INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES

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INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS AND
TECHNOLOGIES STATUS REPORT
WASIM SAMAN
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HISTORY
I S S T

• Feb 2002 Monthly meetings started
• Oct 2002 Application for ETP funding
• 2003-2005 ISST Initiative
• Nov 2004 Invitation to apply for Institute

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Current Status
I S S T

• Application submitted 24 March 2005
• Interviews July, October
• ISST approvals RPC 4 November
• Academic Board 25 Nov
• ISST is born 1st January 2006
• ISST formal launch February 2006

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Research Focus
I S S T
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WHO ARE WE?
I S S T

• ISST Centres
• Have 70 staff
• Have 42 research students
• Received 13 national competitive grants in 2004
• Produced 66 refereed publications in 2004
• Received 2.14 external income in 2004
• Source 2004 Centre reports

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ISST Team

• 26 Project-funded research staff
• 25 School-funded staff
• 12 Adjuncts
• 7 Support staff
• 42 Research students

I S S T
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ISST Governance
I S S T
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ISST and UniSA
I S S T

• One of 6 recognised research institutes
• Focus on the priority area of sustainability
  along with the Hawke Institute
• Higher national and international profile
• Expansion of research outcomes expected
• Improved Research Quality Framework performance
  expected

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ISST and Division of ITEE
I S S T

• ISST is firmly entrenched within the Division of
  ITEE and its Schools
• Director to report to Divisional PVC and is
  member of Divisional Executive
• Some direct funding from the Division
• Collaboration with related groups
• SA water Centre, SERG, Building Planning,
  CARE CRC, Sustainable Manufacturing

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ISST and Schools
I S S T

• ISST will work with the Schools to enhance
  research activities (income, publications,
  quality)
• ISST will work with the Schools to enhance
  research training (research culture, candidates
  and completions)
• Dual reporting of outcomes

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ISST and Centres
I S S T

• Centres will not be listed as recognised centres
• All staff and research activities will make up
  ISST
• Names and identities of centres to be retained as
  building blocks of ISST
• No change of basis for current centre funding
• Interaction in developing our new research
  programs
• Anticipated growth of current activities and new
  joint projects

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ISST and I (School-funded staff)
I S S T

• Research and supervision activities to be
  negotiated and signed off with ISST and School as
  a part of workload
• Role for ISST in performance management

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ISST and I(Project-funded staff)
I S S T

• Little immediate change
• An opportunity to interact with a larger group of
  researchers
• More flexibility in future employment and other
  benefits

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ISST and I(Research Degree student)
I S S T

• Little immediate change
• An opportunity to interact with a larger group of
  supervisors, researchers and students
• More prospects for future employment

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Key research programs
I S S T

• NEW
• Integrated design and assessment of sustainable
  developments
• Product stewardship and biomimicry
• Natural resources modelling
• Sustainable cities
• Waste management
• Current
• sustainable agriculture and food production
• sustainable energy use in housing household
  appliances
• water cycle management
• sustainable transport and land use

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A NEW PROGRAM
I S S T
SUSTAINABLE CITIES CRC
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What is a Cooperative Research Centre?
I S S T

• Industry driven national program
• Strongly focused on commercial outcomes
• Has a life of 7 years
• Typical Budget
• CRC program 4-5 million/yr
• State Governments 1 million/yr
• Universities 1 million/yr
• Companies 1 million/yr

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THEMESSustainable Cities CRC
I S S T

• The path towards a sustainable future
• Sustainable infrastructure and planning
• Sustainable buildings

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THE STORY SO FARsustainable Cities CRC
I S S T

• Themes developed by ATN University researchers-
  September
• Sustainable Cities report from House of
  Representative- September
• Initial support from ATN Universities and State
  Government
• Likely inclusion of other bid from WA

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NEXT STEPSSustainable Cities CRC
I S S T

• List potential large industry partners
• Secure initial support from industry partners
• Find potential champions
• Organise a workshop for interested organisation
  in December
• Application first half of 2006
• Funding mid 2007

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CONCLUSIONS
I S S T

• ISST will provide
• A higher profile
• A larger multi-disciplinary team
• New opportunities for integrated, higher quality
  projects which will make a difference
• A more sustainable future

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I S S T
Please visit our website www.unisa.edu.au/isst
QUESTIONS ??