network in consultation with Faculties and staff of UNSW. It was launched on 5th June 2005 to coincide with World Environment Day. The Environmental Network can be found at www.en.unsw.edu.au

About the Environmental Network

The UNSW Strategic Plan 2005 includes in its Defining Priorities:

"D8. Establish and resource the UNSW Environmental Network to provide regional leadership in managing, researching and teaching environmental sustainability."

The Environmental Network (EN) is a resource, initially Internet based, which will facilitate communication, information acquisition and academic intercourse between faculty based and other academics at UNSW, with potential connection to other academic institutions, government, business and industry, and the community.

UNSW EN is being established in response to a campus-wide need identified by academics and the University administration.

The proposal takes advantage of the opportunity to initiate the EN through the UNSW Institute of Environmental Studies (IES), a trans-faculty institute which reports to the ProViceChancellor Education and Quality Improvement. The call for a network reflects the value of improved networking between faculties, particularly in the area of environment with its urgent societal and government agendas in sustainable development.

UNSW EN and the University

UNSW aims to develop innovative, transdisciplinary research programs in environmental studies, to provide world-class postgraduate research opportunities for MSc and PhD students, to provide excellent transdisciplinary teaching in environmental studies to undergraduate and postgraduate students, and to provide expert environmental services to the Sydney, New South Wales, Australian and Asian regions, the latter referring to establishment of UNSW Asia in Singapore.

The University is committed to growth in four broad areas:

Excellence in research
Excellence in teaching
International development and
Service to the community.

The Environmental Network will contribute in these areas as follows:

1. Research Excellence

Build a network to integrate/coordinate research strengths of the University's diverse but distinct environmental activities across the whole of the institution;

2. Teaching Excellence

Provide an integrated system for initiating, coordinating and delivering transdisciplinary teaching programs in environmental studies using, where necessary, internal and external consultants;

3. International Development

Develop and implement environmental initiatives on all UNSW campuses in Australia and overseas;

4. Community Service

(a) Provide a physical and virtual (web-based) portal for potential stakeholders within and beyond UNSW who want to make use of these strengths; and

(b) Provide a system that matches the needs of the community with the strengths of UNSW and its affiliates to develop and service environmental consultancies.

EN Attributes

Many universities around the world with similar goals and attributes to UNSW have established ENs or similar structures tailored to the needs of their stakeholders. UNSW has a strong intellectual base within faculties and a world-class teaching and research reputation upon which to build a network.

Environment based sustainability challenges for government and society are playing an increasingly dominant role in justifications for government and public research approvals and funding, in the subject matter for tertiary teaching (including attracting students with strong environment awareness), and as an underlying principle for community service at both the local and global levels. Increasingly, sustainability-based issues will affect the uptake of tertiary knowledge and its application to societal challenges. Improved awareness, expertise, and communication between UNSW academics in the area of sustainability and with other universities and businesses in Australia and overseas is fundamental to the UNSW contribution to this important field.

Specific attributes which a network offers to academics, faculties, and the university include, for example:

Coordination across disciplines to enhance integration of faculty-based research and teaching with sustainable development and to promote research utilisation by Australian and international governments and the community
Access to other networks with environment and sustainability information useful in UNSW grant applications and teaching. These include academic, government and non-government networks in Australia and overseas
An internet-based network for exchange of research ideas and for establishment of research and teaching partnerships between UNSW academics
A network which ultimately will connect with the networks of other academic institutions in Australia and overseas