Australian Research Council and National Water Commission Co-funded National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT) A Brief Overview

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1 Australian Research Council and National Water Commission Co-funded National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT) A Brief Overview Prof Craig T. Simmons

2 ARC/NWC National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training was launched at Flinders University on 22 January by the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong.

3 Groundwater a critical resource Groundwater use in Australia >30% of total consumption NWC Groundwater Position Statement New groundwater tools, techniques and methodologies are urgently required to understand and manage groundwater People and the NWI - national shortage of hydrogeologists

4 National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training Australia has world class capability in groundwater. NCGRT has brought 30 leading groundwater CI s and PI s (inc. an Australian Federation Fellow) together with some 20+ internationally renowned scholars to: GOAL 1: Build a high quality, integrated program of groundwater research GOAL 2: Enhance the scale and focus of research to promote an environmentally sustainable Australia GOAL 3: Build capacity in the Australian groundwater profession, by providing high quality post-graduate and post-doctoral training environments and other professional training activities such as short courses GOAL 4: Establish the Centre as a point of interaction among higher education institutions, Governments, industry and the private sector GOAL 5: Achieve national and international recognition and acclaim for its research output

5 Presentation Outline Centre Members Research Programs Research Training Professional Training and Communication Budget and Governance Impact Progress to date and next steps

6 Centre Research Partners Flinders University (Administering Organisation) University of New South Wales University of Queensland Australian National University CSIRO Monash University La Trobe University Queensland University of Technology University of South Australia University of Western Australia University of Technology Sydney Charles Sturt University James Cook University Industry/Government Partners

7 Industry / Government State government agencies and consulting sector Strong existing links and continuing nationwide consultation Critical leveraging role Links with industry projects and case studies Field site selection, equipment and infrastructure

8 Research Programs National and International Drivers

9 Australian Context Hydrogeology is vitally about context and field settings. Australian particularities: Climate and drought Episodicity in rainfall, water efficient vegetation, low relief Saline groundwater Episodic and distributed groundwater recharge Ephemeral surface water leads to transient surface water groundwater interactions Groundwater dependent ecosystems

10 Research Design Internationally aware and Australia oriented People and science Fundamental vs applied science Models we considered: Geographical nodes Climate based programs Core groundwater technical science and all associated biophysical and social interfaces

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12 P1. Innovative Characterisation of Aquifers and Aquitards (leader: Prof Ian Acworth, UNSW) Subprogram 1A: Linking Geological and Hydrogeological Processes. Subprogram 1B: Characterising Aquitards. Subprogram 1C: Heat as a groundwater tracer. Subprogram 1D: Integration of hydrochemical and hydrogeological methods for analysing regional groundwater flow.

13 P2. Hydrodynamics and Modelling of Complex Groundwater Systems (leader: Prof Craig Simmons, Flinders) Subprogram 2A: Uncertainty in groundwater flow estimation. Subprogram 2B: Heterogeneity in groundwater fluids and geologic structures. Subprogram 2C: Highly transient, spatially-distributed surface water groundwater interaction. Subprogram 2D: Simplicity versus complexity in groundwater modelling.

14 P3. Surface Water Groundwater Interactions (leader: Prof Peter Cook, CSIRO/Flinders) Subprogram 3A: Groundwater recharge from losing streams. Subprogram 3B: Groundwater discharge to gaining streams. Subprogram 3C: River Hyporheic exchanges. Subprogram 3D: Groundwater interaction with estuarine rivers, lakes and wetlands.

15 P4. Groundwater Vegetation Atmosphere Interactions (leader: Prof David Lockington, UQ) Subprogram 4A: Regional groundwater discharge through evapotranspiration. Subprogram 4B: Impact of watertable decline on groundwater dependent vegetation (GDV). Subprogram 4C: Effect of climate change on groundwater recharge and discharge.

16 P5. Integrating Socioeconomics, Policy and Decision Support (leader: Prof Tony Jakeman, ANU) Subprogram 5A: Integrated Assessment Modelling and Decision Support. Subprogram 5B: Farmers of the Future: How will they farm groundwater? Subprogram 5C: Policy, Institutional, Law and Governance issues. Subprogram 5D: Vulnerability, Risk, Sensitivity and Uncertainty Issues in Integrated Management of Groundwater.

17 A few research highlights Surface water groundwater interaction field methods, theory and modelling approaches Coupled 3D geological and hydrogeological modelling Centrifuge facility for aquitard pore-water analysis State of the art decision support modelling with a focus on groundwater issues (e.g., sustainable yield)

18 International Visiting Scholars Program 20+ world class scholars have agreed to work with NCGRT Perfect hit rate Sabbatical program supported financially by NCGRT Links to professional and communication activities

19 Research Training

20 Capacity Building Postdoctoral Fellows, PhD and Honours students Hands-on technical training through research Field based training Lucrative NCGRT scholarships, travel/conference grants Workshops, mentoring and professional development Networking within a hive of active researchers, fellows, postgraduates and visiting scholars

21 A Research Program at a glance year postdoctoral fellows 5-7 PhD $50K p.a. (or equivalent in APA top-up) Honours $10K p.a. 2-3 new research and/or technical appointments International Visiting Scholars Program Equipment and maintenance for research and training

22 NCGRT Scale (Research) 5 programs = 5 Program Leaders (CI). 30 Senior Scientists (CI/PI). 5 NCGRT Investigators 9 new Senior Research Appointments ~30 postdoctoral fellows ~30 PhD students ~60 Honours students >20 International Visiting Scholars ~ 120 NCGRT funded graduates / fellows

23 Professional Training and Communication Programs

24 Professional Training Centre for Groundwater Studies short course program Graduate Certificate in Groundwater Hydrology (Flinders) New NCGRT National Groundwater Field School Shared research and professional training field sites Knowledge transfer through new NCGRT specialist courses

25 Communication Programs Media Engagement and Groundwater Advocacy NCGRT Workshops and International Symposium Professional Development and Seminar Series Website and Centre Publications Education and Outreach Program

26 Budget and Governance

27 Budget (~$39M / 5yr) 5-YR INCOME ($M) ARC/NWC University Partners Industry Partners 5-YR EXPENDITURE ($M) Research Training Academic / Technical Positions 16 Equipment and Maintenance Travel 5 Administration and Governance Communication and Outreach 8 International Visiting Scholars

28 Governance NCGRT Advisory Board Centre Executive & Administration Research Management Committee (RMC) Training and Outreach Advisory Committee (TOAC) International Scientific Advisory Committee (ISAC)

29 NCGRT Impact People and Knowledge Focussed, sustained attention on groundwater through NCGRT will lead to major benefits both within and well beyond 5-year initial term: Increased scale, focus and quality of research in Australia Coordinated national approach to research and training Improved groundwater tools, techniques and understanding Urgent capacity building in support of the NWI and the profession Enhancing links and raising awareness Enhancing Australia s international groundwater research reputation

30 Progress to date and next steps. Revised research programs and budgets received by ARC on March 16 th. Meeting with ARC / NWC to discuss next steps, including development of Centre KPI s, Business Plan, Strategic Plan mid-april. Aim is to have Heads Agreement between ARC and Flinders University in place by June 2009 (i.e., aiming for Centre to start in June 2009). Subcontracts with 20 partner organisations (~3-6 month process). Expect recruitment activities to commence in second half of 2009.