Sponsor Spotlight: Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

29 Jul Sponsor Spotlight: Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

The Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) features more than 500 talented experts whose work impacts the daily lives of Australians and those around the world.

Australia’s national science agency is a billion dollar organisation that generates over $485 million in external revenue – essentially nearly 40 per cent of revenue is externally sourced.

The CSIRO is working both nationally and internationally to help inform policies and strategies for supporting effective water resource management. The aim is to improve the livelihoods and economic well-being of people in large and complex river basins, currently in Australia, Asia, the Pacific and South America.

The organisation helps deliver intelligent and sustainable water management in regions of increasing demand due to population growth. They also help improve access to safe water in a highly variable and changing climates.

By establishing long-term collaborative relationships with international governments, water agencies, research institutions, and industry, CSIRO further cements its global impact and reputation as a leader in the provision of advice, information, insights and tools.

Some of the organisation’s recent international water projects have included identifying key future challenges and opportunities for water use and management in the Indus basin in Pakistan, the Koshi Basin in Nepal and the Brahmani Basin in India.

CSIRO researchers came up with solutions including increasing importation to improve future food supply and water requirements for a growing Pakistan.

Meanwhile in Nepal, researchers identified scientific relationships between river flows, ecological assets and the livelihoods that they support in the Koshi Basin.

CSIRO key researcher Dr Tanya Doody (CSIRO) said it had been an exciting opportunity to engage with Nepalese experts and analyse the current state of the river flow dependencies of fish, dolphins, crocodiles, birds, macro invertebrates, flora, and water buffalo.

The Koshi River Basin’s waters hold great potential for Nepal to develop sustainable hydropower and irrigation development.

India’s water resources are also under growing pressure, with scarcity a main concern due to climate pressures and a need for investment in access to water resources.

Last month the CSIRO presented a report, funded by the Australian Government, which used a modelling approach to support a Basin Planning process in the Brahmani Basin in India.

The report, which was met with great enthusiasm by the Central Water Commission in India, is the first stage in an Australian Government initiative to increase water, food and energy security in South Asia.

The 19^th International Riversymposium in New Delhi is the ideal opportunity for the CSIRO to discuss its recent international projects and further collaborate on innovative ideas to improve the sustainable management of river basins in South Asia.

Research Director of the CSIRO’s Basin Management Outcomes Program, Dr Peter Wallbrink, is a keynote speaker for the Riversymposium.

Dr Wallbrink is currently leading a significant portfolio of projects in South Asia with the aim of linking water management to livelihood outcomes.

He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles covering topics such as land use impacts on water quality, river hydrology and best practice in applying water management modelling.

Dr Wallbrink has also been with the CSIRO more than 30 years, is a keen cyclist and a devoted dad to five children.

For more information about CSIRO’s international water work, click here.

Reflecting: A local sits on the Bagmati River which runs through the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. Image taken by Dr Tanya Doody during her recent water work in Nepal.