Important postgraduate waterways conference at UC next month
October 7, 2013
Dr Melissa Robson, a senior scientist at AgResearch and Environment Canterbury, is the keynote speaker at a waterways
conference on the University of Canterbury (UC) campus next month.
The conference is being run by the Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management, jointly-run by UC and Lincoln University.
Dr Robson is leading the technical work relating to environmental limits in several highly conflicted catchments in
Canterbury. She will highlight water issues facing Canterbury and discuss challenges.
The November 12 conference will give postgraduate students the opportunity to outline their research. The conference
will highlight research taking place at both universities and look at issues such as urban streams, whitebait and other
native fish, riparian planting, domestic chemical and microplastic pollution, climate change effects, new water
management ideas and roles for the community.
Waterways Centre director Professor Jenny Webster-Brown says the event is an annual celebration of students’ research.
``The conference is open to the public and people with an interest in how we can better manage New Zealand’s water
resources, whether they are from industry, regulatory organisations, other research organisations, environmental
interest groups or the community.
``Our postgraduate students will communicate their research findings on key aspects of water management. This includes
how we can better control the effects of rural and urban diffuse pollution, how vulnerable our aquatic biota are to
change environmentally such as invasive species and climate change and how changes in environmental policies and
legislation could affect future water quality and quantity.
``These are all recognised as important knowledge gaps, standing in the way of effective improvement of New Zealand’s
freshwater environments. Diffuse pollution of our waterways is now the single most important factor in the ongoing
decline of water quality in this country.”
ENDS