Melbourne hosts U21 workshop

[ UniNews Vol. 14, No. 3  3 - 16 March 2005 ]

Twenty-five environmental researchers from 11 Universitas 21 universities met at the University of Melbourne recently for a workshop on Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Water.

The workshop was organised by Professor John Langford, Director of the University’s Centre for Water Research, and Professor Mark Burgman, Head of Environmental Science.

Facilitated by the University’s Office for Environmental Programs (OEP), the workshop provided participants from a broad range of disciplines with an opportunity to report on their national and local perspectives on policy and technology for water and sustainable cities.

The workshop also explored the strengths and interests of each university’s research in sustainability. Participants formed cross-disciplinary groups to develop research topics to serve as a focus for collaborative research for the next 12 months in areas such as water recycling, desalination, urban infrastructure, environmental risk management and allocation of limited water among different users.

OEP Director, Dr Ruth Beilin, says the multi-disciplinary structure of the Melbourne workshop gave it a distinctive flavour. “Its outcomes are many and varied. These will be reported to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Frank Larkins, in April.”

Dr Beilin says a timetable has been set up for future meetings including more workshops in 2006. A symposium is on the agenda for 2007.