The Goyder Institute Partners were recently awarded the Australian Water Association’s SA Branch R&D Award for the Institute’s second term research program. This is a wonderful recognition of the quality and impact of the Institute’s research, with the award acknowledging its significant contribution to a sustainable and prosperous water future for South Australia and Australia.
As outlined in a recent e-news article, the research program delivered high-quality, independent research to inform priority government policies. It involved 187 scientists from 19 project teams and 20 research organisations and informed 18 end-user groups to provide important cultural, economic, environmental and social benefits to South Australia and Australia. This included supporting the wellbeing of First Nations; delivering economic outcomes through sustainable use of recycled water and the discovery of new outback water; increasing carbon sequestration; and improving the health of the River Murray.
The award highlighted that critical to these outcomes was the collaboration between partners – the South Australian Government through the Department for Environment and Water, CSIRO, Flinders University, The University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia and the International Centre of Excellence for Water Resources Management. The success of the collaboration not only allowed the Institute to deliver a large, diverse, high-quality and impactful research program, but has also led to the establishment of the third-term, such that the Institute can continue to support a sustainable and prosperous future.
In his acceptance speech, Institute Director Dr Kane Aldridge said “It is a great honour to receive this award on behalf of our Partners, who come together to collaborate on what is such an important field”. Kane thanked “all those that made the second term research program such as success including the South Australian Government, Institute Partners and collaborators, the Management Board, the Research Advisory Committee, Project Leaders, Project Teams, Collaborators and Institute staff”. Kane also congratulated all other finalists and winners of the awards and acknowledged the hard work by everyone in the water sector during 2021.
The award was presented during the 2021 SA Gala Dinner & Awards Night on the 12 November 2021 and was attended by Institute and Partner staff. The Goyder Institute is now a finalist for the National R&D Award of the Australian Water Association, which will be announced at OzWater in May 2022 in Brisbane.
