Two outstanding doctoral candidates are sought to undertake studies in either of the projects below. Both projects are focused on novel forms of governance that seek to address two of the greatest environmental challenges facing Australia and the international community: climate change and scarce groundwater resources.
Climate Project: Given the continuing failure of governments and multilateral treaties to deliver effective climate outcomes, this project investigates an emerging, but potentially powerful new ‘actor’ in climate governance regimes both in Australia and globally. These new actors take the form of climate change civil society movements (eg ‘Get Up’, ‘1 Million Women’, ‘350.org’ and ‘1010’). The project examines the circumstances under which these new movements can shape law, policy and practice (eg direct action mechanisms, lobbying and partnerships) to produce effective and legitimate climate outcomes. The project aims to develop principles to guide these new movements to better influence climate law regimes and deliver improved climate outcomes.
Groundwater Project: This project responds to the recent call for a ‘water reform revolution’ to empower communities to collaboratively manage water buy-back and entitlements in Australia. The project will examine the circumstances under which collaborative forms of groundwater management are likely to be effective both as a standalone governance approach and as a component of wider legal and regulatory systems. It aims to provide necessary guidance and prescription to policy makers so they can deliver this ‘revolution’ and mobilise collaborative groundwater governance to achieve improved environmental outcomes for Australia.
The successful applicant will join an innovative team of researchers at Macquarie Law School who are undertaking interdisciplinary research on contemporary issues related to legal governance and public policy.
These scholarships are open to both domestic and international applicants, although only one is currently available for an international student.
Scholarship Application Deadline: 22 May 2011
Further Scholarship Information and Application