• Transgrid funds scholarship for Charles Sturt PhD student to conduct environmental research

Charles Sturt University has received funding from Transgrid to support a PhD student who will contribute to research that could have global environmental impacts.

Transgrid operates and manages the high voltage electricity transmission network in NSW and the ACT.

The Transgrid PhD Scholarship enables a student to work with Charles Sturt’s School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences to conduct research on the impacts of electric and magnetic fields on birds in Australia.

The research will be led by Senior Lecturer in Ornithology Dr Maggie Watson and Professor in Ecology David Watson who are both located in Albury-Wodonga.

The successful PhD candidate will assist Dr Watson and Professor Watson in identifying impacts and incorporating opportunities for wildlife to benefit from infrastructure.

As well as working with Transgrid on this project, Dr Watson said, “We want to broadly synthesise current understanding of any potential effects of electric and magnetic fields, which will be of interest to ecologists, environmental managers and planners worldwide.”

The team will spend the first year conducting pilot work and feasibility trials, looking at specific interactions with birds and the wider effects on associated communities.

“This research is very important,” Professor Watson said.

“By working closely with researchers and using emergent findings to guide their practice, collaborations like this are crucial for maintaining social licence, especially in regional and remote areas.”

Dr Watson said the scholarship was central to the collaborative work and will support a PhD student working on this project and related studies.

The scholarship is available to international and continuing students on all Charles Sturt regional campuses. Applications for the scholarship close Monday 1 May.