The University is trebling staff and forging broader research alignments in this specialised field located at its Albury-Wodonga and Mildura campuses.
Dean of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering, Professor David Finlay, said this follows today’s announcement of La Trobe’s new joint venture membership of the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre (MDFRC).
This has resulted in 20 scientists and technical staff from the Centre joining the University. La Trobe previously had about ten staff members working in freshwater ecology.
‘It’s a wonderful chance to build substantial additional research strengths in what is a very pressing new area for research and fundamental knowledge,’ Professor Finlay said.
‘It gives La Trobe staff and students a real advantage in freshwater ecology and the ability to increase research for the benefit of the whole Murray-Darling Basin area.’
The initiative will underpin the development of greater collaborative relationships between freshwater expertise and existing research in ecological science and environmental management, both in the Faculty and other areas of the University.
Professor Finlay said developing collaborative research across disciplines was essential to address complex environmental challenges.
‘With rapid environmental change, it is becoming increasingly important for studies into the health of Australian rivers to intersect more broadly with terrestrial ecology and other disciplines such as sociology and economics.
‘This expanded group of specialist researchers will now be able to interact with another 15 experts at the University in land-based ecology, many from the main Melbourne campus at Bundoora.
‘Such studies at La Trobe range from conservation biology along the Murray-Darling right up into the Alpine regions.
‘For example, extensive research into the effects of bushfires, led by zoologist Dr Mike Clarke, is already supported by a variety of water catchment management authorities.’
The new team will also give the University more expertise in studies of freshwater ecology, Professor Finlay said.
The new group is headed by leading Australian freshwater scientist and Director of the MDFRC, Dr Ben Gawne.
Dr Gawne has led the MDFRC since 2002. Prior to that he was Scientist in Charge of the Centre’s Lower Basin Laboratory in Mildura.
The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre – whose other members are the CSIRO and Murray-Darling Basin Commission – was a significant component of the CRC for Freshwater Ecology from 1993 until 2005, when the CRC was disbanded.
Its main laboratory is based on the University’s Albury-Wodonga campus and its Lower Basin Laboratory on La Trobe’s Mildura campus.
The MDFRC was originally formed in 1986 to generate and communicate knowledge for managing aquatic ecosystems, particularly iconic assets such as the Murray River. It celebrates its 21st anniversary this year.
Additional investment in its work is provided by the Australian Government through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
NOTE FOR MEDIA - PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
The signing ceremony to officially launch the new joint venture will take place from 10 to 10.30 am, Tuesday, 6 February 2007 in the foyer of MDFRC, University Drive, La Trobe University, Albury-Wodonga Campus. Contact: Reinhard Beissbarth, Community Relations Officer, Tel: 02 6024 9784