National ‘Indigenous Science Roundtable’ – Mildura

“The Roundtable is designed to bring together representatives from CSIRO and Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to explore research priorities which more broadly address the needs and aspirations of indigenous Australians,” says the head of CSIRO’s Office of Indigenous Engagement, Greg Davison.
 
In previous consultations, water and climate change have been identified as pressing issues and priority research areas for immediate development.

Director of CSIRO’s Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship Dr Tom Hatton says CSIRO is actively generating foundation water resource knowledge that will underpin Australia’s future water policy and water management. “To give our efforts greatest effect, we need to better deliver that knowledge to indigenous Australia, and marry our science with indigenous knowledge and capability,” he says.

Today’s Roundtable aims to progress this by: developing a better understanding of the research needs of indigenous Australians in relation to water and climate change; identifying opportunities for collaboration and determining priorities for water and climate change research; and,establishing a process for achieving these goals.

The Chairperson of the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN), Matthew Rigney, says the world’s leading scientists acknowledge that indigenous peoples are disproportionately impacted by climate change.“The meeting, held here in the Murray-Darling, is particularly significant because our traditional knowledge is vital to forming effective water management responses to climate change and provides a pathway for indigenous people to help care for the country,” he says.

The NISRR Series is the starting point for CSIRO’s Indigenous Engagment Strategy process.

Initiated in July 2007, the Strategy aims to address four focus areas: scientific opportunities – engage in research and projects designed to improve the quality of life of indigenous peoples; employment – to boost indigenous employment in science; education outreach – increase participation and science education among indigenous young people and incorporate indigenous knowledge in CSIRO’s education program; and, cultural learning and development – broaden the knowledge and understanding of indigenous issues and cultures within CSIRO.

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