1. THE ANU WATER INITIATIVE: A university-wide interdisciplinary study
Karen Hussey, Daniel Connell, Will Steffen
Chair and Project Researcher, ANU Water Initiative
Convener, ANU Institute for Environment

2. Rationale and Vision
Water is a fundamental challenge of the 21st Century
The ANU is distinctive in its mandate to focus on key national & regional challenges
Typically, research and policy on water have focused on one part of a catchment, or on one issue in isolation from others, or on a subset of impacts…
‘Specialization’ is the sine qua non of a successful academic career
…But sustainable water management demands an integrated, holistic approach to bridge the gap between disciplines

3. Approach
The ANUWI is a cross-disciplinary, university-wide initiative that brings together ANU researchers and educators in the water domain
It is underpinned by the need to move towards an understanding of the ‘water system’:
includes all discernible physical and biological features of water cycling
includes all aspects of human use of water
emphasizes the interactions between the physical and biological, and the human component that builds on the cultural and socio-economic aspects of water

4. ANUWI Aims
To identify gaps in our understanding of the water system and provide solutions to the most important and urgent of questions – over the long term, nationally and regionally
To develop an holistic approach by building on, and integrating, our significant strengths across disciplines
To develop new approaches to research question formulation, collaborative teamwork, knowledge brokering and the creation of policy-relevant solutions

5. Three Core Activities

6. Four Themes

7. ANU Water Initiative - Aug 2007
Broker alliances within the ANU and with other organisations
with complementary interests
Coordinate development of new projects that will strengthen
ANU’s research and teaching capacity
Increase awareness of ANU’s record and ability to
contribute to the public debate and to national and
international research programs

8. Projects under development
Build strategic alliance with ACT Govt
National-international alliance re drought-climate risk
Contribution to developing agenda re adaptation to climate change (Land and Water Australia).
New courses
Publications
Website
Outreach teaching

9. Stronger alliance with ACT Govt
Submission to Planning and Environment standing committee re water use
Opportunity to demonstrate ANU capacity and put forward a detailed statement re how we could work with ACT Govt.
Workshop to develop submission and publicize our aims and involvement

10. National/international alliances
Link water researchers in societies with similar cultures and climate risk
Compare and contrast different historical experiences re climate variability
Cross reference the various national debates re adapting to climate risk

11. Evolving agenda re climate change
ANU potential role - teaching and debate as well as research
Many organizations currently defining their roles re adaptation to climate change
LWA is planning workshop/conference to discuss potential contribution of social sciences to adaptation to climate change

12. New courses Research driven education
Water major in Bachelor of Integrated Studies (Sustainability) degree
International water politics (masters course) climate change, the irrigation dilemma and hydrological systems failure – impacts of and potential responses, implications for international relations and national security debate

13. Publications Managing water for Australia Dovers/Hussey CSIRO 2007
Water planning and management Handbook international cast of authors Ed Lord Selbourne Cambridge Press?
International survey quantity-quality issues Ed Hussey Cambridge Press ?

14. Website
Aims:
news and comment re emerging issues re climate change etc.
Knowledge development area similar to Wikipedia
Academic electronic journal
Interactive capacity (chat rooms etc)
Online educational activities including both course work and research based degrees.

15. Outreach teaching
Course being developed for practicing water managers in consultation with/for the National Water Commission. Would:
explain the National Water Initiative and explore implementation issues
Provide interdisciplinary coverage of integrated catchment, climate change, emerging issues, economic and social debates