post graduate research (masters and phd) students
"The IES pursues its noble aspiration through a humble and simple lifestyle. It allows me to overcome barriers and conquer unfamiliar and challenging horizons. I am having so much fun growing in the IES"
Alicia Bergonia |
|
Alicia Bergonia is pursuing a post graduate PhD through research on the analysis of key players and factors influencing climate change adaptation in coastal areas.
Her goal is to contribute to planning for adaptation through the formulation of an integrated adaptation policy framework that will promote resilience and sustainability in coastal communities. Alice is pursuing this topic under the supervision of Associate Professor John Merson and Dr Mark Diesendorf.
She received a Master of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of the Philippines Los Banos in 1996 and served as University Researcher in the School for Environmental Science and Management for more than seven years. She also worked with various consulting firms as an Environment Specialist where she integrated best practice and sustainability into regional strategic planning and, agricultural and water resources development projects.
|
"Australia wide, UNSW through IES provides the only environmental policy and management programme tailored to suit my research. Although I’m not a huge fan of big city life, I had no choice but to come here to Sydney, all credit to the IES team"
Taniela Faletau |
|
Taniela Faletau completed a Bachelor of Resource Studies majoring in Environmental Policy and Planning from Lincoln University in 2000. Working in Tonga for the following 2 years he helped in the formulation of Tonga’s first Lagoon Management Plan. He returned to studies in 2003, graduating with a Master in Environmental Studies from the University of Newcastle in 2004, majoring in Environmental Sustainability.
Upon resuming duties for the Department of Environment in Tonga he became engaged in developing Tonga’s First National Communication to the Conference of Parties for climate change. This also necessitated developing Tonga’s climate change policy.
Awarded an Australian Leadership Award (ALA) in 2007 to pursue doctoral studies, the focus of his current PhD research is ‘Addressing the environmental impact of a strong development paradigm in small island developing states in the face of climatic change.’ This is critical for small island states of the Pacific where external pressures for economic development take precedence over ecological consequences.
|
"I love the support and the freedom allowed by the IES post graduate research program to pursue my original research ideas and goals"
Crelis Rammelt |
|
Crelis Rammelt graduated with a Masters in Industrial Design Engineering from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands in 1999, during which he developed an appropriate water pump for irrigation in rural Tanzania.
He then worked for five years as a lecturer for the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management on courses related to technology, sustainable development and globalisation.
After his masters he also became involved in setting up the Arsenic Mitigation and Research Foundation (AMRF) with his MSc supervisor and some of his contacts in Bangladesh. For a couple of years now they have been running projects in the rural areas after the discovery of arsenic contamination in the drinking water. These projects have now become the central topic of his PhD, the tentative title of which is "A proposition for the implementation of drinking water infrastructures for marginalised communities in rural Bangladesh".
|
More information can be found on the project website: http://www.peopleandwater.org/
"After working at IES for 3 years, I was attracted to Phd studies by the strength and diversity of the academic resources available to me here. There is a truly cross-disciplinary approach to the research and teaching, which was perfect for someone like me with research interests that are hard to put into a single box"
Alex Baumber |
|
Alex Baumber commenced his PhD studies at IES in July 2008, looking at ways in which bioenergy land-uses can provide incentives to revegetate degraded landscapes. This research will look at the environmental policy and management issues affecting potential bioenergy plantations at a case study site west of the Blue Mountains, as well as drawing lessons from other cases where bioenergy has proven to be a driver for deforestation as opposed to revegetation.
Alex was formerly a Project Officer for the FATE program in the Institute of Environmental Studies, looking at commercial uses for Australian native species that could contribute to conservation goals, including kangaroos in the rangelands and multi-species plantations for bioenergy and other products.
Prior to this he spent three years at the Department of Environment and Heritage in Canberra (which has since undergone two name changes and counting), working on international trade in wild plants and animals. His undergraduate studies were undertaken in Environmental Science at the University of Wollongong |
master of environmental management (MEM) students
|
Richard Gilmore recently graduated from the Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program.
He chose the MEM because the diverse nature of the program curriculum allowed him to tailor his studies to his professional development and career aspirations. The wide choice of electives and the program's excellent reputation were also important factors in his decision. |
A brief questionnaire from Richard reads as follows:
What did you gain from this postgraduate program?
The key outcome from the program was the ability to make more informed environmental decisions in my work and personal life. My participation in the MEM was also instrumental in me achieving a long-time goal of securing full-time employment in the environmental not-for-profit sector and continues to aid my decision making.
What were the best aspects of the MEM?
I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of independent and group learning and field-based experiential education. The standard of lecturers was very high and the workload was appropriate
Why would you recommend this program to others?
I highly recommend the MEM program to anyone considering studying for a career in the environmental management field. The program is well regarded and offers a diverse portfolio of study areas.
Did the program help you change or advance your career?
The MEM has significantly advanced my career. Without the MEM, I would not be in my dream job today.
Where are you working now?
I am currently the CEO of Earthwatch Institute (Australia). Earthwatch promotes sustainability by supporting research and education, engaging people and inspiring action. Established in 1971, Earthwatch manages a global portfolio of 150 conservation research projects in 55 countries and was recognised by The Financial Times in 2007 as one of the world's Top 5 environmental NGOs.
How has the MEM program facilitated access to Environmental Management networks?
Aside from the educational benefits I developed a useful network of contacts among the program alumni, a network I still regularly draw on today. These networks operate across several states and have been invaluable since joining the NGO sector.
|
Tanya Fiedler has just completed the Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program.
She chose the MEM because she found it most catered to her needs in terms of both the flexibility afforded through the choice of distance learning; and also the electives available. In addition, she says she found the staff of the IES, both lecturers and administrators, to be very welcoming and supportive. |
A questionnaire from Tanya reads as follows:
What did you gain from this postgraduate program?
At the most fundamental level I gained a new career, one which is moving forward at a rate and providing me with opportunities I would not have anticipated. Beyond this, I gained a perspective on environmental issues that is truly interdisciplinary in nature. Whilst this interdisciplinarity resonates deeply with me as a person, it is also the future of environmental management and acknowledged as such by more progressive organisations. For this reason I imagine it to be a quality that employers in the environmental field will increasingly seek of the graduates they employ over time.
What were the best aspects of the MEM?
On a personal level, I felt the staff and lecturers of the IES went out of their way to make the learning experience as productive as possible. I imagine this required a great flexibility on their part, given the diversity of cultural and professional experiences encompassed by MEM students. On a professional level, the MEM was ideally suited to someone from outside of the environmental industry and with no technical expertise. The structure of the course into core, fundamental knowledge and elective courses, enabled me to: apply previously acquired skills in new ways; engage with disciplines I would previously have hesitated in interacting with; and explore areas of particular interest in considerable depth through research. Combined, these attributes have provided a very strong foundation from which I have now been able to launch a new career. Of particular relevance to myself professionally was the ability to tailor the course to my own interests in energy and greenhouse. This included participation in Mark Diesendorf's 'Managing the Greenhouse' elective; and also completion of two research modules investigating the design and efficacy of a variety of emissions trading schemes. Finally, I experienced the program to be a deeply stimulating one in that it forced participants to examine many previously held assumptions. Whilst this approach was often challenging, I do feel it kick-started a more critical stance, one that I am able to apply increasingly in the work that I do.
Why would you recommend this program to others?
I would recommend study at the IES through the MEM or otherwise without hesitation. This is because of the flexibility it affords participants; the attributes of the (MEM) program structure; and also the qualities it imparts to participants - in particular that of the interdisciplinary perspective. The program should not be underestimated in the quantity and quality of commitment required by students but, for those willing to take on board those challenges, the rewards and opportunities available to graduates of the program are significant both personally and professionally.
Did the program help you change or advance your career?
Participating in the MEM was the first step in a career change and, as I achieved employment with my company of choice whilst still in the MEM, I would say it has been pivotal in enabling that change. The MEM also now continues to help me move forward in my career in that some of the electives I chose to study are of particular relevance to the carbon markets area that I am working in. Through interaction with staff and clients I am myself beginning to view the MEM as an asset; I know of at least three colleagues who have or are in the process of completing the MEM, and have now met a number of clients who have themselves participated in the MEM. I also find that I am frequently meeting MEM graduates at conferences, industry events, stakeholder consultations etc. Finally, I have on a number of occasions received comments from senior management who had met with clients and found that they too had participated in the MEM. On each occasion they have been very impressed with the quality of the MEM graduates and have communicated this to me. The qualification is without a doubt held in high regard within the environmental industry.
Where are you working now?
I am currently working as a consultant for Energetics, a consultancy that specializes in advising both industry and government on integrated energy, greenhouse and sustainable solutions. I am working in the area of Carbon Markets and Strategy area which has enabled me to work on a large variety of projects that are relevant to my particular interest in carbon markets and carbon policy implementation. For example, I have assisted on a number of projects advising both governments and industry as to the implications of reporting energy and greenhouse information to State and Federal programs. I have also assisted a number of abatement projects to become accredited under the Australian Greenhouse Office's Greenhouse FriendlyTM Program, and others to become carbon neutral under the same program. Both types of work have required the use of Life Cycle Analysis. In addition I am involved in on-going work with some very large organizations in determining their greenhouse gas inventories. For very complex organizations this is an evolving process that can only mature over time, as a more comprehensive understanding of those complexities and of carbon accounting methodologies improves. With Australia moving towards an emissions trading scheme, my work is increasingly aligning with research undertaken during the MEM into emissions trading. Increasingly clients are requesting strategic advice and research in developing both domestic and international carbon trading opportunities and strategies.
How has the MEM facilitated access to Environmental management networks?
As a consequence of the international scope of the students participating in the MEM, access to environmental management networks was facilitated both locally and internationally. This is evidenced in my daily work where, when meeting clients, attending conferences, industry meetings, stakeholder consultations etc., I am constantly meeting fellow students from the course. In addition, the IES provided access to visiting lecturers from a wide spectrum of the industry. This access was pivotal in providing a perspective to the students from those who had gained many years of practical experience within the industry and government.
.....
...........................................
