Congratulations Garrett hall on submitting your PhD thesis.

Will a Zero high-hazard waste to landfill policy deliver the most sustainable outcome for Victoria?

Through this research a sustainability assessment was completed to assess whether the current Victorian government policy objective, of zero high-hazard waste to landfill by 2020, is actually sustainable. Through comparison with hazardous waste policy and management practices in Germany and the UK, it was found that sustainability could be advanced while maintaining landfill disposal within the suite of management options. In order for this to occur it is necessary that the residual waste (that which can’t be reused or recycled) be treated and stabilised prior to disposal, and the landfill be of a highly engineered standard. It also became clear that there is need to overcome the adverse community opinion to hazardous waste landfills, requiring better communication and understanding of the actual risk posed to human health and the environment when disposed to an engineered landfill. This is necessary as the environmental and economic costs of eliminating all high-hazard waste may not be commensurate to the true risk posed by the material when disposed in an engineered facility.

Congratulations Musa Kilinc, Xiaoye Liu and Ari Soemodinoto on submitting their PhD thesis

Musa’s thesis explores the annual carbon balance of an old growth Mountain Ash forest located in south east Australia

“Little is known about the role of old growth forests in the terrestrial carbon balance therefore, this thesis explores the annual carbon balance of an old growth Mountain Ash forest located in south east Australia. It identifies that these forests are still accumulating carbon.”

 

 

Xiaoye’s research tested ways of improving the value of airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data, with special reference to achieving greater efficiency and accuracy in deriving  high-quality digital elevation models.  Exemplification of utility referred to improving decision support for the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority region, Victoria, Australia.

Ari’s thesis explores the tensions between tourism, local communities and conservation in West Bali National Park.  It shows that communities are more likely to reduce their pressure on the Park’s natural resources if they have a greater role in tourism development and receive a more equitable distribution of financial benefits.

Andre Taylor has submitted his PhD thesis titled “Sustainable Urban Water Management: The Champion Phenomenon”.

Andre’s thesis examines a type of leader (‘champions’) who emerge to strongly promote more sustainable ways of managing water in Australian cities. It produces strategies to identify potential champions and build their capacity to drive substantial change in the way that water is managed in urban areas.

Akiko’s baby has arrived !

In case you are wondering, Akiko got married in June last year to a chap
called Jun Nakamura, a materials scientist working for a Japanese research
agency in Tsukuba Science City near Tokyo. Akiko resigned from her teaching
position at the Geog department at California State University Fresno in June
this year, and moved back to Japan. Akiko, her husband, and her new little
baby are based in Tsukuba.

Congratulations to Kara and her new son! Felix Francis Ferguson Mom, Dad and bub are all doing very well.

Congratulations to Bruno and Alex on the arrival of their little boy.

Congratulations to Peter Morison for handing in his PhD thesis titled “Management of Urban Stormwater: Advancing Program Design and Evaluation”

Urban stormwater is a primary contributor to the declining health of waterways. It is complex to manage with a multitude of state and local governments.  Peter’s thesis examines the problem in metropolitan Melbourne and develops a model for improving the future governance of these complex types of intergovernmental environmental issues. 

Congratulations Bianca!!

Congratulations Bianca on winning this years 2009 Monash Arts Faculty Footy Tipping Competition.

GES post Grad’s enjoying the music at the Rainbow Hotel Fitzroy, featuring Akira Hazeyama on bass.

Pyrogeographers Victoria is not alone

I thought all the pyrogeographers out there might find these recent images from Greece and California impressive…  Victoria isn’t alone.

Christian Kull

Fire glow in the hills above one of western civilization’s oldest cities (last week), and a pyrocumulus cloud over one of the world’s largest modern cities (a couple of days ago).