CMS Interdisciplinary Spring School 2023

'Inter- and transdisciplinary approaches for sustainable marine futures'

The Centre for Marine Socioecology is excited to announce our Interdisciplinary Spring School 2023 – which will run from October 15^th-20^th in Hobart, Tasmania.

Course Description

This short course, run by the Centre for Marine Socioecology, introduces graduate students and early career researchers to interdisciplinary research skills in the context of achieving sustainable marine social-ecological futures. Throughout the week you will learn about both theory and practice relating to inter- and transdisciplinary marine research in different contexts. You will consider a range of related applied topics include co-design and engaging with stakeholders including Indigenous communities. We will use the lens of sustainable marine futures to help you develop core professional competencies for becoming an interdisciplinary researcher. These skills could be applied in almost any research context, and so the course could be of interest to those working in research areas unconnected to sustainability. The course will be delivered via a series of lectures, skill development sessions, group project work, and stakeholder engagement. The central activity of the course will be developing a collaborative interdisciplinary project proposal in response to a real-world problem identified by representatives from various marine stakeholder groups including the state government, industry, and NGOs.

Context

Climate change is happening at an unprecedented rate, with local to global effects on natural systems. These impacts include melting ice, rising seas and increasingly frequent extreme weather events, driving floods, coastal erosion, heat waves and droughts.

Society must consider how it can adapt and thrive under these changes by co-creating shared visions of a sustainable future and then taking practical action to manage (and share) risks effectively, build societal and economic resilience, and recognise and act on opportunities that may arise.

Addressing social-ecological issues in the marine realm today and for future generations requires an interdisciplinary approach that brings together ecological, social, and economic perspectives amongst others.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Compare and contrast different disciplinary perspectives and methodological approaches, including interdisciplinary approaches
• Plan and initiate an interdisciplinary research collaboration
• Develop interdisciplinary research questions
• Communicate research ideas to non-specialists
• Develop and pitch a grant application for an interdisciplinary research program

Content

• Ontology and methodology of different (natural and social science) disciplines
• Understanding interdisciplinarity – theory and practice
• Consideration of personalities and individual working preferences to build effective teams
• Grant writing and pitching of interdisciplinary research proposals

Guest Presenter and Facilitator

• Dr Natalie Ban

Course Presenters (to be finalised)

• Dr Beth Fulton
• Dr Alistair Hobday
• Dr Ingrid van Putten
• Dr Maree Fudge
• Dr Rachel Kelly
• Dr Rowan Trebilco
• Dr Aysha Fleming
• Dr Kirsty Nash
• Prof Gretta Pecl

Cost

Free for UTAS postgraduate students. $500 AUD for external students and ECRs. Subsidised accommodation is also available if required for $500 for the week.

Funding

Scholarships for travel and accommodation may be available for Australian Indigenous postgraduate students. Please send enquiry email to the contact below by CoB September 25^th if interested.

Applications

All students and ECRs with an interest in developing interdisciplinary knowledge and skills are welcome to apply for the Spring School, no experience necessary. Places are limited, but we still have room left. 

If you wish to participate, please complete the EOI form here by 25^th September 2023: https://forms.gle/4tZb8qozYzXUWFUBA

For further information, please contact cms.admin@utas.edu.au