Our world-class research is helping to resolve the complex environmental, social, and economic issues within coastal catchments.
Professor Damien Maher
Southern Cross University hydrobiogeochemist
Environmental Scientist Professor Damien Maher.
Well over 80 per cent of Australia's population lives in the coastal zone, and the coastal zone is subject to a range of complex issues.
The Catchments, Coasts and Communities Cluster aims to bring together existing research strengths in coastal biology chemistry, aquatic pollution, hydrology, land use management and social sciences to help solve some of these wicked problems that we're facing.
Communities are a key social unit that really define the human race. What we want to do is undertake research that improves the lives of communities within the coastal zone.
Clean water and sanitization, managing catchments in a sustainable way, and life underwater because the work we do improves water quality in these catchments.
Working with community, with government, with industry… these partnerships are what actually will drive change.
Southern Cross University has invested heavily in this area since its inception, which has resulted in a critical mass of expertise, knowledge and instrumentation that allows us to do cutting-edge research in catchment sciences.
It's an awesome group of academics who are coming together to work within this cluster.
The impact that we can provide for the community, for the environment into the future and that's really what's driving and motivating us.
Catchments, Coasts and Communities
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Innovative solutions for land and water management
We drive transformative environmental, social and economic change within catchments, coastal zones and their communities through impactful and engaged research. From carbon storage models and methane cycling in trees to pesticide run-off and mitigating the effects of fertilisers in our waterways, the cluster develops practical and innovative solutions to critical land and water management issues.
World class facilities and infrastructure
Collaborative research
Community education
Key research projects
Researcher profiles
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