USC opens Sustainability Research Centre
What will happen to Pacific island nations like Fiji if climate change causes higher sea levels? And how will Australian cities cope if water resources are scarce in the future?
These questions and others like them are set to be addressed by researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s new Sustainability Research Centre that was officially established this week.
The centre, located at USC’s Innovation Centre, has evolved from the Regional Sustainability Research Group which began at the University in mid-2007.
It will soon boast the expertise of 40 researchers, including academics from a range of disciplines, PhD students, post-doctoral fellows and several research assistants.
Centre Director Professor Tim Smith said the centre’s work would have implications regionally, nationally and globally.
“Our mission is to provide knowledge to enable society to transform towards sustainability,” Professor Smith said. “Our focus is on sustainable communities and sustainable environments, and the institutions that relate to them.
“Key aspects of the centre’s research will include coastal management, climate change, water management, natural and cultural heritage, innovation, adaptive growth and community well-being.”
Professor Smith said the establishment of the research centre has followed the success of the group in attracting $2 million in competitive research funding in 2008 and the publication of more than 100 research papers.
“We’ve also managed to partner with Australia’s top research providers, including the CSIRO and the Australian National University, on projects of national significance,” he said.
“We look forward to expanding our profile and reputation through partnerships with other highly-regarded institutions on issues of regional, national and international significance.”
— Terry Walsh