• Charles Sturt’s Institute for Land, Water and Society partners with International River Foundation for online forum
• Charles Sturt academics to present in two-day ‘River Dialogue – Rivers on Fire’ webinar
• The event will be held on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 July

It was not long ago that the country was ravaged with fire and those long-lasting effects are at the forefront of the minds of researchers at Charles Sturt University.

Charles Sturt’s Institute for Land, Water and Society has partnered with the International River Foundation to bring together 11 renowned environmental experts to discuss how fire and climate change can impact waterways and their surrounding communities.

The two-day webinar, ‘River Dialogue – Rivers on Fire’, on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 July will bring together experts from government, industry, science and the community to bring this topic back into focus.

The first day focuses on the human dimensions of fires and rivers and the second day focuses on stream health.

Two ILWS adjunct members, Fisheries Manager for the Greater Murray with NSW DPI Fisheries Mr Luke Pearce, and Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO Land and Water Dr Gavin Rees, will give presentations on day two.

ILWS adjunct member Dr Luiz Silva and member Dr Katie Doyle are co-ordinating the event.

Dr Silva and Dr Doyle received a grant in 2019 for the project: ‘Unravelling the effects of wildfire on freshwater ecosystems in Australia and its impacts on socio-environmental components’.

As a result, Dr Silva and Dr Doyle have brought together a multidisciplinary team that represents research areas consistent with ILWS, such as freshwater ecology, spatial sciences and habitat mapping.

“The partnership with the International River Foundation is an opportunity for some members of the multidisciplinary team to present their current research of fire impacts on waterways, among other speakers from Australia and overseas,” Dr Doyle said.

Tickets to the online event can be purchased via the hopin website.