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GES News and Announcements 1 - 3 - 2006

2006 Brian Robinson Fellowship

In 2004, in recognition of the late Dr Brian Robinson (AM) contribution to Victoria, the State Government established a Fellowship to nurture young people making a significant contribution to the future sustainability of Victoria. The Fellowship is awarded annually through the Brian Robinson Foundation. The Fellowship takes the form of a study tour or placement for a person aged under 35 who may have the potential to one day contribute to national and global sustainability. This study tour or placement forms the basis of a project.

The Foundation's Board is now seeking applications for the 2006 Fellowship.

Details of award criteria, together with guidelines for applicants and application forms, can be obtained from EPA Victoria's web site:
http://www.epa.vic. gov. au/BrianRobinsonFoundation/default.asp

Applications close on 24 March 2006.

Monash Geographer wins prestigious awards: Sidney Plowman Award

Stuart pictured with his PhD supervisor and Head of School, Associate Professor David Dunkerley.

Dr Stuart Boucher, a geomorphologist and PhD graduate from the School, has been awarded the 2005 Sidney Plowman Travel and Study Award of the Victorian Department of Primary Industries. The Award recognises significant contributions to the reversal of land degradation on farmland. Dr Boucher worked on highly degraded pasture land near Costerfield in Victoria, developing a detailed understanding of the nature and causes of subsoil tunnelling erosion. He developed and costed an innovative program of restoration, with the objective of seeing a recovery in the productivity of the rural landscape.

The Plowman Award, recently presented to Dr Boucher by the Governor of Victoria, Mr John Landy AC, will enable Dr Boucher to travel overseas to further his knowledge of rural land degradation and of approaches to restoration.

C.G. Stephens PhD Award in Soil Science

Dr. Boucher holds the prestigious PhD Award

Dr Stuart Boucher was recently presented with the prestigious 'C.G. Stephens PhD Award in Soil Science' of the Australian Society of Soil Science. The prize is for the best PhD thesis in any branch of soil science in Australia and comprises a medal, prize money and a certificate. His research was supervised by Associate Professor David Dunkerley.

GES is ranked No. 1 among Geography Schools in the Group-of-Eight Universities

The School of Geography and Environmental Science has been ranked No. 1 in the latest benchmarking comparison of leading Geography Schools in Australia, which was based on 2003 data. This reflects the success of the School in winning research grants, producing peer-reviewed research publications, and in achieving completions of theses by higher-degree research students. The School intends to maintain this position though continuous high-level activity across all of these areas

GES post-graduate student Donna Lorenz receives award in Prime Minister's Essay Competition

GES post-graduate student Donna Lorenz has received a Commendation Award in the Prime Minister's 2004 Corporate Social Responsibility Essay Competition. The prize was awarded by Senator Kay Patterson at a ceremony held recently.

Details of the essay competition and the award can be found on Senator Patterson's web site at: http://www.facs.gov.au/internet/minister1.nsf/content/partnership_rewards_13apr05.htm

The School of Geography and Environmental Science congratulates Donna Lorenz on her award.

Dr Rebekah Brown - research funding success

Dr Rebekah Brown, Senior Lecturer in the School, is one of a team based at Monash, and spanning Arts, Science, and Engineering, that was successful in the 2005 round of the Victorian Science, Technology & Innovation grants program. The successful project is entitled Australasian Facility for Stormwater Biofilter Technologies, which aims to develop improved solutions for the on-site treatment and management of stormwater.

Including in-kind support, the total funding for this successful proposal is more than $4.26 million, sourced from Government and industry partners.

Rebekah will be Team Leader for Program 2: Institutional and Social Issues.
The School of Geography and Environmental Science congratulates Dr Rebekah Brown.

Publication prize to Dr Christian Kull

Dr Christian Kull is Senior Lecturer in the School. Christian's book on Madagascar, Isle of Fire (2004), was recognized with the
2005 James M Blaut Award at the recent Association of American Geographers Meeting in Denver, Colorado.

The award is made in recognition of innovative scholarship in cultural and political ecology, and is made by the Cultural and
Political Ecology Specialty Group (CAPE) of the Association of American Geographers (AAG).

The award website is: http://www.stetson.edu/artsci/cape/honors.php

6 April 2005

Four postgraduate students from the School of Geography and Environmental Science took part in the annual Oxfam Trailwalker event last weekend.

The students were given a $1000 donation from the Faculty of Arts to walk the 100 km track from Jells Park in Wheelers Hill to the summit of Mt Donna Buang.

Mr Alex McLeod, Mr Christopher White, Mr Tadhg O'Loingsigh and Mr Jonathan Brown wore Monash University T-shirts donated by the School of Geography and Environmental Science during the walk.

Funds raised from the event are used by Oxfam Community Aid Abroad for community-based programs in some of the poorest and most disadvantaged areas of the world, including Mozambique and Bangladesh.

PhD Scholarships - Climate (2005-2007)

PhD Scholarship "Top-ups" (2) 2005-2007 School of Geography & Environmental Science Impacts of and Adaptations to Climate Extremes

Never before have we faced such a complex, uncertain and potentially dangerous challenge to Australian society as climate change. Mitigation and adaptation to climate change require the continuing enhancement and effective communication of scientific understanding of complex interactions between the Earth's atmosphere, ocean, biosphere and human activities. They also require a social and economic understanding of the consequences of climate change and of the insight needed to formulate effective policy responses.

The aim of these joint Monash/CSIRO postgraduate research projects is to undertake research to better understand the complex relationships between climate and society. Currently, there is a large gap in understanding that exists between the understanding of the weather and climate system on the one hand, and practical outcomes for policy and governance on the other. Topic areas could range from the mechanisms responsible for and the impacts of severe weather to the interactions between agriculture, drought and bushfire, to the development of risk assessment methods suitable for use in decision analytic frameworks in order to manage climate change risks on various scales.

Background of candidates:

You will be highly motivated with a background in climatology, or meteorology. Knowledge of modelling and some experience in the policy sciences or a related field is an advantage. First class honours or research masters in a relevant field is required.

Applications and closing dates:

Closing date: 10 December 2004.
Stipend (Top up to $20000 and research support)
Further information : http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/ges/staff/lynch.html
http://www.dar.csiro.au/impacts/index.html

Monash Scholarship Applications
http://www.monash.edu.au/phdschol/schols/appprocs.html

Applicants should refer to the Monash University Graduate School website at:
http://www.monash.edu.au/intoff/courses/admissionsinfo.html

For further information contact:
Prof. A. Lynch (Monash University) Dr. Penny Whetton (CSIRO)
Amanda.Lynch@arts.monash.edu.au penny.whetton@csiro.au
(03) 9905 8291 (03) 9239 4406

Honours Scholarships 2005

A number of $1,000 scholarships will be offered to students who enrol in the School of Geography and Environmental Honours program. These Honours scholarships will be offered on the basis of academic merit, and needs basis.

How to apply:

Merit Scholarships: All students applying to do Honours will automaticall y be considered for Merit Scholarships. You need do no more than make a normal Honours application.

Special Needs Scholarship: Apply to do Honours in the School in the normal way. Write up to a page outlining your special needs for financial support during your Honours year. Seal this in an envelope addressed to the Head of School and attach it to your Honours application. Your application will be treated confidentially.

Honours Summer Vacation Scholarship

for third year students intending to undertake 2005 Honours in Geography. Application form temporarily unavailable. Please contact Maureen Upston for enquiries Please contact Dr. Stephen Legg, or Maureen Upston for further details.