Sponsorship of Peter Cullen Eureka Prize for Water Research and Innovation
The Commission has assumed the Australian Government's sponsorship of the Professor Peter Cullen Eureka Prize for Water Research and Innovation. This project will support capacity building in water science and promote informed debate on important water management issues.
Project details
| Objective: | To highlight research into the critical water issues facing Australia and facilitate informed debate about research that has the potential to lead to substantial improvements in the way Australia manages, uses or protects its water resources. |
| Funding: | $82 500 plus applicable GST |
| Jurisdiction: | National |
| Commencing: | August 2009 |
| Completion: | August 2011 |
Progress
About the project
Established in 1990, the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are Australia's premier science awards and the largest single national award scheme highlighting research into critical environmental sustainability issues facing Australia.
Presented annually, the prizes reward excellence in research and innovation, science leadership, school science and science journalism and communication.
This $10,000 prize is awarded to an individual, team or organisation for research and innovation that has made or has the potential to make an outstanding contribution to the sustainable use and management of Australia's water resources.
The research entered must be original in its thinking, rigorous in its application and of practical benefit. It can cover any aspect of sustainable use or protection of water resources, including research fields such as water use and reuse, ecology, hydrology, economics, policy, societal change, engineering and the biophysical sciences.
Entries must address each of the following criteria:
1) Innovation
- to what extent does the research contribute original thinking, new insights or conceptual frameworks to the management of Australia's water resources?
- does the research address new and emerging issues or does it offer a new perspective or substantial advance in understanding current problems?
- has the research developed new techniques or methods, or substantially improved existing ones to enhance their usefulness?
2) Relevance
- does the research have the potential to change the way people, primary industries or institutions act or think? If so, how?
- how can this research lead to a practical improvement in the use, management or protection of water resources in Australia?
- how widely applicable are the results to the Australian economy, primary industries or environment?
3) Communication
- how was the research communicated to the target audiences? (Identify the key stakeholders - eg scientists, land managers, policy makers, and general public - and explain how the research was communicated to them)
- has the research reached, or will it reach, those responsible for managing and/or protecting our water resources?
- what examples are there of how the research has changed the management of water resources or related ecosystems?
Project benefits
The sponsorship will:
- promote informed exchange and debate on important water management issues
- build capacity in science, and science-policy linkages, consistent with NWI objectives
- help position the Commission and the Australian Government as agents for water reform.