6th W.E. Wood Award for Excellence in research on land and water processes and management in Western Australia

Timestamps:
00:16 - Introduction to the speaker
07:36 - WE Wood Centenary Lecture
01:20:14 - Questions

The W.E. Wood Centenary Lecture is an important occasion dedicated to recognising outstanding contributions to the understanding and management of water processes and land management in Western Australia. Originally focused on dryland salinity, the award has expanded its scope to include all aspects of water management, reflecting the critical challenges faced in agriculture, environmental sustainability, and societal impacts. This year marks the relaunch of the award after a 20-year gap, driven by the initiative of previous award winners and the support of academic institutions.

About the lecture

Dr. Don McFarlane will present insights from forty years of water research and management across Western Australia. He will outline how profound climate change and technical innovation has transformed the areas considered of most concern to resource managers. He will provide examples of where a solution has come out of ‘left field’ and made past research of limited value. It is in retrospect that hard lessons can be learned, a theme of the lecture.

Topics covered will include soil conservation, waterlogging, dryland salinity, water supply and reuse. The introduction of techniques such as geophysics and remote sensing to managing natural resource management issues will be covered. Not all have survived the test of time.

Future priorities include the need to communicate what is already available, integrating research and policy areas, overcoming policy inertia and addressing risk aversion by regulators.

About the Speaker

Dr. Don McFarlane’s career spans over four decades working on agricultural, urban and industrial water issues. He credits his MSc in natural resource management from UWA for encouraging him to work outside narrow scientific fields, where the best solution often lies.

He researched both surface water and groundwater hydrology in his 16 years with the WA Department of Agriculture. He helped form and lead the South Coast Natural Resource Management group addressing a wide range of problems. He received the CSIRO Chairman’s Medal in 2004 for his work with CSIRO on remote sensing of salinity and perennial vegetation.

In the early 2000s he was a Director in the Water and Rivers Commission where he helped the state response to a critical water shortage when runoff into Perth’s dams largely collapsed. He was then a Senior Principal Research Scientist in CSIRO leading projects on the impacts of climate change on south-west WA water resources, Pilbara water resources and reuse for industry. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at UWA where he supervises post-graduate students and gives guest lectures

His work is characterised by a strong empirical approach, innovative methodologies, and a commitment to aligning research with the needs of policymakers and industry stakeholders. 


About the award

The W.E. Wood Award honours exceptional research that advances the understanding and management of water resources in Western Australia. Named after W.E. Wood, a pioneer in hydrological research, the award is open to researchers from all scientific disciplines, including social sciences. The winner receives a trophy and the opportunity to present a public lecture, fostering a platform for sharing innovative ideas and solutions. This relaunch in 2024 not only commemorates Wood's legacy but also aims to inspire future generations of researchers dedicated to addressing water-related challenges in Australia.


Brought to you by the Centre for Water and Spatial Science (CWSS), Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy (CEEP), UWA School of Agriculture and Environment at The University of Western Australia.

Co-host profile:
Centre for Environmental Economics & Policy
www.uwaceep.org

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