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Climate change project claims Eureka Prize
University of the Sunshine Coast academic Professor Tim Smith and his research partners in a major climate change adaptation project in Sydney have won a prestigious Australian Museum Eureka Prize.
The three-year project involved Professor Smith and representatives from the Sydney Coastal Councils Group, WWF and the CSIRO assessing the ability of Australia’s largest city to adapt to future climate conditions.
NSW Premier Nathan Rees presented the team with the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change Eureka Prize for Innovative Solutions to Climate Change at the annual awards event in Sydney last night (Tuesday 18 August).
The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are Australia’s premier science awards that reward excellence in scientific research and innovation, science leadership, school science, and science journalism and communication.
Professor Smith said the climate change project, entitled “Systems Approach to Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Metropolises”, had been funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change.
He said the research considered climate hazards like heat waves and storm surges, as well as decision making and socio-economic factors that are likely to play significant roles in driving the impacts of climate change.
Professor Smith said helping local governments reduce the vulnerability of communities, businesses and other groups to the impacts of climate change was a major challenge.
“Our team proposed steps for local governments to build that capacity,” says Professor Smith. “More significantly, we’ve also helped build a conversation on climate change within and between local governments.”
Professor Smith and other USC academics are currently involved in a similar climate change adaptation project for South East Queensland, involving the Queensland and Australian Governments, the CSIRO Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship, the University of Queensland and Griffith University.
— Terry Walsh