University of Newcastle

The Centre for Water, Climate and Land use (CWCL, http://www.newcastle.edu.au/research-and-innovation/centre/cwcl), belongs to the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER). NIER was established by The University of Newcastle (UON), in collaboration with industry and government organisations, to provide a multidisciplinary model for transformational research in energy and natural resources. Driven by a vision of global leadership, NIER addresses challenges associated with rapidly emerging issues of sustainability, productivity and competitiveness associated with energy and natural resources. NIER brings together relevant UON researchers under an umbrella institute to provide practical benefits to industry, the community and the economy. Funded through a $30 million Australian Government Education Investment Fund (EIF) grant and $2.2 million from the NSW Government, the NIER precinct is an integrated facility located on a 3.8 hectare site featuring extensive mineral, chemical and related technical laboratories and industrial-scale pilot plant workshops. Within NIER, the CWCL focuses on quantifying and managing impacts of hydroclimatic variability and change for the energy and water resources sectors. CWCL takes a leadership role with respect to independent research and guidance on policy and adaptation relating to the impacts associated with hydroclimatic risks. Through CWCL and NIER, UON has established a purpose built industry-academic space to facilitate direct interaction and knowledge sharing between key research, industry, government and community stakeholders. This environment provides research infrastructure and instrumentation, a critical mass of world-class researchers and industry representatives for collaboration, and the opportunity to interact with leading international scholars and industry/government representatives who regularly visit NIER.