PhD opportunity - NRM socio-cultural evaluation
Project title:Socio-cultural evaluation of natural resource management projects: a case study of the 'Communities in Landscapes' project.
Employer: University of Sydney/Landcare NSW Inc.
Location: Camperdown, NSW (negotiable)
Hours: Full-time PhD
Supervisors: Dr Krishna Shrestha (primary), Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning and Peter Ampt, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Sydney.
Communities in Landscapes (CiL) is a $4.2 million, multi-partner project designed to achieve significant on-ground outcomes through community and agency action to integrate production and conservation across Box-Gum Grassy Woodland remnants in the Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and Central West regions of New South Wales. Project partners are Landcare NSW Inc (lead agent), Conservation Management Network, CSIRO, DECCW, I&I NSW, Florabank/Greening Australia, STIPA, University of Sydney, Birds Australia. We seek a full-time PhD student for three years to investigate and further develop the socio-cultural aspects of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement (MERI) plan the project team has developed. Socio-cultural evaluation is a critical component of most Australian Government mandated MERI plans for projects funded through the 'Caring for our Country' (CfoC) initiative. However, socio-cultural evaluation methods and tools are still being developed, negotiated and tested. Key Australian Government personnel administering CfoC are working towards a systematic approach across projects. As a result, this research is very timely and prospects for people with expertise in this area are strong. The student would be expected to work closely with the CiL team and evaluation experts in other institutions including CfoC. They will develop a suitable socio-cultural evaluation framework of the impact of the CiL project as a principle case study that will provide a model for other NRM projects. It is anticipated that the project will have the following stages:
- Critical review of socio-cultural evaluation processes in NRM;
- Development of CiL socio-cultural evaluation process guided by the CiL MERI;
- Conducting the CiL socio-cultural evaluation and robust analysis and critical review of its effectiveness; and
- Developing recommendations for socio-cultural evaluation of NRM projects for C4OC.
The suitable PhD candidate will have:
- 1st class honours or equivalent research credential in a relevant discipline such as agricultural science or economics, rural and regional studies, human or environmental geography, environmental planning and management, natural resource management.
- Highly developed research skills.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of socio-environmental justice issues in relation to rural communities and sustainable natural resource management.
- Substantial professional experience in NRM through Landcare, regional NRM bodies or other similar institutions involved in NRM in rural areas.
- Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills.
In negotiation with the supervisors, the student will be able to pursue areas of interest within this framework. The student will also be able negotiate their location and may elect to reside in the study area, although significant time at Sydney University will be highly desirable. A workspace will be available within the Urban and Regional Planning and Policy Program in the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning, with regular access to both supervisors.
For more information, please contact:
Peter Ampt Lecturer in Natural Resource Management Manager, Future of Australia's Threatened Ecosystems (FATE) Program Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources University of Sydney NSW 2006 Tel: +61 2 9351 4684 Mob: 0421 998 886 Email: pampt@usyd.edu.au
Closing date for applications: 22nd February 2010
To apply, please forward a statement addressing position criteria and CV to:
Dr Krishna K. Shrestha Director, Urban and Regional Planning and Policy Program Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, AUSTRALIA Telephone: +61 2 93513668 Facsimile: +61 2 93513031 Email: krishna.shrestha@sydney.edu.au
