The Environment Institute
Where ideas grow
The Environment Institute
Annual Report 2009
Covering the period of
01/01/2009 - 31/12/2010
Complied by
Scott Mills
This report has been prepared for the office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor
The environment Institute was officially launched on June 4 2009 and is a direct
investment initiative of the Research branch of the University of Adelaide. It is
charged with leading research programs at an international and national level,
building strategic relationships, growing research income, influencing
government policy and private sector investment and growing recognition for
the institute as an entity belonging to the University of Adelaide in the arena of
environmental science.
This report has been compiled to specifically address the 5 key performance
indicators as agreed upon by the institute's board on xx/xx/xx.
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Summary of Progress
2009
It is my pleasure as the director of the newly formed Environment Institute to
present the University of Adelaide's Research Branch with our first annual
report.
The first year of operations have seen...
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The Environment Institute
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Table of contents
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The Environment Institute
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Research Leadership
The Environment Institute has focused on bringing together a team of
Key Performance Indicator
The Environment Institute
leads national and
international research
programs
Required Progress
One major new Initiative per
year for first three years
Demonstrated leadership in
at least one policy issue at
a state or national level
Stretch Target
Lead a major funding
program in each sector of
the Institute by 2013
International partnership
established by 2013
Demonstrated leadership in
at least one policy issue at
the international level
researchers that
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The Environment Institute
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New Research Initiatives
Australian Centre for Ancient DNA
ACAD was invited by SecureDNA to travel to Argentina to meet with the
Argentine Forensic Archaeology Team and representatives of the International
Committee of the Red Cross to improve DNA based techniques for the
identification of human remains. This program will be actively pursued in 2010
and expand to include manufacturers of 3rd generation sequencing
technologies. This has the potential to place The University at the Forefront of
forensic DNA research in Australia.
The Centre has also actively to grow a new area of research on the
international stage; Environmental Genomics. Professor Alan Cooper, the
director of ACAD was awarded a prestigious Future Fellowship for a program
that will look at performing the first genetic audits of Australian biota. This work
will help to bolster the University's reputation as the centre of environmental
DNA research within Australia.
To bolster this capacity the environment institute has initiated a strategy to
secure Australia's first 3rd generation sequencer for use by University of
Adelaide researches. This equipment would be housed on the Waite Campus
and run by the Australian Genome Research Facility. This would allow
members of the University preferential access to this cutting edge technology.
While cheaper sequencing options will soon be available in China this
collaboration will allow the University of Adelaide to be a global competitor in
DNA research that requires the carful handling of materials including forensic
and medical applications.
In conjunction with international researchers ACAD analysed the genome of
ancient bison, modern cattle breeds and other ruminants including deer and
giraffes to create the highest resolution of the ruminant family tree to date with
their results published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
ACAD participated in a bid to establish a Centre of Excellence in Advanced
Sensing, coordinated by the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing. This
project is aimed at developing a portable DNA identification system for field
deployment.
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Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity
The Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity (ACEBB) is
arguably the top research group of its type in Australia. Its success has been
underpinned by strong collaborative relationships between the SA Museum,
State Herbarium and Bioknowledge, South Australian DEH and the University of
Adelaide. Through combining the strengths of these institutions, ACEBB has
created facilities and expertise that are seen as the best practice model in
Australia.
ACEBB aims to build upon the Centre's traditional expertise in systematics and
evolutionary biology to embrace new developments in genomic, bioinformatic
and analytical techniques and further develop the nationally leading research
profile of the group. The Centre is uniquely placed in Australia to develop this
area of research and provide national leadership.
ACEBB has been recognised as the national centre for environmental
barcoding, initiatives that helped secured this reputation include the
International Barcode of Life, Grass Barcode of Life Project and Australian
Biological Resources Study proposals.
ACEBB has initiated a project funded by the National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy for the Australian Rangelands component of the
Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network. This program will work across states
and secure ACEBB's reputation for delivering large scale research programs.
ACEBB is to lead a research program to establish a Transect for Environmental
Monitoring and Decision Making (TREND) funded by the Premier’s Science and
Research Fund. This transect will establish al long-term monitoring corridor to
monitor the agricultural and ecological impact of climate change in marine and
terrestrial habitats.
ACEBB celebrated a taxonomic milestone with the discovery of 850 new
invertebrate species across the past four years in underground water, caves
and micro-caverns across arid and semi-arid Australia. mound spring species in
outback Australia
Dr Phillip Casey (Centre for Ornithology, University of Birmingham) was
awarded a Future Fellowship and will join the Environment Institute to
investigate the evolution of species traits and spread during biological
invasions.
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Centre for Energy Technology
During 2009 the Environment Institute facilitated the formation of The Centre for
Energy Technology (CET) that seeks to position itself as an international
research node for renewable Energy Integration.
Drawing upon the University's research strengths in Mechanical Engineering,
Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics, the
Centre aims to support Australia's and the World's transition from a high to low
CO2 emitting society.
During 2009 the
Solar EIF
PSRF
the Solar bids
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Landscape Futures Program
Implement the PSRF grant
Formation of the Landscape Futures Cluster
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Marine Biology Program
World’s first in situ CO2 experiment in marine environment
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Water Research Centre
CSIRO Cluster proposal
NCCARF
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ARC Success in 2009
Environment Institute members were awarded in securing five ARC and two
ARC linkage grants in the 2009 funding round, securing For details about
research income from these grants please refer to table x in the Research
Income section, page x.
ARC Discovery grants were awarded to:

Damien Fordham and Barry Brook
"Range dynamics and demographics of spatially structured populations
under global change"
Project Summary Why are particular species present in some locations,
but not others? This is a simple, fundamental ecological question, yet
surprisingly, our answers on this point remain far from complete. Using
an integrated, systems-based approach, we will determine the interplay
between: (i) birth, death and movement rates, (ii) species interactions,
and (iii) the constraints of the physical environment (temperature, rainfall,
soil type), which determine the limits of species' ranges. Our models will
provide Australian conservation managers with a novel, validated toolbox
to explore the trade-offs, and synergies, inherent in trying to adapt to
climate change and other stressors on biodiversity.

Martin Lambert, Prof GA Kuczera, Dr MA Thyer and Andrew Metcalfe
"A new flood design methodology for a variable and changing climate"
Project Summary The extreme temporal and spatial variability of
Australia's rainfall affects the quantity and quality of water resources, the
productivity of agricultural systems, and aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems. Given the impact of extreme events such as floods and the
massive investment in water-related infrastructure, evaluation of these
risks is an issue of national economic and environmental significance.
Monte Carlo simulation techniques will quantify the risks associated with
current and future climate change, and the combined risks that come
from multiple sources, such as from coastal tides and storm runoff. This
research will provide a new spatial framework for calculating risk as well
as tools to evaluate flood risk.
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
Prof Graham Nathan, A. Prof BB Dally and Prof H Pitsch
"Detailed understanding of the behaviour of soot in, and emission from,
turbulent flames and fires"
Project Summary While combustion processes involving soot have
been widely employed for many years, their great complexity puts them
beyond present capacity to understand or model reliably. Within a flame,
soot plays an important role in radiant heat transfer, and hence in energy
efficiency. Beyond a flame, soot can either be emitted as an unwanted
air pollutant or as a desirable source of nano-particles, depending on the
application. The benefits to society from improved understanding and
predictive capability include reduced air pollution, improved health and
safety, increased efficiency in the utilisation of both fossil and alternative
fuels, the support of the rapidly growing sector employing carbon nanoparticles and increased fire safety.

Angus Simpson, Martin Lambert
"Frequency domain micro-reflection processing for pipe condition
assessment"
Project Summary Over the coming years many millions of dollars will be
spent on upgrading deteriorated pipeline infrastructure that is part of
water distribution systems all over Australia. Determining the condition
of buried pipes is very difficult and expensive. This research will solve
that problem. We will develop powerful numerical methods for noninvasive pipe condition assessment. Small controlled transients will be
input by a specially designed signal generation device that can determine
the condition of the inside of the pipe. These new techniques will be
cost-effective, accurate and able to cover very long distances of pipe.
Water authorities will then be able to quickly decide which sections of
pipe require further investigation.

Dr W Haak, Dr B Llamas, Dr L Quintana-Murci and Prof AL Hughes – A
shipload of consequences: studying the impact of Old World diseases on
native South American populations via ancient DNA.
Project Summary This pioneering project will give the first real-time
picture of the genetic changes induced by epidemics in human
populations. This will reveal important new information about the likely
impact of future epidemics on the genetic diversity of the immune system
in modern human populations and will be of substantial use in building
epidemiological models. By proposing to combine state-of-the-art
science with global problems of humanity, we will address Australia's
interests in expanding scientific expertise beyond its borders and place
Australia at the leading edge of disease impact studies.
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ARC Linkage projects were awarded to:

Bronwyn Gillanders and Travis Elsdon
"Linking fish recruitment and habitat use ecosystem processes"
Project Summary The Lower Lakes of the Murray River are in a critical
ecological state due to record low water levels. Management of these
lakes needs to integrate water security demands with maintaining healthy
ecosystem functions. Proposed management options such as allowing
seawater incursion and the construction of a weir to impede freshwater
flows are based on assumptions about what the Lakes were like naturally
(pre-European). This study will reconstruct environmental variability
within the Lower Lakes over the past 7000 years, concentrating on
salinity to document the extent of marine incursion, and pH to examine
the impacts of acid sulphate release from exposed sediments during low
flow events.

Jennie Fluin and John Tibby
"Establishing baseline ecological conditions for the Lower Lakes, South
Australia: the applications for palaeoecology to sustainable resource
management"
Project Summary The Lower Lakes of the Murray River are in a critical
ecological state due to record low water levels. Management of these
lakes needs to integrate water security demands with maintaining healthy
ecosystem functions. Proposed management options such as allowing
seawater incursion and the construction of a weir to impede freshwater
flows are based on assumptions about what the Lakes were like naturally
(pre-European). This study will reconstruct environmental variability
within the Lower Lakes over the past 7000 years, concentrating on
salinity to document the extent of marine incursion, and pH to examine
the impacts of acid sulphate release from exposed sediments during low
flow events.
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Leadership in National Policy Issues
Director
Leadership in national water policy water for good
Solar flagships
Water Research Centre
CLLAMMecology
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Leadership of major Funding Programs
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Leadership in international Policy
Director
UNEP chapter on water
Global economic symposium
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International Partnership
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Building Relationships
Key Performance Indicator
The Environment Institute
builds new strategic
relationships
Required Progress
Stretch Target
Several relevant state
government agencies have
joint appointments with EI
by 2010
Significant relationships
formed with national
government agencies, at
least one ASX200 company
and international research
centres
One new Centre created
within the EI by 2009
External, base level funding
of $500k pa by 2011
Some base level funding
received by 2010
Demonstrated influence on
the structure of curriculum
and operations within the
University
The Environment Institute xyz
Internal
Linkfest WRC
Tanya Monro - environmental sensing with Alan cooper
Alumni - Paul Finn
David Munro - Computing
Chemistry and Physics CET
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The Environment Institute
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External
Ties between the University of Adelaide, the South Australian Research and
Development Institute, Department of Water Land and Biodiversity
Conservation and Department for Environment and Heritage have been
strengthened through a successful Premier's Science Research fund bid.
Relationship building activities will be facilitated through interaction with the
following individuals:
Wayne Meyer of the Landscape Futures Program has brought together some of
the State's key NRM leaders to form the Landscape Science Cluster. Partner
institutions and collaborators of this program include:


First Name Last Name - South Australian Murray Darling Basin Natural
Resource Management Board
First Name Last Name - Eyre Peninsula Natural Resource Management
Board
AGRF - Alan Cooper 3rd Generation Sequencing
Victor Harbour Council
David Viola of DFEST was appointed as a board member of the CET. He has
provided mentoring to the CET during its transition to a new funding model
through engagement with industry and government.
Negotiations are underway to secure Adelaide Airport as a platinum sponsor of
the CET. The sponsorship package would give the airport <move to
sponsorship section>
Branding
Named research infrastructure or program
Named Scholarships
Logo on all appropriate printed material
Logo on CET web site with link as well as Environment Institute site
1 sign at all events
Framed certificate of recognition
Free advertising/editorial in quarterly e-news
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Naming rights to annual awards dinner
opportunity to negotiate a named visiting professor
Research/Students/ Staff
Access to latest research via access to published papers
4 complimentary seats at annual industry forum
Opportunity to nominate research fields and participate in research planning
Opportunity to present lecture material/company and to include case studies in
relevant pr
Director/specialists available for company planning/forum
Opportunity to use Uni. Facility for event
1 staff member available to service all AU enquiries through a “one stop shop
Consulting/Staff Development
20 hours free consulting per annum
20% discount after 20 hours consulting
Opportunity to work with Centre To design a short course within their
capabilities
20% discount for short course attendees
Networking
Opportunity to nominate 1 member to advisory board
2 complimentary seats at each bi-annual lunch hosted by the Environment
Institute Director
1 complimentary table at annual awards dinner for which Platinum partner has
naming rights
Invitations to appropriate University of Adelaide events
BHP - Paul Finn
Pure Water Australia - Paul Finn
ReFlow - Paul Finn
4 in 40, Book Launch
SA Water MoU
DEH
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SARDI
Alumni and Devel
UofA
DWLBC
AWFGTH
Uni SA
Private Sector
Adelaide Airport
Zoo
UNEP
BHP
Ricoh
LGA?
AGRF?
AWNRM?
TREND?
Strategic Joint Appointments
Joint appointments in place with DEH, SARDI, SA Museum
In early discussions with DWLBC,
Bob Obrien percat - water policy aid for the WRC will find his own source of
funding
SA Water MoU - Several joint appointments already exist
Bob Obrien
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New Centres
The formation of centres helps to focus research efforts, combining research
strengths to open up new funding and partnership opportunities.
In 2009 steps were taken by Mike Young and Paul Dalby to identify potential for
and help facilitate the formation of three new Centres. These activities included:

Discussion with David Jones, Associate Professor in the School of
Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, to scope the
possibility of forming an Urban Futures Program to look at aspects of the
built environment, including utility distribution systems, transport
infrastructure and structural design.

Discussions with Christopher Findlay, Head of the School of Economics,
to help facilitate the establishment of a Resource Economics and Policy
Centre at the University of Adelaide.

Discussions with Sam Wells, Director of the MBA Program, and Nancy
Pollock-Ellwand, Head of the School of Architecture, Landscape
Architecture and Urban Design, about establishing a new Centre for
Sustainable Living.
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External Base Level Funding
Discussions with BHP Billiton Discussions with Potter Foundation - Confidential discussions
In negotiation with Adelaide Airport - $750,000 across three years
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Relationships with Australian Industry and the world
Discussions with BHP-Billiton
Iluka Mining
Natural History Museum London
FAO Amanda Vanstone 5 years 2 million > 5 million for forming reciprocal
relationships with 3rd world countries by providing policy and technical advice
as well as teaching graduates.
Board appointments
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Reaching the 500K 2011 stretch target
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Aiding Institutional Change
Perceptions of what is possible has changed "testimonial from Gus Nathan Growth in research horizons".
Open invitation to David Munro to join the Monthly Institutes Managers Meeting.
Engaging with Alumni, Marketing and Media, Property Services and making
people aware of University support mechanisms.
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Research Income Growth
Key Performance Indicator
Required Progress
Research income growth
at an annual compound rate
of 15%
15% target achieved by
2011 and beyond from 2009
Stretch Target
Double research income by
2013
Establishing the Baseline
In 2008 members of the Environment Institute accounted for 8.6% of the
University's total revenue, this increased to 9.6% in 2009. Note that these
figures exclude cases where the University of Adelaide was the funding body.
In order to establish a metric to measure the annual compound research
income growth of the Environment Institute the following definition of research
income was applied:
"The sum of member research grants minus grants for infrastructure
grants, travel to conferences and monies awarded by the University
of Adelaide"
Membership of Centres and Programs can be found in appendix x.
The total research income across members of the Environment Institute was
$7,757,381. Applying the key performance indicator of 15% annual compound
growth in research yields the following targets.
Year
Target
2009
$ 8,920,989
2010
$ 10,259,137
2011
$ 11,798,007
2012
$ 13,567,709
2013
$ 15,602,865
Inherent in this calculation of this metric are grants that have already been
secured by members prior to the formation of Environment Institute, with
availability of this research income extending until 2013 as outlined below.
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Year
Secured
2009
$ 9,205,389
$
+284,401
2010
$ 7,815,031
$
-2,444,106
2011
$ 4,384,823
$
-7,413,184
2012
$ 1,843,248
$ -11,724,461
2013
$
$ -15,003,703
599,162
Shortfall
For the 2009 period the Environment Institute members had a secured research
income of $9.2M, an increase beyond the 15% compound growth level by
$284K. The growth in research income for 2009 was 18.7%.
In 2009 members of ACEBB secured the greatest proportion of funding
accounting for 24% of all research income across the Environment Institute.
WRC
21%
ACAD
21%
MBP
9%
ACEBB
24%
CET
19%
LFP
6%
Members
Average
Research Income
ACAD
3
$ 636,849
ACEBB
20
$ 108,735
CET
16
$ 108,012
LFP
3
$ 191,808
MBP
8
$ 103,458
WRC
21
$
94,707
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71
EI
$ 129,653
Centre and Program Income Reports
Australian Centre for Ancient DNA
2.0
99.5%
100%
98.0%
77.7%
1.2
80%
60%
0.8
29.7%
0.4
0.0
% change
$ (millions)
1.6
120%
40%
34.8%
20%
0.3
0.6
0.8
1.1
1.9
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
0%
Year
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Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity
2.4
50%
40.9%
2.0
40%
1.6
30%
1.2
20%
8.1%
0.8
0.0
10%
5.9%
-2.5%
0.4
% change
$ (millions)
31.3%
1.4
1.9
2.1
2.2
2.2
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
0%
-10%
Year
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Centre for Energy Technology
2.0
50%
39.1%
32.9%
30%
22.7%
1.2
12.0%
10%
0.8
-12.0%
0.4
0.0
0.9
1.1
1.5
2.0
1.7
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
% change
$ (millions)
1.6
-10%
-30%
Year
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Landscape Futures Program
3736.2%
0.6
2600%
0.4
1600%
% change
$ (millions)
3600%
0.2
600%
188.6%
0.0
-65.4%
0.1
-83.6%
0.0
2005
2006
0.1
-74.0%
0.0
0.6
2007
2008
2009
-400%
Year
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Marine Biology Program
1.0
10%
7.1%
5.3%
5%
0.3%
0.6
0%
0.4
0.2
0.0
-5%
-6.9%
-10.8%
% change
$ (millions)
0.8
-10%
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.8
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
-15%
Year
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Water Research Centre
2.4
36.5%
40%
30%
2.0
20.6%
20%
10%
1.2
0%
-8.2%
0.8
-10%
-21.5%
0.4
0.0
% change
$ (millions)
18.5%
1.6
-20%
1.9
2.3
2.1
1.6
2.0
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
-30%
Year
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Environment Institute Income Initiatives 2009
Major Initiatives in 2010
Funding
Source
Funding
Sought
Funding
Secured
TERN - Rangeland Monitoring
TERN
$
3,000,000
$ 3,000,000
TERN - Ecoinformatics
TERN
$
4,500,000
$ 4,500,000
Water Allocations Framework
CSIRO Cluster
$
1,454,996
Pending
DNA Bar-coding
ABRS
$ 35,000,000
Pending
HERA
EIF
$ 30,000,000
Pending
TREND
PSRF
$
1,500,000
$ 1,350,000
Energy Integration PSRF
PSRF
$
1,500,000
$
Energy Integration ASI
ASI + Petratherm
$ 16,900,000
Pending
3rd Generation Sequencer
BPA
$
1,000,000
Pending
Laureate Fellowship
PSRF
$
360,000
Pending
CET Airport Sponsorship
Adelaide Airport
$
750,000
Pending
Total
$ 95,964,996
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794,268
$ 9,644,268
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TERN - Ecoinformatics
The heterogeneous nature of ecological data and differential recording
emphases (site descriptions, physical/chemical, soil classes, diversities, taxa)
has made databasing and web serving difficult. New methods, originally
developed for marine benthic data integration projects, parsing/analysis of text
descriptions, and uncertainty handling, are being leveraged to bring those
datasets into better use.
This TERN capability has four components:

Negotiate data sharing and access for key synthesised National
information systems relevant to ecosystem science, including, amongst
others, soils, weather, climate, water and landuse/vegetation
classifications.

Consolidate key biodiversity and environmental data sets from across
Australia, including State and Territory survey and monitoring data
systems. Integrate with other national and international programmes, e.g.
Atlas of Living Australia, GBIF and GEO BON.

Develop future data input system and standards for wide range of
Australian ecosystem science outputs, including; biodiversity data,
landscape genetics, high resolution bio-geochemical data (e.g. flux tower
or nutrient monitoring probes). Explore incentive methods to encourage
uploading and housing of data by scientists actively researching the area
(e.g. publications based on DNA sequence data now required lodgement
of data in publically accessible databases before publication is approved
for a range of journals).

Build a portal to access, analyze and visualize Australian ecosystem data
within navigable GIS integrated web portal. Data should be accessible in
range of formats from simple interpreted outputs useful for specialist
decision makers to detailed downloads of long–term specific data types
for use in customer built models.
Environment Institute Involvement
Support Staff
Activity
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TERN – Rangelands Monitoring
The condition of ecosystems changes in response to changing environment,
context and climate. Invasions and extinctions, and extensions and contractions
of species ranges all give an insight into the changing condition of ecosystems.
Yet here in Australia, we have only a very basic understanding of the base-line
condition of most of our ecosystems, let alone how they are changing over time
due to environmental degradation (habitat fragmentation, livestock and feral
animal grazing, introduction of invasive species, salinity/nutrient/water changes
due to agriculture/urbanisation/mining) and climatic change.
To monitor ecosystem changes over a broad range of systems, and with
sufficient replication to establish baseline condition and change trajectories, will
require the establishment of a national network of scientific reference sites. To
reduce ecosystem variability factors this network targets the Australian
rangelands and associated ecotones (including Mallee), which represents >81%
of the surface area of the country. The focus of each reference site is to monitor
the diversity and condition of perennial plant species, since these have the
strongest influence on habitat structure for animal communities and on
biogeochemical processes, and on trends in soil carbon, nutrients and surface
erosion.
This rangelands monitoring facility is being developed in collaboration the
Australian Collaborative Rangelands Information System and the biodiversity
discovery programmes of the Australian Biological Resources Study and
EarthWatch.
Environment Institute Involvement
Support Staff
Activity
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Water Allocations Framework
Paul or Justin to provide data
Environment Institute Involvement
Support Staff
Activity
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
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DNA Bar-coding
Environment Institute Involvement
Support Staff
Activity
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
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HERA
Environment Institute Involvement
Support Staff
Activity
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
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TREND
As part of the Premier’s Science and Research Fund (PSRF), the State
Government has invested $1.35 million over three years to establish a TREND
Line to monitor the agricultural and ecological impact of climate change.
TREND is a collaborative initiative between the University of Adelaide, the
Department of Water Land and Biodiversity Conservation, Department for
Environment and Heritage and the South Australian Research and
Development Institute. Together these partners will establish the South
Australian TRansect for ENvironmental monitoring and Decision making.
The TREND program will provide an early warning system for ecosystems shifts
due to climate change, helping to plug a fundamental gap in our knowledge
about how natural and production systems respond to this change. This will
lead to improved modelling that will help inform effective management decisions
for the future.
The TREND program will deliver a study of economically and ecologically
important systems, running from Adelaide north through the Mt Lofty Ranges,
the Barossa and Clare Valleys to the rangelands and eventually into the
northern desert areas of the State. It also includes a marine component in the
gulf of St. Vincent headed Corey Bradshaw.
This project is an opportunity for the university to engage the wider community,
by providing a forum for direct public involvement in data collection.
Over the next five years, it will provide resources to assist managers of natural
and agricultural systems to incorporate climate change into their planning.
Ultimately, it will provide a legacy of high-quality monitoring for future
generations.
Environment Institute Involvement
Support Staff
Activity
Scott Mills
Development of proposal and supporting marketing tools
to establish the proposal with key partners
Karah Wertz
1st and 2nd round grant proposals support
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Energy Integration - PSRF
The 2009 round of the Premier’s Science and Research Fund (PSRF) included
a contribution of $794,268 to the design and development of an integrated
solar, geothermal and combustion system for high efficiency base load power
generation.
This project aims to reduce the cost of solar thermal energy by 40 per cent
through the integration of renewable energy technologies, while also achieving
up to 50% renewable energy and true base-load capability, by developing all of
the components required for the efficient and cost-effective integration of
concentrated solar energy, geothermal energy and combustion into a single
device.
The project is a collaborative project, between GeoSolar – a 100% owned
subsidiary of a leading geothermal company, Petratherm, and the University of
Adelaide. It is being led by Mr Terry Kallis from GeoSolar and Professor Gus
Nathan, Director of the Centre for Energy Technology (CET), from the
Environment Institute at the University of Adelaide.
The project has a leading team of technical and commercialisation experts, from
both the University of Adelaide and GeoSolar. The researchers involved in this
project from the University of Adelaide are leaders in their field and have
extensive experience in delivering large-scale projects. GeoSolar, through its
parent company Petratherm, has proven skills in the planning, delivery and
commercialisation aspects of renewable energy R&D and technology
demonstration projects.
The funding from the State Government will assist with the research and
development of this project to contribute to the South Australian Strategic Plan’s
objective of attaining sustainability, through the improvement of renewable
energy technology.
Environment Institute Involvement
Support Staff
Activity
Jordan Parham
y
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
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Energy Integration - ASI + Petratherm
Environment Institute Involvement
Support Staff
Activity
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
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3rd Generation Sequencer
Bio Platforms Australia (BPA) is looking to invest and guide the development of
3rd Generation Genomics Sequencers in Australia. The Environment Institute
has aligned itself with the Australian Genome Research Facility Ltd (AGRF) that
is supported by NCRIS, managed by BPA and operates out of four nodes
(Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide). Our research areas that would
benefit from this acquisition include:




ACAD - Environmental Genomics
ACEBB - Taxonomy and Barcoding
Waite Campus - Crop Genomics and the Yeast Genomes
Medical Research Centres - SA Pathology
BPA seek local investment of around 25% in genomics initiatives, and AGRF
wish to put forward a case to BPA for basing a 3rd Generation Sequencer at the
University of Adelaide, based around the existing metagenomics capacities.
AGRF believe that BPA are interested, and an investment of $200,000 up front
by the Environment Institute would secure the purchase of the machine
(estimated at $1.2M) with the Environment Institute as the sole cash partner,
providing strong leverage, and a strong negotiating position to obtain priority
access to the machine, branding rights for the capability and to position Alan
Cooper more strategically with AGRF.
The Environment Institute would also seek AGRF to fund two bioinformatics
positions to be based in Adelaide, critically important for establishing new
informatics capacity in the analysis of metagenomics and biodiversity. These
positions could potentially serve to support a planned Master of Science in
Bioinformatics to be run through University of Adelaide.
Environment Institute Involvement
Support Staff
Activity
Paul Dalby
Scott Mills
Facilitate discussions between ACAD, AGRF and SA
Pathology.
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
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Laureate Fellowship
Environment Institute Involvement
Support Staff
Activity
Paul Dalby
Jordan Parham
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
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CET Airport Sponsorship
Environment Institute Involvement
Support Staff
Activity
Paul Dalby
Jordan Parham
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
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Influence Policy
Key Performance
Indicator
Government policy and
investment in the private
sector is demonstrably
influenced
Required Progress
Advice sought and
preferably State
government policy
influenced as a result of EI
Major new investment in
infrastructure by private
sector using know how
developed by EI by 2011
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
Stretch Target
National and international
government policy changed
as a result of EI
Major new investment in
infrastructure by private
sector using know how
developed by EI by 2010
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Influence State Governance Policy
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
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Influence upon private sector development 2011
David Viola
Onka Paringa Council
CET workshop identifying business opportunities
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
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National and International Policy Influence
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
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Influence upon the private sector development by 2010
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Media Profile
In 2009 The Environment Institute developed a strong media profile targeted at
national and international recognition for excellence in research.
From the period between 10 December 2008 and 9 December 2010 the
institute was publicised in 31 written press articles, 482 radio broadcasts and 1
television broadcast, reaching a combined audience of more than 8.6 million
media consumers.
The Environment Institute has also actively encouraged its members to act as
spokespersons for their Centres or Programs as well as promotion of the
umbrella University of Adelaide brand.
From the period between 10 December 2008 and 9 December 2010 members
of the institute were publicised in 198 written press articles, 3113 radio
broadcasts and 209 television broadcasts, reaching a combined audience of
more than 77.7 million media consumers.
Prof. Mike Young (42.8%), Prof. Barry Brook (30.5%), Assc. Prof. David Paton
(6%), Assoc. Prof. Justin Brookes (4.2%), Prof. Corey Bradshaw (3.64%),
Assoc. Prof. Bronwyn Gillanders (3.2%) and Prof. Andrew Lowe (2.8%)
accounted for 93% of all media hits.
Key Performance
Indicator
The Environment Institute
increases the recognition
of its research
Required Progress
Maintain current media
profile, recognition of
research excellence
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
Stretch Target
National and international
research awards and
significant increase in
international media
recognition
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Events
The EI held 69 events in 2009. These events included 4 launches of research
centres and initiatives, 28 Internal Forums, 29 public forums, 7 government and
media events and two symposiums. In addition to positive attendances at the
live events, links on the EI webpage to podcasts and other materials have been
very popular. Of particular success has been the use of SlideShare which had
received 8981 hits as of December 20 2009.
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Traditional Media
Institute and Centre Press Coverage
6
█
4
█
30
Audience Other Institutes
25
▬▬ Volume
20
3
15
2
Volume
Audiance (Millions)
5
35
Audience Environment Institute
Centres and programs
10
1
5
0
0
Institute and Centre Radio Coverage
3.5
2.5
2.0
█
█
Audience Environment Institute
Centres and programs
500
Audience Other Institutes
400
▬▬ Volume
300
1.5
Volume
Audiance (Millions)
3.0
600
200
1.0
0.5
100
0.0
0
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Institute and Centre Television Coverage
1
1
0.9
0.7
0.6
Volume
Audiance (100,000s)
0.8
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0
█
Audience Environment Institute
Centres and programs
█
Audience Other Institutes
▬▬ Volume
Spokesperson Press Coverage
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
Volume
Audiance (Millions)
12.0
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1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Volume
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Volume
Audiance (Millions)
Spokesperson Radio Coverage
Spokesperson Television Coverage
Audiance (Millions)
12.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
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Non-traditional Media
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
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Non-traditional Media Highlights
Barry brook
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
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Establishing the Baseline
Research Awards
www.adelaide.edu.au/environment
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Research Centres and Research Institutes Framework
1.5 Annual Reporting Requirements for Research Centres and
Research Institutes Template
1. For Research Centres and Research Institutes receiving central University
funds, the Annual Report is required to:
a) address the specific key performance indicators and related targets
developed during their establishment phase, covering the period since the
previous Report;
b) address the Outcomes listed below;
a) provide a statement of financial performance for the period;
b) provide details of significant managerial or personnel changes; and
c) include an overview prepared by the Director.
2. For Research Centres and Research Institutes independent of any central
University funds, a summary report is permitted, outlining major activities and
outcomes for the previous year.
3. If the Research Centre or Research Institute is a joint venture subject to a
legal agreement, the report must be prepared in accord with the terms and
conditions required by the agreement.
4. All Annual Reports are required by 31July each year.
OUTCOMES
1. Strategic Purpose and Benefit
* Outcome and progress on achieving the objectives and milestones of the
University Strategic Plan and Operational Plan.
* Evidence of national and/or international leadership in the research area.
* New strategic relationships developed.
2. Research Program
* Anticipated capacity for growth in research activity and research revenue
including:
o Number of applications for large funding grants, program grants, international
grants, etc.
o Number and amount of national competitive grants and/or other sources of
funding won, including contract research and consultancy.
* Number of fully-funded research only staff, if applicable.
* List of publications.
* Number of citations, if applicable.
* Number of publications in high-impact journals.
* Invitations to address and participate in international conferences.
* List of patents and commercial products.
* Other peer reviewed outputs appropriate to the discipline(s).
3. Peer Recognition
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* Number and description of prizes awarded and other forms of peer and public
recognition.
4. Research training and professional education
* Number of postgraduate students supervised by Centre/Institute staff.
* Number of postgraduate completions by students supervised by
Centre/Institute staff
* Evidence of support for early career researchers.
* Number and nature of professional workshops and outreach programs held.
5. International, national and regional links and networks
* Number of international visitors.
* Nature and extent of international engagements.
* Number of publications and projects with external collaborators.
* Number and nature of contractual arrangements (commercialisation and
consultancies).
* Number of current affiliate/adjunct members from relevant industry sectors,
external stake holders or researchers from national or international research
centres, as appropriate to the discipline area and actively involved in the
research of the Centre/Institute.
* New joint venture agreements, MOUs or partnerships.
6. End-user links
* Nature and extent of interaction with industry, government and other public
organisations
* Evidence of how the Centre/Institute has altered policy or practice of a
particular organisation or profession and/or evidence of creating identifiable
social, economic or environmental change.
* Participation in external events.
* Awareness in the community, e.g. media articles.
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