Water Research Centre members honoured at AWA awards night.

Graeme Dandy receiving the Premier’s Water Medal.

At the recent South Australia Australian Water Association Annual Awards, two members of the Water Research Centre were honoured with awards.

Graeme Dandy was awarded The Premier’s Water Medal for 2013. The award recognises an eminent individual for outstanding contribution to the South Australian water industry or management or conservation of water in the state.

This award is recognized as the highest honour an individual in the South Australian water industry could receive.

Justin Brookes and the WRC received the SA Research Innovation Award for his work on the impact of climate change on the ecology of algal blooms. This award recognises significant contribution to research projects in the water industry.

Congratulations to both Graeme and the Water Research Centre for this recognition of their achievements.

For more information on the awards and other finalists, click here. 

SA Climate Change Adaptation Showcase

The South Australian Climate Change Adaptation Showcase will be held on Thursday 14th March 2013.

You will hear the latest in climate science and also how practitioners from around South Australia are working at the local level to determine the best response for their region.

Environment Institute members Professor Andy Lowe, Professor Wayne Meyer and Professor Peng Bi are all participating in panel discussions on the day, as well other participants from the University of Adelaide.

Where: Pavillion on the Park, South Terace
Time: Registration opens 8:30am, Showcase Dinner 6:30pm
Cost: $150 (incl. GST)

To find out more and Register visit www.sa.gov.au/climatechange

Download the full program

New Paper: Predicting the Distribution of Commercially Important Invertebrate Stocks under Future Climate

A new paper involving Environment Institute members Bayden Russell, Sean Connell, Camille Mellin (also Australian Institute of Marine Science), Barry Brook, Owen Burnell and Damien Fordham has recently been published in the journal PLOS One.

The journal titled ‘Predicting the Distribution of Commercially Important Invertebrate Stocks under Future Climate’ projected the future distribution and numbers of two commercially harvested abalone species (blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra and greenlip abalone, H. laevigata) inhabiting coastal South Australia, using multiple species distribution models (SDM) and for decadal time slices through to 2100.The projections are based on two contrasting global greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. The results provide a practical first approximation of the potential impact of climate-induced change on the two species of marine invertebrates in the same fishery.

Read the paper to find out more about these results.

The Sprigg Geobiology Centre Launch

The Environment Institute is pleased to announce the launch of a new research centre at the University of Adelaide, the Sprigg Geobiology Centre.

The Sprigg Geobiology Centre is a new initiative of the University of Adelaide, developing expertise within geobiology. It aims to understand how organisms both alter and evolve in response to the environment, and how they control geologic processes that influence resource distribution and environmental stability.

The Centre, which will be part of the University’s Environment Institute, is named in honour of pioneering scientist Reg Sprigg AO (1919-1994).

Reg Sprigg

Reg discovered the first geologic evidence for ancient animals in 560-million-year-old fossils found in the Ediacaran Hills of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges. These early fossils provide our primary insight in to how and why the first complex life on Earth evolved and prospered. Reg was a pioneer of the integration of geology and biology in both fundamental and applied science, and played an important role in the establishment of South Australia’s oil and gas industry. He led the first motorised expeditions through the Simpson Desert, revolutionised deep-sea exploration off Australia’s coasts and founded the major energy companies in the State.

The new Sprigg Geobiology Centre draws on Reg’s legacy by also integrating across the scientific disciplines of geology and biology to address both fundamental scientific questions, such as the history of life on this planet, as well as applied scientific challenges including resource sustainability and climate change.

Professor Martin Kennedy, Inaugural Director of the Sprigg Geobiology Centre, says “The Sprigg Geobiology Centre recognises the latest revolution in geoscience research identifying the inseparable nature of life from the Earth system and the important coevolution of an integrated-Earth-life system. The centre will provide a means of bringing together the broad array of scientists necessary to understand this inherently interdisciplinary endeavor.”

Professor Martin Kennedy, Inaugural Director Sprigg Geobiology Centre

The Centre will be launched tomorrow night (Thursday 8th November) at the SA Museum.

Visit the Sprigg Geobiology Centre website

Read the Media Release

Read the news article on ABC news

New Report: A stock assessment and future management report on the Australian Sardine

Professor Bronwyn Gillanders

A new report titled ‘Movement patterns and stock structure of Australian sardine, Sardinops sagax, off South Australia and the East Coast: implications for future stock assessment and management‘ helps to determine the structure and movement of sardines off South Australia and the east coast of Australia to provide advice to stakeholders. By analysing the facts relevant stakeholders and the industry can decide on the future of the Australian Sardine.

The report involving Environment Institute members Bronwyn Gillanders, Dr Christopher Izzo (also of South Australian Research and Development Institute) as well as Tim Ward (South Australian Research and Development Institute) has been published in SARDI Research Report Series.

Download the paper to read about their findings

Wayne Meyer talks natural science in the latest Debate @ The Waite

Professor Wayne Meyer

In the latest Debate @ The Waite, “Australian cities need Australian Farmers”, Professor Wayne Meyer spoke about the future of natural science and the challenges that South Australia faces.

Professor Meyer led an in depth discussion into the issues that confront South Australia and debated the future outlook for the state.

Find out more and download the podcast

Hugh Possingham on Marine Parks

Professor Hugh Possingham is in Adelaide today to advise SA Parliament on Marine Parks. Listen to a brief audio bite of Hugh on the importance and benefits of Marine Parks for South Australia here. For more about the science and benefits Marine Parks provide for the environment and society, head to Conservationbytes.com where Corey Bradshaw and Hugh discuss this issue in more detail.

Adelaide born and bred, Hugh Possingham studied at the University of Adelaide before becoming a Rhode Scholar. Now based at the University of Queensland,  he is the Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions. Hugh visited Adelaide last year when he presented “Why monitor the environment” to a full house.

Goyder Institute for Water Research

A new water research institute was announced by the SA state government last week.  The Goyder Institute for Water Research will provide independent scientific advice on South Australa’s water system.  In a state that is facing declining water availability and quality, the Goyder Institute will improve the State Government’s ability to forecast threats to water security and develop and integrated approach to watch management.

UPDATE: The Goyder Institute website is now live.

The Institute is a partnership between the State Government, CSIRO, the University of Adelaide, UniSA, Flinders University, the South Australian Research and Development Institute and the Australian Water Quality Centre of SA Water.  The State Government is providing $25 million over five years which will be matched in kind by the partners.

Mike Rann:

“I am delighted to announce the Goyder Institute will be established in Adelaide, meaning we can invest further in research to develop the next generation of knowledge to guide smart water use.”

“The Goyder Institute will produce cutting-edge science to develop innovative water management strategies for the ongoing water security of all South Australians.”

Read the media release

‘From Plains to Plate’ Conference, February 10-13 2010

‘From Plains to Plate’ Conference, February 10-13 2010

‘From Plains to Plate’ will bring together community, business and government to discuss the issue of strengthening South Australia’s food systems in the face of intensifying environmental, social and economic challenges.

Speakers from a range of fields will discuss how local producers and successful government policies and programs can complement community action to provide accessible, healthy food and the skills to cultivate resilient communities. The convergence will examine food and agriculture through a number of streams, including urban planning and growth, agriculture and the environment, public health and food access, education and sustainability, and economics and policy.

‘From Plains to Plate’ will bring together great minds and great ideas to produce a vision that will pave the way for making healthy and sustainable food systems a reality in South Australia.

For more information please visit http://futureoffoodsa.ning.com/.