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Graduates ready to tackle climate change
Four Sunshine Coast residents will become the first in the world to receive a Master of Climate Change Adaptation degree at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Graduation ceremony on Friday 17 April.
Kathleen Wood of Mapleton, Greg Laves of Little Mountain, Charmaine Savage of Caloundra and Gary Duffey of Yandina will be qualified to advise governments and businesses on how to prepare for and respond to the likely effects of climate change.
The graduands have developed expertise in assessing how climate change is likely to impact on a variety of environmental conditions, from physical and biological to social, economic and cultural.
They are skilled in using environmental simulation models to produce vulnerability assessment documents and prepare environmental management systems and plans.
And they are well versed in what government and community-based responses are needed to address the impacts, vulnerabilities and implications of environmental and climate change.
USC Associate Professor in Environmental Science Peter Waterman said the graduands were ready to meet existing and emerging professional challenges in the field of climate change adaptation.
“They will be able to integrate best practice vulnerability assessment tools and techniques with nationally and internationally endorsed environmental management systems to help mitigate the unwanted effects of climate change,” he said.
Peter Waterman led the team that was instrumental in USC developing the first fully-articulated program in Climate Change Adaptation offered by a University anywhere in the world that extends from undergraduate to postgraduate qualifications.
He said the program had already gained a strong international reputation, with students coming from as far away as Tanzania, Guyana, Kiribati and Indonesia this semester.
Peter Waterman said three USC students also would be Australia’s first to gain the Master of Environmental Change Management qualification at the Graduation ceremony.
The ceremony also will feature the presentation of awards to those who have completed Graduate Diplomas or Graduate Certificates in Climate Change Adaptation or Environmental Change Management.
— Terry Walsh