SPEAKER - Peter Davies

Professor Peter Davies

Peter Davies is Foundation Director and Professor of Freshwater Ecology of the Centre of Excellence (Natural Resource Management; CENRM) based in Albany. Initially, negotiations had to be completed with Centre financial partners (Department of Environment, Department of Agriculture, City of Albany, DOTARS, CALM Premier and Cabinet and UWA). CENRM is the only State Centre of Excellence to continue substantially past the core funding period. At present, the Centre has over 25 staff and an annual budget of about $5m. The Centre has grown using funds from a number of Federal funding agencies (RIRDC, LWA, ARC, AusAID etc) and has developed a new Albany-based degree (BSc in Restoration Ecology) and a co-badged MSc in “Integrated Water Management”. Peter has investigated/researched water allocation issues across Australia (Murray-Darling Basin, Lake Eyre Basin etc) and internationally (USA, Sweden, Burkina Faso). Most of this research and management activities involves scientifically-based, equitable water sharing. He is a co-founder of the International Water Centre (with four national universities) whose main research focus is establishing a whole-of-water cycle approach to water management. He continues to work with the irrigation industry to negotiate water sharing and have written chapters for water quality guidelines (e.g. ANZECC). Peter is committed to knowledge exchange and during 2005, co-convened a river restoration workshop for government agencies in each State and Territory.

Key research:

  • Freshwater
  • water requirements
  • stable isotope analysis
  • carbon metabolism.
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