Flinders University
IL-68: Innovation D

Flinders University is an integral partner of the newly established Coorong, Lower Lakes, and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) Research Centre. This centre, as part of the Goyder Institute, is establishing a locally driven, innovative, and impactful research portfolio that is developed and delivered in an inclusive, collaborative manner, providing opportunity for increased involvement of First Nations and community in the design, delivery and dissemination of knowledge to inform decision making of the region.

The CLLMM region is designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1985 and is home to many iconic and endangered species. Flinders University has a long history of conservation projects in this region, usually with the Department for Environment and Water and/or the Goyder Institute. Examples are the CLLMM Recovery Project and the Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin program. 

The innovative component of this new program is that research projects are driven by the community and the local First Nations people. To ensure that research reflects the perspectives of both community and First Nations people along with management agencies, the CLLMM Research Centre has established the Research Centre Advisory Forum (RCAF). This forum brings together stakeholders from various sectors including representatives from Commonwealth, state, and local government, local councils, Landscape Boards, First Nations representatives, and community members to guide and oversee the Centre’s research program.

The CLLMM region is culturally significant to the Ngarrindjeri and First Nations of the South-East communities. It has been their home for thousands of years and will continue to be their home in the face of future climate change. The First Nations knowledge of the region will be critical for the CLLMM Research Centre to understand the implications of future climate change in the region as they have oral histories and Creation stories which connect them to place, time and their ancestors.

Examples of projects from Flinders University researchers include Blue/Teal Carbon (as part of the Climate Mitigation Theme), led by Professor Sabine Dittmann, and the Iconic Species project (as part of the Threatened Species & Biodiversity theme) led by Dr Ryan Baring, with many more Flinders academics of all levels (including students) involved in the design and implementation of these and other projects. 

The CLLMM region provides habitats for a diverse range of iconic species that are nationally threatened and migratory, important for the community and culturally significant. Several of those species are listed as threatened under Australia’s EPBC Act (1999) and at the state level under the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1972). Flinders University is working with the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation and Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation, University of Adelaide, CLLMM Research Centre and others to define a list of iconic species from the CLLMM region to focus future research priorities to inform management and conservation. The ranking of this list of iconic species will take into account their threatened status, current literature within the CLLMM region, cultural significance to traditional owners and the local community as well as their ecological importance.
https://www.cllmmresearchcentre.org/research-projects

The program includes multiple volunteering activities and giving back to the community, e.g. through school programs as part of the year 10-12 SACE curriculum, and several knowledge sharing events, including an annual science forum. 
https://www.cllmmresearchcentre.org/post/cllmm-research-centre-s-inaugural-science-forum-a-day-of-discovery-and-engagement

https://mailchi.mp/3bd0e6fa7539/mijn87gcml-12725888

https://www.cllmmresearchcentre.org/school-programs, citizen science projects and regular events