Water in Science and Faith
a look at the Murray-Darling Basin
This seminar will take place on Friday, 8 August in Armidale and will be presented twice - once in the afternoon and once in the evening. For details, see below. Hosted by Uniting Church Chaplaincy at UNE and the Armidale Uniting Church, it will involve two speakers and the opportunity for discussion and questions.
What will be presented?
Dr Darren Ryder from Ecosystem Management at UNE will talk about the role of science in the sustainable management of water resources in the Murray Darling Basin. In Australia there are approximately 500 large dams and many thousands of weirs, locks and other small structures that regulate flow. Changes to the flow regime in regulated rivers, particularly those in the Murray Darling Basin, have often had negative impacts on the environmental health of aquatic ecosystems, impacting on biodiversity, foodwebs, energy transport and ecosystem function. The current Water Reform process initiated by the Federal government has provisions for the allocation of water to the environment with the aim of 'revitalize our rivers and water ways'. This talk will explore the idea that science must underpin this reform process, as understanding the effects of environmental flow releases on river ecosystems is crucial if we are to manage water resources to sustain both river health and the communities that rely on secure water supplies from rivers. Examples from the upper Murray River, Murrumbidgee River and rivers in the northern Basin will highlight the importance of the interaction among scientists, water users and the community for the effective sustainable management of water resources in the Murray Darling Basin.
Rev David Reichardt’s topic is “Ears to Hear: An Ecotheological Field Study of Uniting Churchgoers in the Murray-Darling Basin” In it, he will present an ecotheological field study that forms part of his doctoral studies on of how the Murray-Darling Basin’s human inhabitants have affected its waterways. He will explore how the Christian beliefs, cultures and worldviews of residents of the Murray-Darling Basin have influenced the ways in which they relate to and affect their ecological context. The field study in question was carried out by David, a Uniting Church minister from Sydney, using focus groups gathered from eight Uniting Church congregations from different parts of the Basin.
When and where will it happen?
The afternoon session begins at 3.30 pm in the Wesley Hall of the Armidale Uniting Church, 112-114 Rusden Street and will be followed by a soup and damper tea. The evening session begins at 7 pm in the Gallery of Earle Page College and will be followed by supper. Entry is FREE, but a donation to help cover costs would be welcome. For further information contact Rev Judy Redman, the Uniting Church chaplain on 6773 3739 or jredman@une.edu.au
Who are the presenters?
Dr Darren Ryder (B.App.Sci. Hons, PhD, GCert Higher Ed.) is a Senior Lecturer in Ecosystem Rehabilitation and Aquatic Ecology at the University of New England, Armidale NSW. Darren has over 10 years experience in research on aquatic ecosystems, with a focus on developing ecological indicators and environmental flow regimes for the effective management and restoration of freshwater ecosystems. His research examines the links between flow regime and stream processes such as nutrient and organic matter cycling, algal and microbial metabolism, and food web structure, with an aim to better understand the impacts of dams and flow regulation on river ecosystems.
David Reichardt is a Uniting Church minister married to Lena, a medical practitioner, and father to 2 adult children, Jonathan and Sara. He was born in and, having lived in 5 countries, has settled back into Epping, Sydney. Reichardt’s love for the Australian landscape is nourished by bushwalking, kayaking on Sydney Harbour, mountain bike riding and the occasional long trip into the country. Trained by Al Gore as a Climate Change presenter, he is completing his doctoral thesis in ecotheology and entitled “Release the river! An ecotheological reading of how the Murray-Darling Basin’s human inhabitants have affected its waterways.”