International panel to ensure research quality

The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC has appointed an International Science Advisory Panel to help oversee its research program. The Panel will provide independent strategic advice on the quality and overall development of the CRC’s research and education programs to ensure the research is of a high quality.

Consisting of four members from various research programs, both in Australia and overseas, the Panel is comprised of Prof Carmen Lawrence (Chair, University of Western Australia), Prof Kathleen Tierney (Director of the Natural Hazards Centre, University of Colorado), Dr Mark Finney (US Forest Service) and Dr Anthony Bergin (Deputy Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute).

Together the expertise of the Panel members covers physical science (Dr Finney), resilience (Profs Lawrence and Tierney) and policy (Prof Lawrence and Dr Bergin).

CRC Research Manager Dr Michael Rumsewicz said the Panel will be of great value to the CRC.

“Our research program will benefit greatly from the oversight of Prof Lawrence, Prof Tierney, Dr Finney and Dr Bergin, who are all leaders in their fields,” Dr Rumsewicz said.

“The Panel will review both the quality and scientific rigour of the research outputs while also providing an international perspective on its quality and scope. This process is critically important as we refine our research program over the next 18 months.”

International Science Advisory Panel members:

• (Chair) Prof Carmen Lawrence, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia. Prof Lawrence has previously conducted research for a Bushfire CRC project examining community preparedness. 
• Dr Kathleen Tierney, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Natural Hazards Centre, part of the Environment and Society Program in the Institute of Behavioural Science at the University of Colorado.
• Dr Mark Finney, Research Forester with the Fire, Fuel and Smoke Science Program, US Forest Service with 25 years’ experience in fire research.
• Dr Anthony Bergin, Deputy Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, whose role has included looking at national security from an all hazards perspective and disaster management planning.

Dr Finney presented a keynote at last year’s Research Forum in Adelaide, while Prof Tierney presented a keynote at the 2014 Research Forum in Wellington.