Water plays a vital role in sustaining life on earth, promoting sustainable development, and contributing to the well-being and productivity of individuals, communities, and industries. The world faces a growing water crisis. The problems of too little, too much and too dirty water – inextricably linked to climate change and biodiversity loss, each reinforcing the other – worsen daily. The current crisis is not just a local issue but a global and systemic one. Given the current pressing and challenging circumstances, it is crucial to rethink and research fundamental concepts including water governance, water security and water infrastructure.
UQ Energy Centres
Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology
An award-winning multidisciplinary team and research portfolio covers the breadth of the urban industrial water cycle, achieving sustainable outcomes for the global water industry.
Study with us
Sustainable Infrastructure Design
The course explores the principles and practices of sustainable infrastructure design, specifically focusing on water utilities, engineering, and treatment, "Water Infrastructure Design". Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in developing sustainable water management systems and learn how to design infrastructure that promotes efficient water use, conservation, and environmental stewardship. Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical applications, students will develop the skills necessary to contribute to the development of sustainable water infrastructure projects.
Our projects
About
2022-2023
The global community is faced with the daunting task of rebuilding their homes and critical infrastructure in the aftermath of natural disasters such as floods, bushfires, and storms. Our project aims to explore how water infrastructure can be made more resilient to cope with the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events that are common in the Anthropocene era. Water infrastructure is more than just engineered components. It involves human, technological, and environmental interactions that impact resilience. Due to unpredictable weather conditions, social and environmental factors must be considered to develop water infrastructure in this era. The study explores the essential social and environmental factors that need consideration when creating water infrastructure and defining it in the Anthropocene era.
Rethinking Water Governance and Sustainable Infrastructure of Central Chile in Extreme Weather Events
In line with the SIRH’s strategy to foster international partnerships, scholars from the University of Queensland, Australia engaged in a collaborative endeavour with their counterparts from Adolfo Ibanez University (AIU) in Chile. This fruitful collaboration, which spanned from March 22 to 30, 2023 aimed to gain an intimate understanding of sustainable infrastructure and water security measures employed in central Chile. Throughout their visit, the academics delved into the intricacies of various local infrastructure projects.
Marking the conclusion of the visit to Chile, the team jointly organized two comprehensive workshops on March 29th and 30th. These sessions were designed to probe issues prevalent in both Chile and Australia, including water security, governance, and the role of infrastructure. The overarching objective of these activities was to confront the immediate and critical impacts of climate change.
Publications
- Chile Water newsletter
Researchers
Pablo Aranda Valenzuela
Research Assistant
Australian Institute for Business and Economics
Dr Cristyn Meath
Senior Research Fellow and Lecturer
Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Dr Jurij Karlovsek
Senior Lecturer, School of Civil Engineering
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and IT
Dr Claudia Arcos Gonzalez
Assistant Professor, School of Business
Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
About
Freshwater availability is becoming increasingly focused on water security, which refers to people's access to enough safe and affordable water to meet their daily needs, including food production and subsistence. Unfortunately, water scarcity and insecurity already affect many parts of the developing world. In the last century, global water demand has increased by six times. Almost 40% of the world's population, or nearly three billion people, live in areas where water demand exceeds supply. This, along with the rise in extreme weather events, means we must rethink and revise our ideas about water security. Without access to safe water, a nation's development can be profoundly impacted, as water is essential for life, both directly through consumption and indirectly through agriculture and industry. The study investigates through frames analysis how different actors perceive problems and prioritise solutions for water security in the context of a water crisis and the role and implications of infrastructure.
Researchers
Pablo Aranda Valenzuela
Research Assistant
Australian Institute for Business and Economics
Dr Cristyn Meath
Senior Research Fellow and Lecturer
Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Dr Jurij Karlovsek
Senior Lecturer, School of Civil Engineering
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and IT
Dr Claudia Arcos Gonzalez
Assistant Professor, School of Business
Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
About
Freshwater availability is becoming increasingly focused on water security, which refers to people's access to enough safe and affordable water to meet their daily needs, including food production and subsistence. Unfortunately, water scarcity and insecurity already affect many parts of the developing world. In the last century, global water demand has increased by six times. Almost 40% of the world's population, or nearly three billion people, live in areas where water demand exceeds supply. This, along with the rise in extreme weather events, means we must rethink and revise our ideas about water security. Without access to safe water, a nation's development can be profoundly impacted, as water is essential for life, both directly through consumption and indirectly through agriculture and industry. The study investigates through frames analysis how different actors perceive problems and prioritise solutions for water security in the context of a water crisis.
Publications
- Chile Water newsletter
Researchers
Pablo Aranda Valenzuela
Research Assistant
Australian Institute for Business and Economics
Dr Cristyn Meath
Senior Research Fellow and Lecturer
Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Dr Jurij Karlovsek
Senior Lecturer, School of Civil Engineering
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and IT
Dr Claudia Arcos Gonzalez
Assistant Professor, School of Business
Faculty of Business, Economics and Law