University of MelbourneMelbourne Sustainable Society Institute

Water

Water issues are critical to the sustainability of Australia's natural and social fabric. The water theme takes up interdisciplinary research perspectives on water from across the University and associated institutions.

This theme of MSSI engages with the social sciences especially policy, cultural, economic and legal disciplines. It aims to explore their contribution to water policy and planning, institutional governance and community involvement.

Water research in this theme focuses on urban and rural water issues, national and regional analyses, and also draws on comparative and international studies relevant to the Asia Pacific region. The Water Research theme is lead by Lee Godden and John Langford.

Research Leader Profile - Lee Godden

Faculty: Law

Research Interests: Resources, energy and environmental law

Professor Godden researches and teaches within the Melbourne Law School. For the last eighteen months she held a joint appointment as Director, Office for Environmental Programs. Currently, she is the Director of the Centre for Resources, Energy and Environmental Law within the law school.

Professor Godden’s research interests include environmental law, natural resources management, property law and indigenous peoples’ land rights. The impact of her work extends beyond Australia with comparative research on environmental law and sustainability, property law and resource trading regimes, water law resources and Indigenous land rights issues, in countries as diverse as Canada, New Zealand, UK, South Africa, and the Pacific.

John Langford

Faculty: MSLE

Research Interests: Water resource management and policy

Professor John Langford, a leader in urban and rural water management reform, joined the University of Melbourne in November 2003 as inaugural Director of the University's Melbourne Water Research Centre. He is currently the Director of Uniwater.

In 2004 the inaugural Engineers Australia listing of Australia's 100 most influential engineers included Professor Langford (along with fellow Melbourne colleagues Professor David Boger, Professor Rod Tucker and Professor Jannie van Deventer).

Professor Langford chaired the Boards of the highly successful Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Catchment Hydrology (in which the University was a core partner) and the CRC for Freshwater Ecology for more than a decade, and also the Advisory Board of Sydney University's Special Research Centre on the Environmental Impact of Coastal Cities during it's nine-year life. Currently he is chair of the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre.

A Melbourne graduate (BEAgr 1967, PhDEng 1972) he is a Churchill Fellow, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and a recipient of the Peter Hughes Award for his contribution to the Australian water industry, the 2003 Centenary Medal and the Order of Australia (2005).

 

 

 

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