Publication (Annual report): CRCFE Annual Report 1999-2000

Publication Type:	Annual report
Publication Name:	CRCFE Annual Report 1999-2000

Reference Information

CRC for Freshwater Ecology (2000) CRCFE Annual Report 1999-2000, CRCFE, Canberra.

Optional Information

Attached document(s):

- Prologue.pdf

- Epilogue.pdf

- Prologue.pdf

Other information:

ANNUAL REPORT 1999 - 2000

PDF CHAPTER SIZE

Annual Report 1999-2000

6748 kbytes

Annual Report 1999-2000 In sections for easier download

Prologue
Regions of CRCFE Reserach
Chairman's Foreword
Chief Executive's Report 655 kbytes
Chapter 1...........Structure and Management
1.1........ Membership of the Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology
1.2 ........The Board
1.3........Organisational structure
1.4........ The Centre's Programs
1.5 ........Program Advisory Committee
1.6 ........Working Groups
1.7 ........First Year Pastoral Visit 419 kbytes
Chapter 2 .......Cooperative Links
2.1 .......Internal cooperation
2.2 .......Cooperation with partners
2.3 .......External cooperation
2.4........Cooperation with other CRCs
2.5 .......Internal collaboartions 571 kbytes
Chapter 3........Research Program
3.1 .......Links between Reserach Programs and national water issues.
3.2 .......Program Advisory Committees
3.3 .......Program A Flow-related Ecological Processes
3.4 .......Program B Restoration Ecology
3.5 .......Program C Conservation Ecology
3.6 .......Program D Water Quality and Ecological Assessment 1825 kbytes
Chapter 4 .......Education and Training
4.1 .......Postgraduate education
4.2 .......Undergraduate education
4.3 .......School education 551 kbytes
Chapter 5 .......Knowledge Exchange
5.1 .......Introduction
5.2 .......Major achievements
5.3 .......Federal Political Briefings
5.4 ......Membership of committees
5.5 ......Support for Expert panels
5.6 ......Specialist advice, workshops, seminars and presentations
5.7 ......Small to medium sized enterprises
5.8 ......International committees and activities
5.9 ......CRCFE consulting activities
5.10 ....Associated Projects 819 kbytes
Chapter 6.......Staffing and Administration
6.1 ......Specified personnel
6.2 ......Staff commencing and departing
6.3 ......Staff development
6.4 ......Awards
6.5 ......Grants held by Centre reserachers
6.6 ......Major renovations and purchases 406 kbytes
Chapter 7.......Publications
7.1 ......Chapters in books
7.2 ......Refereed journal articles
7.3 ......Articles in non-refereed journals
7.4 ......Identification guides
7.5 ......Conference papers and proceedings
7.6 ......Consultancies and reports
7.7 ......Brochures, manuals and videos
7.8 ......Theses 355 kbytes
Chapter 8.........Communications
8.1 ......Major achievements
8.2 ......Workshops supported by the CRC
8.3 ......Presentations and lectures
8.4 ......Community workshops, meetings, presentations
8.5 ......Newsletters and brouchures
8.6 ......Displays and exhinitions
8.7 ......Communicating through the media
8.8 ......Public awareness and understanding
8.9 ......The World Wide Web 558 kbytes
Chapter 9.........Performance Indicators
9.1 ......Cooperative arrangements
9.2 ......Resrach and researchers
9.3 ......Education and training
9.4 ......Applications of research
9.5 ......Management and budget
508 kbytes
Epilogue
Acronyms
Contact Details for CRC Freshwater Ecology
List of Tables and Figures
Table 1.1 ....Attendance at Board Meetings
Figure 1.2....Organisational structure
Table 2.1......Activities fostering internal collaboration
Table 2.2 .....International research collaborations
Table 2.3 .....International visitors
Table 4.1 .....CRCFE students
Figure 5.1 ....Number of consultancies undertaken annually
Figure 5.2 ....Annual income received from consultancies 501 kbytes

Chairman's Forward

Success in achieving another 7 years as a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) brings with it the hard work of integrating the new partners with the existing partners, and developing a detailed set of research projects from the concepts set out in the first business plan. This has not been made any easier by shortening the life of the old CRC from 7 to 6 years.The ongoing research projects initiated by the existing partners flowed into the 1st year of the new CRC, restricting our ability to start new projects involving the new partners.

Developing a research program of significant integrated projects within the budget constraints, while at the same time meeting the needs of all the partners and making effective use of the in-kind resources contributed to the Centre is proving a challenge to us all. I am pleased at the open and cooperotive spirit that prevails around the board table. The Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology continues to have a major input to national policy debates.The Centre has provided valuable input into evaluating the ecological outcomes of the COAG Water Reform Agenda; and the Murray Darling Cap on Diversions.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Peter Cullen, the Chief Executive, for his commitment to the Centre and his outstanding contribution to the national debates on water policy. I would also like to thank the management team and staff who have supported Peter so ably during the difficult times of review, rebid and now initiating new CRC and research portfolio with all the accompanying uncertainty.

I greatly appreciate the cooperative spirit of the Board members. Leadership starts to the top, and the cooperation of the Board members is an excellent example for the whole centre.

Finally, I would like to thank the students involved with the centre, both undergraduate and postgraduate; your vitality is an inspiration to us all.

Dr John Langford
Chairman of the Board

Chief Executive's Report

This year has been a transitional one for the Centre. We have been finalising a number of major research projects from the first CRC while planning in detail the new projects that will start in 2000. It has been a busy and stressful time for many staff. Many researchers are keen to start work on the exciting new projects we re considering. On the other hand, it is critical to our survival as a cooperative organisation that we develop a portfolio of projects that meet the short and longer-term needs of our industry partners.

We also have to try and use the range of skills that have been contributed to the centre. Most of our best researchers know they could deliver better science if they had more resources, and this is true. However our resources are constrained, and there are many competing opportunities. As a result, some people may be disappointed that they do not get the resources they believe they need.

The Board of the Centre has decided that round 20% of vailable resources should be allocated to knowledge exchange at this time. Our innovative knowledge exchange program is designed to deliver the knowledge we have to our industry partners in ways they can use to manage our water resources for the long term.

It has become apparent that there are a number of important outcomes from the research we undertake:

New Knowledge -the results of our science that increases our understanding and might influence water management.

Credibility -as significant generators of new knowledge we re listened to and respected by many interests.

Graduate Students -building the future capacity of the water industry.

Problem Solvers -by having groups of staff who operate at the cutting edge of their disciplines we are able to put together teams to help industry partners with a range of problems.

This problem-solving element has been one of the exciting developments in the last year or so as we and our industry partners have discovered the power of joint problem solving. This comes about where the industry partner is not really sure as to the question, but is aware of general problem. We put together teams of people, roughly half from industry and half from the research community, to work through the issue and define the problem and develop solutions. We have used this approach with the Sydney Catchment Authority with Indicators for the Catchment Audit, the Queensland DNR with developing the WAMP process and with the MDBC on the Sustainable Rivers Audit. Each of these projects is managed and facilitated by one of our Knowledge Brokers –specialists who help synthesise and exchange knowledge with our industry partners.

Life continues to be difficult for our University partners, with the Government continuing its pressure to shift the costs of higher education on to students, and the costs of research to industry and students. The White Paper on research training offers some good initiatives that should help improve research training, but fails to provide the additional funds so desperately needed to replace ageing infrastructure, retain and attract top quality staff and make postgraduate work attractive to students. As the World becomes an ever more competitive information society this dumbing down of Australia is inexplicable and dangerous. It is even more puzzling when one realises that so many other countries with which we compete are dramatically increasing their investment in science and research.

The Centre continues to be an exciting and vibrant organisation, committed to making difference. This comes about because of the energy, enthusiasm and talent of the staff and graduate students who have commitment to collaborative research that can be used by the water industry. The good will of so many people has been critical in getting us through this start-up phase.

Special thanks must go to our Board and in particular our Chairman, Dr John Langford. Dr Langford has not only led the Board with distinction, but provided much wise counsel to me as Chief Executive.Board members have been able to provide wise and effective governance for the Centre as an organisation committed to improving the waterways of Australia.

Professor Peter Cullen
Chief Executive

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