Research Institute for the Environment & Livelihoodswww.riel.cdu.edu.au

Introducing the Research Institute for the Environment & Livelihoods (RIEL)

ANDREW CAMPBELL

CDU, 4 AUGUST 2011

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OutlineOutline• VisionVision

• ContextContext

• Objectives & StrategiesObjectives & Strategies

• Measuring impactMeasuring impact

• Research prioritiesResearch priorities

• PartnershipsPartnerships

RIEL VisionRIEL Vision

extraordinary environmentsextraordinary environments

rewarding researchrewarding research

productive partnershipsproductive partnerships

RIEL solutionsRIEL solutions

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• The extraordinary environments of our region

• Our people

• High quality scholarship, independence and rigour

• Making a difference, through influential research and communication

• Indigenous knowledge and connection to land and sea country

• Indigenous engagement, partnerships and capacity-building

• Collegiate teamwork internally, and collaboration externally

• An intellectually stimulating culture that draws people in and reaches out

• A service orientation that enables influential research

• Measuring and celebrating achievement at all levels

In RIEL, we value:

CONTEXT CONTEXT regional distinctivenessregional distinctiveness

• Worldwide, there are only two English-language Worldwide, there are only two English-language universities headquartered in the tropicsuniversities headquartered in the tropics− Closest Australian university (JCU) is 2500km awayClosest Australian university (JCU) is 2500km away− CDU is by far the major training provider in the NTCDU is by far the major training provider in the NT

• Relatively intact landscapes and seascapesRelatively intact landscapes and seascapes− the largest network of free-flowing rivers in the worldthe largest network of free-flowing rivers in the world− Indo-Malay global epicentre of tropical biodiversityIndo-Malay global epicentre of tropical biodiversity

• Extraordinary cultural heritage, ancient and contemporaryExtraordinary cultural heritage, ancient and contemporary

• Rich development opportunities and intense development Rich development opportunities and intense development pressurespressures

• Strategic national significance given proximity to AsiaStrategic national significance given proximity to Asia

CONTEXT CONTEXT profound technical challengesprofound technical challenges

• To decouple economic growth from carbon emissionsTo decouple economic growth from carbon emissions

• To adapt to an increasingly difficult climate To adapt to an increasingly difficult climate

• To increase water productivityTo increase water productivity

• To increase energy productivityTo increase energy productivity– while shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energywhile shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy

• To develop more sustainable food systemsTo develop more sustainable food systems– while conserving biodiversity and human livelihoodswhile conserving biodiversity and human livelihoods

– improving landscape amenity, soil health, animal welfare & human healthimproving landscape amenity, soil health, animal welfare & human health

• TO DO ALL OF THIS SIMULTANEOUSLY!TO DO ALL OF THIS SIMULTANEOUSLY!—— improving sustainability and resilience improving sustainability and resilience

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UnderstandingUnderstanding ecological

functions and processes, and

how they relate to human livelihoods

and well-being

Informing Informing debate, policy, and

management decisions in government, industry and the

community

Building Building long-term environmental research capability in

northern Australia and the region

Research to generate new knowledge — discovery science

Integration & synthesis of diverse scientific outputs

Communication of research outputs and synthesis products

Training of postgraduate students to build new science capability

Collaboration with other research agencies and research end-users

International research projects, partnerships and training

RIEL objectives and strategies

12 performance measures across the six strategies

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Measuring impact

RIEL Research ThemesRIEL Research Themes

• Natural resources-based LivelihoodsNatural resources-based Livelihoods

• Coastal and marine ecology and managementCoastal and marine ecology and management

• Freshwater ecology and managementFreshwater ecology and management

• Savanna management and wildlife conservationSavanna management and wildlife conservation

• Tropical Resource FuturesTropical Resource Futures

Natural Resources-based LivelihoodsNatural Resources-based LivelihoodsDr Natasha StaceyDr Natasha Stacey

• How people make a living from natural resourcesHow people make a living from natural resources

• How resource-based livelihoods contribute to peoples’ How resource-based livelihoods contribute to peoples’ well beingwell being

• Articulating cultural and social valuesArticulating cultural and social values

• Providing policy makers and managers with an Providing policy makers and managers with an understanding of options and their likely ecological, understanding of options and their likely ecological, economic, social and cultural implicationseconomic, social and cultural implications

• Payment for Environmental ServicesPayment for Environmental Services

Coastal and marine ecology and managementCoastal and marine ecology and management

Prof Karen GibbProf Karen Gibb

• Ecological functions, processes & patterns of connectivity Ecological functions, processes & patterns of connectivity

• Land-coast-sea linkagesLand-coast-sea linkages

• Marine conservation planning and policyMarine conservation planning and policy

• Marine biodiversity, from genetic level to whole seascapesMarine biodiversity, from genetic level to whole seascapes

• Biogeochemistry of marine sedimentsBiogeochemistry of marine sediments

• Pollutant pathways and processes (e.g. Darwin Harbour)Pollutant pathways and processes (e.g. Darwin Harbour)

• Training and consultancy services in molecular and Training and consultancy services in molecular and environmental ecology, chemistry and diagnosticsenvironmental ecology, chemistry and diagnostics

Freshwater ecology and managementFreshwater ecology and managementProf Michael DouglasProf Michael Douglas

• Catchment-river-floodplain-estuary linkagesCatchment-river-floodplain-estuary linkages

• In-stream ecology and processesIn-stream ecology and processes

• Water resources values, planning and policyWater resources values, planning and policy

• TRaCK ($32m) & NERP ($14m) linkages across northern TRaCK ($32m) & NERP ($14m) linkages across northern Australia, with CSIRO, NRETAS, Griffith, UQ, JCU and UWAAustralia, with CSIRO, NRETAS, Griffith, UQ, JCU and UWA

Savanna management and wildlife conservationSavanna management and wildlife conservationProf Keith ChristianProf Keith Christian

• Conservation biology of tropical biodiversityConservation biology of tropical biodiversity

• Functional ecology of unique faunaFunctional ecology of unique fauna

• Savanna ecology and management Savanna ecology and management (especially carbon cycling)(especially carbon cycling)

• Sustainable land managementSustainable land management

• Disturbance: fire, weeds, pest animalsDisturbance: fire, weeds, pest animals

Tropical Resource FuturesTropical Resource FuturesDr Stefan MaierDr Stefan Maier

• Climate-Carbon-Water-Energy-Food system linksClimate-Carbon-Water-Energy-Food system links

• Centre for Renewable EnergyCentre for Renewable Energy

• The carbon economy of the regionThe carbon economy of the region

• Remote sensing and spatial informationRemote sensing and spatial information

RIEL International ResearchRIEL International Research

• We welcome international partnerships that align with We welcome international partnerships that align with our research interestsour research interests

• Especially those that integrate HDR research at CDUEspecially those that integrate HDR research at CDU

• We have a long track record of research in this regionWe have a long track record of research in this region

RIEL postgraduate studiesRIEL postgraduate studies

• Currently under review, with a view to:Currently under review, with a view to:

• Improving supervision and admin support for studentsImproving supervision and admin support for students

• Providing more face-to-face training Providing more face-to-face training & a more collegiate experience& a more collegiate experience

• Developing leadership skills and career pathsDeveloping leadership skills and career paths

• Improving completion ratesImproving completion rates

RIEL PartnershipsRIEL Partnerships• Centre for Renewable Energy (with NTG)Centre for Renewable Energy (with NTG)

• ARPNet ARPNet (Aboriginal Research Practitioners’ Network)(Aboriginal Research Practitioners’ Network)– Extensive project collaboration with NAILSMA, NLC, CLCExtensive project collaboration with NAILSMA, NLC, CLC

• NERP NERP (National Environmental Research Program) (National Environmental Research Program) northern Australia biodiversity hub (and TRaCK)northern Australia biodiversity hub (and TRaCK)

– and marine biodiversity hub northern nodeand marine biodiversity hub northern node

• NAMRA NAMRA (North Australian Marine Research Alliance)(North Australian Marine Research Alliance)

• NAFI NAFI (North Australian Fire Information)(North Australian Fire Information)

• ATSEF ATSEF (Arafura Timor Sea Experts Forum) & CIFOR(Arafura Timor Sea Experts Forum) & CIFOR

• CRN CRN (Collaborative Research Network — with TNI) (Collaborative Research Network — with TNI) 17

some RIEL big ideassome RIEL big ideas

• Integrated knowledge system for Darwin Harbour

• Designing the carbon economy of northern Australia

• ‘Blue carbon’ in south-east Asia

• A regional network of Livelihoods and Indigenous Research Practitioners

• Policy frameworks for large-scale resource developments

• Charles Darwin Chair in Evolutionary Biology

• Biodiversity conservation at landscape scale

• TRaCK (Tropical Rivers & Coastal Knowledge)18

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• in establishing RIEL, CDU is aiming high

• we should be among Australia's best environmental research institutes

• to aim for anything less is to sell ourselves short, and to underplay the challenges and opportunities of the region

• we have a great platform, but we can do much more, internally and with our partners

• this launch is cause for celebration

• thanks for joining us!

Reflections

www.riel.cdu.edu.auwww.riel.cdu.edu.au