Dr Barry Newell is a physicist who has a background in dynamical systems, astrophysics, mathematics education, operations research, and management. He has 20 years’ experience in astronomical research followed by some 14 year’s work in industrial process improvement. Since 2003 he has been concerned with management in complex social-ecological systems.

Professional Activities

Dr Newell’s research is concerned with the basic dynamics of complex adaptive systems, ways to develop shared understanding, and on practical approaches to integrative management. He is at present participating in:

1. The development of an Estuary Management Plan for Pambula Lake, on the NSW Far South Coast. In this project he is working with members of the local community, staff from various NSW Government agencies (particularly the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change), and the Bega Valley Shire Council to explore the use of a systems approach to estuary management.

2. The development and facilitation of a Local Leaders Program (LLP) in collaboration with staff of the Southern Rivers CMA and the Far South Coast Landcare Association. The LLP is an attempt to provide opportunities for community leaders to (a) develop their own leadership style and practical leadership skills, (b) develop an understanding of complex adaptive systems and how to work more effectively within them, and (c) build an active network of researchers, agency staff, local leaders, and community members who can support each others’ efforts.

3. The ANU-UTS Climate-Energy-Water Links (CEWL) Project. This project is a response to the growing recognition that a better understanding of the links between climate, energy and water is essential in any attempt to formulate energy and water policies for more adaptable societies. The aim of the Project is to establish a new conceptual framework capable of supporting integrative policy making in the climate-energy-water arena.

Academic Highlights

Community Activities

Dr Newell’s work on the Pambula Lake Estuary Management Plan and the Southern Rivers CMA Local Leaders Program is focused strongly on collaboration with the local community. In addition, he is working to establish a communitybased Participative Research Centre in collaboration with members of staff of the University of Wollongong’s Bega Campus.

Selected Publications

Newell, B., Crumley, C.L., Hassan, N., Lambin, E.F., Pahl-Wostl. C., Underdal, A., and Wasson, R., 2005, “A conceptual template for integrative human-environment research”, Global Environmental Change, 15, 299-307.

Proust, K., and Newell, B., 2006, Catchment and Community: Towards a managementfocused dynamical study of the ACT water system, Final Report, Actew Project WF-30038. http://www.water.anu.edu.au/pdf/publications/Catchment%20and%20Community.pdf

Fazey, I., Proust, K., Newell, B., Johnson, B., and Fazey, J.A., 2006, “Eliciting the Implicit Knowledge and Perceptions of On-Ground Conservation Managers of the Macquarie Marshes”, Ecology and Society, 11 (1): 25. http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol11/iss1/art25

Proust, K., Dovers, S., Foran, B., Newell, B., Steffen, W., and Troy, P., 2007, Climate, Energy and Water: Accounting for the Links, Discussion Paper, Land & Water Australia.

Newell B., Proust K., Dyball R., and McManus P., 2007, Seeing Obesity as a Systems Problem, New South Wales Public Health Bulletin, 18, 214–218. doi:10.1071/NB07028

Newell, B., Proust, K., Wiltshire, G., and Newell, D., 2008, Taking a Systems Approach to Estuary Management, in Proceedings of the 17th NSW Coastal Conference, Wollongong, NSW