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Climate change education and research
Research in climate change adaptation within the University is undertaken by three groups.
This includes staff undertaking research in Coastal Zone Environments, the GeneCology Research Group and the Sustainability Research Centre.
These cross-disciplinary groups focus on climate change adaptation, in particular assessing coastal vulnerability, integrated coastal zone management and ecosystem-based management, sustainable communities and environments, and the institutions that relate to them.
The groups are committed to research that supports the transformation of society towards sustainability.
Our staff co-ordinate and teach the courses in the postgraduate programs in Climate Change Adaptation.
Contact the Climate Change, Coasts and Catchments team.
Professional development program project
Developed in partnership with the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) and the USC Climate Change, Coasts and Catchments staff, a Climate Change Skills professional development program has been introduced and funded by the Australian Government Department of Climate Change to increase the number of resources/training available for use by practitioners both internationally and within Australia.
These resources introduce practitioners to planned adaptation and mitigation responses to projected impacts of climate change.
They also offer a doorway into the rapidly evolving fields of knowledge that are emerging as we seek to reduce vulnerability to climate change and adapt our systems to cope with the challenges of Climate Change.
Climate Change Adaptation research and coursework programs
Enrolments are now open for the following programs of study:
Some examples of the current and recent research projects in the Coastal Zone Environment group include:
| Research project |
Researcher |
| Coastal development and sea level rise: Incorporating physical and ecological coastal process information into coastal development and climate change adaptation decision making frameworks. |
Associate Professor Shireen Fahey, Supervisor, and Mr Ashton Berry, HDR student |
| The good, the bad and the unknown: graduate level climate change adaptation educational objectives. |
Associate Professor Shireen Fahey, Supervisor, and Ms Amy Lalonde, HDR student |
| Assessing the impact of climate variability and change on a community project while enhancing adaptive capacity: case study Shinyanga agriculture project Tanzania. |
Associate Professor Shireen Fahey, Supervisor and Ms Pamela Levira, HDR student |
| Erosion or shoreline retreat: A vulnerability assessment of Rainbow Beach in Queensland and implications for future management. |
Associate Professor Shireen Fahey, Supervisor, and Ms Maree Prior, HDR student |
| Potential sea level rise and coastal retreat along the western coast of Fraser Island. |
Associate Professor Shireen Fahey, Supervisor, and Mr Ashton Berry, HDR student |
| Ecosystem-based assessment of the Sigatoka River system, Viti Levu Fiji and development of the management plan for sustainable use of the resources. |
Associate Professor Shireen Fahey, Supervisor, and Ms Amy Lalonde, HDR student |
| Adaptation and the coastal zone in South Tarawa, Kiribati. |
Associate Professor Shireen Fahey, Supervisor, and Mr Riibeta Abeta, HDR student |