Water Governance Research Initiative National Workshop

Water Governance Research Initiative National Workshop
November 15-16, 2010
Rydges Lakeside, Canberra

N.B. A complete list of speakers from this workshop and some of the presentations are available here.

The Water Governance Research Initiative is a theme of the NCCARF Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity Adaptation Research Network. Our objectives are to create a community of conversation about water governance in Australia, build collaborative research links, create opportunities for co-researching and information sharing, and provide opportunities for early-career researchers to participate in a national network of researchers and research-users.

Workshop Overview

The purpose of the National Workshop is to bring together researchers and policy practitioners to explore the needs and priorities of water governance research in Australia. The workshop will involve a balance of speakers and participatory sessions to bring forth a research agenda and, in light of this, consider research capability.

As the first major event hosted by the Water Governance Research Initiative, the workshop aims to:

• Build relationships among and between researchers and research users
• Begin to build a community of conversation
• Appreciate different perspectives of governance research
• Engage in boundary discussions about water governance research
• Legitimise water governance research
• Relate past and present policy framings and perceive needs to current and future governance research
• Articulate a future governance research agenda
• Appreciate the range and nature of current water governance research
• Situate Australian water governance research in a broader international context

The first day will focus on boundary discussions about water governance through presentations by both researchers and policy practitioners from different disciplinary backgrounds. On the second day, the workshop will address current research priorities.

We are currently forming a Reference Group of water governance researchers to represent each State and Territory and inform the activities of the Water Governance Research Initiative. Those who have accepted invitations to join the Reference Group thus far include:

• Brian Head, Professor, Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland
• Sue Jackson, CSIRO Darwin
• Alex Gardiner, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, The University of Western Australia
• Jamie Pittock, Director of International Programs for the UNESCO Chair in Water Economics and Transboundary Water Governance

A full program and list of speakers will be circulated shortly.

Cost

This is a free workshop. Registration, morning/afternoon tea and lunch on both days are fully covered. Delegates will need to make their own arrangements for travel and accommodation (see suggestions below).

Time

For the convenience of interstate delegates, the workshop will begin at 11:00am on the first day. However, an informal networking session and morning tea will be available from 9:30am. The workshop will conclude at 3:00pm on the second day.