Two people in fire fighting attire face each other and smile while undertaking cultural burning in a woodland.

PhD Opportunity: Supporting the re-emergence of cultural burning in south-eastern Australia

Publication date
Thursday, 19 Sep 2024
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We are seeking a PhD student to work on our new cross-cultural project focused on supporting the re-emergence of cultural burning in south-eastern Australia. The project aims to inform the re-emergence of First Nations burning in contemporary endangered woodlands in south-eastern Australia by: (a) implementing a First Nations led burning program, and in conjunction, (b) monitoring the relative ecological responses, including those that influence fire-risk. The expected outcomes include new evidence to guide contemporary First Nations burning programs implemented by our project partners and others. The project will establish an interface between First Nations knowledge and western science to achieve long-lasting multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural outcomes. These include ecological and fire risk-mitigatory benefit.  
 
The PhD project will be co-designed with project partners and the student within the framework of our larger project. First-Nations identified students are strongly encouraged to apply.  
 
Potential topics include:  
Supporting culturally-informed plant restoration 
* Invasive species management post-burning 
* Fuel loads and flammability  
* Soil-plant feedbacks 
 
Please contact Fenner School research fellow Dr. Elle Bowd for more information and to discuss project ideas
elle.bowd@anu.edu.au 
0422802195