© T. Hampel
It’s official, the University of Adelaide has put in some major investment to get its environmental research specialists together to turns things into high gear. I’m privileged to be a part of the Institute, and I hopefully will be blogging about many of the exciting, topical and revolutionary research coming out this new ‘think tank’ (also, a ‘do tank’) over the coming years.
This report from AdelaideNow:
THE University of Adelaide will bring together experts in water management, climate change, economics, marine research, energy technology and ancient DNA to tackle Australia’s most pressing environmental challenges.
The new Environment Institute will be headed by water policy expert Mike Young who said Australia faced diabolical policy problems in relation to climate change and water resources.
“While climate change is the issue of greatest national importance, it is arguable that water is the issue of most interest to South Australia,” Professor Young said.
“The River Murray, our greatest ecological icon, is under terminal stress and we need to find alternative water sources.
“We should expect the adverse effects of climate change to first be expressed in water.”
Professor Young said research was needed to help reduce Australia’s carbon footprint, to restore and improve native habitats and restructure agricultural systems.
“Many of these issues have been dealt with in isolation in the past but this is no longer an option,” he said.
“All are linked and must be dealt with in a holistic and co-ordinated way.”
Also involved in the institute will be the university’s climate change expert Barry Brook and conservationist David Paton.
University vice-chancellor James McWha said all of the institute’s researchers had an outstanding track record and were internationally recognised in their fields.
“Collectively, they have been growing their research at a phenomenal rate over the past five years and they will play a critical role in building the state’s reputation as a global leader in environmental research,” Professor McWha said.
ConservationBytes.com 