Agriculture, Water and Environment Institute

On 8 October 2021, Charles Sturt University announced it would establish an Agriculture, Water and Environment (AWE) Institute for research, later renamed the Gulbali Institute.

The Gulbali Institute will undertake interdisciplinary research and innovation, focusing on promoting biodiversity across landscapes, enhancing the health and resilience of freshwater ecosystems, and optimising farm systems for performance and sustainability.

The Gulbali Institute will build on our existing research strengths in agriculture, water and the environment to generate outcomes that promote biodiversity across landscapes, and enhance farming systems and freshwater ecosystems for decades to come.

Specifically, under the biodiversity stream, research will be focused on improving methods for maintaining native species in modified landscapes.

This will incorporate:

• conserving threatened species and their habitats
• assessing how extreme events affect ecosystems
• identifying fire regimes that enhance biodiversity
• engaging with and learning from First Nations peoples.

These focus areas will be supported by enabling science disciplines relating to data, soil and geospatial, economics and social sciences.

“The Institute will centralise not only existing research but also the funding opportunities for future projects so that Charles Sturt University and its partners can produce more impactful research which benefits regional Australia,” Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Michael Friend said.