• Five researchers from South Africa to visit Charles Sturt in Albury-Wodonga for workshop on environmental sustainability
• South African and Australian researchers will discuss collaborative research opportunities at workshop
• The collaboration comes after Charles Sturt’s recent MOU with South Africa’s University of Mpumalanga

Five researchers from South Africa will soon visit Charles Sturt University (Charles Sturt) in Albury-Wodonga to attend a five-day workshop on environmental sustainability and learn more about the region’s parks, wetlands and rivers.

The workshop, hosted by the Charles Sturt Institute for Land Water and Society (ILWS) through the team support program, will provide an opportunity for the Australian and South African researchers to share their research on the sustainability of aquatic and terrestrial systems, and develop collaborative research opportunities between the two countries.

The visit by the South African researchers comes shortly after Charles Sturt signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Mpumalanga in South Africa. 

The MOU formalises a relationship between the universities to collaborate in a number of areas, including research projects, student and staff exchanges, and courses and seminars and is a great example of the University making global connections from its regional campuses.

Associate Research Professor in Fisheries and River Management at the Charles Sturt ILWS Dr Lee Baumgartner said the workshop provides an opportunity for an international collaboration when it comes to environmental research.

“Everyone involved in the workshop shares a common vision to make a contribution to the sustainable management of natural resources locally in South Africa and in Australia and contribute to global sustainable resource management,” Dr Baumgartner said.

“Both South Africa and Australia are within regions of flooding rains and harsh droughts, so there is a lot of opportunity to collaborate on research projects and learn from one another.  

“The workshop will provide a great opportunity for the Charles Sturt University and South African researchers to start scoping areas of mutual interest, developing some research proposals and preparing funding plans to make them a reality.”

Five researchers from the University of Mpumalanga and South African National Parks (SAN Parks) will tour to Yarrawonga Weir Fish Lift, the Edward River and Narrandera Fisheries Centre to gain a better understanding of the region’s environmental flows and fisheries sustainability.

The researchers will also tour Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Wonga Wetlands and the Narrandera Koala Reserve to gain a better understanding of the region’s mammal ecology and birds.

The workshop ‘Resilience in Semi-arid landscapes of South Africa and Australia’ is on from Tuesday 8 to Saturday 12 of October at the Charles Sturt campus in Albury.

The visiting researchers are Dr Gordon O’Brien and Dr Mduduzi Ndlovu from the University of Mpumalanga and Dr Sam M. Ferreira, Mr Robin Petersen and Mr Danie Pienaar from the San Parks.