Recognising the need to build capacity and capability across the state’s modelling community, the QWMN has initiated an Innovation Program. The QWMN Innovation Program is based on the good practice lessons and insights from successful Engineering Doctorate (Eng D), Industrial Doctorate Centre (IDC) and Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) models that have been running in the UK for the past two and four decades respectively.
The program sees five Innovation Associates (IAs) recruited to conduct applied research on water modelling problems proposed by industry and government partners. The IA’s will be supervised jointly by Queensland researchers and government and industry scientists.
The program will produce useful water models and modelling solutions for policy, planning and management issues in Queensland, develop the capabilities of the next generation of water modelling leaders, and act to attract the best potential candidates nationally and internationally to research, live and ultimately work in the Queensland water modelling and use sector.
The IAs will also act as ambassadors for the QWMN and provide an important link between undergraduate students and the water modelling sector.
The initial cohort of Innovation Associates is coming on stream now following a recruitment process, and will be working with partners including SEQ Water, Gold Coast City Council, C2O Consulting and AIMS, the Bureau of Meteorology and the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science.