Highs and Lows of Wetland Health – Free Seminar to launch new Waterlines Reports, 22 March, Canberra

The National Water Commission has funded research through its Raising National Water Standards Program to –

• investigate the scientific and management implications of the Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration framework for regional environmental flow assessment (Prof Angela Arthington)
• research modelling of low flows and ways to improve information on flow related ecology (Dr Fran Sheldon)
• complete a national waterbird survey of major wetlands in Australia, assess long term changes in waterbird numbers in eastern Australia and establish a national waterbird database. (Dr Richard Kingsford)

Who wants to be a better presenter? Eliminate Death by Powerpoint

Gabrielle and Yamini who are the powerhouse behind  ‘one thousand and one‘ the organisational storytelling experts have just released a new free downloadable ebook  titled Eliminate Death by PowerPoint.  They have done so because:

In the work we do with leaders around storytelling they often ask for tips and techniques to be better presenters.  This combined with our professional goal to eliminate death by PowerPoint was the catalyst in writing this book.

Survey after survey shows that people fear public speaking over death.  More people would prefer to be the person in the coffin than the person delivering the eulogy.  That is very sad …because with preparation and practice everyone can get better at presenting …and the better you get at it the less you will fear it.

In the book we have pulled together over 20 years presentation experience.  Now there are countless books out there on presenting and this is not a summary of that information.  This book is about what we believe works and what we have seen work.   The focus of the book is on the content, helping you determine what you say and how you present it.

I have downloaded the ebook and it is excellent, with many great suggestions and ideas you can put into practice.  You can also subscribe to the ‘one thousand and one’  blogs which are also terrific.  Let me know how you get on.

Siwan

Healthy Rivers Australia needs your support

In recent years, HRA has contributed to restoring the health of the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers. For example, on the Murrumbidgee in 2011 we donated 1,500 ML of water to boost flows released by the NSW Government. The project supported a large diversity of native flora and fauna, including the endangered Southern Bell Frog and is one of the largest single donations of water ever made to an environmental project in Australia.

Projects like these enable us to support healthy rivers and pave new ground for water trusts like HRA to gain tax concessions on water donations.  With an annual membership fee of $10, members can contribute to restoring rivers and wetlands. Financial contributions help fund community projects and water purchases that will revitalize wetlands and revive declining populations of native wildlife.  Check out the website and become a member, its for a good cause.

 Mark Siebentritt, Chair Healthy Rivers Australia

Fish in Wetlands Decision Support Tool – Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre and National Water Commission Collaboration

The Fish in Wetlands Decision Support Tool (FWDST) has been developed to enable managers to make informed decisions regarding timing, duration and depth of inundation and method of water delivery to maximise benefits to native fish communities in river-floodplain ecosystems.  Researchers from MDFRC hope that predictions of fish responses will help inform both the prioritisation of wetland watering actions and decisions about the timing, magnitude and delivery of water to wetlands.

Funded by the National Water Commission, the FWDST consists of four species-specific Bayesian network models (Common Carp, Golden Perch, Carp Gudgeon and Australian Smelt) and these can now be downloaded from the MDFRC website

 
In addition to these models, a video has been produced which provides an insight into the project’s background, objectives and outcomes with a particular focus on the establishment of a demonstration wetland – Coonancoocabil Lagoon.   Watch video here.

Leanne Wheaton, Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre (from Basin Links newsletter)

What you are saying about Simon Sinek – Start with Why?

A few reactions to the Simon Sinek video I shared with you in the last blog:

Siwan – thanks for sharing Simon Sinek’s TED talk.  Apart from the fact that someone finally explained to me why most of the earth’s population loves Apple products (I’m possibly in the category of those people who would still be using a rotary phone if they were available) Simon’s talk made me reasses why I do what I do – essentially it still the same reason as the one that drove me to become an Environmental Scientist in the first place, but I realised that with the passing of time and the gaining of new experiences (lots of them harsh and hardening), it is important for me to stop every once in awhile to reassess - taking this time has refreshed and invigorated my spirit !  Whilst pondering Simon’s talk I became conscious again of the fact that every single person I communicate with on a daily basis has a reason for doing what they do – and it is not necessarily the same as mine.  This fact poses a significant challenge because if we don’t share WHY we do what we do, we cannot learn how to build sustaining relationships.  This is probably part of the reason it’s difficult to find collaborative funding to rehabilitate the streams of South East Queensland, or continue research into catchment processes and the effectiveness of management interventions – just a couple of things that I’m passionate about.  I’m hoping though that adopting Simon’s techniques might assist myself and my collegues in our quest – it’s worth a shot!

Joanne Burton, Dept of Environment and Natural Resources, Qld

Hi Siwan,  Simon Sinek’s TED talk is one of my favourites too! I recently came across this recent post  from Amber Rae which provides some useful suggestions/prompters on how to translate the ‘Golden Circle’ from the organisational to the personal level.

Clare Webb