Changing relationships with water in the Pacific Islands

Overview

Funded by the ACIAR, this PhD topic will play an important role in extending our knowledge of water security in the region. Water shapes communities and communities shape water. This occurs across multiple spatial and temporal scales and is influenced by social and cultural norms. The PhD will focus on extending knowledge of the concept of the ‘hydrosocial cycle’ and how it applies in subsistence-oriented communities that have relocated (or are expected to relocate) upslope/inland as a result of climate change impacts.

The PhD will be based at Lincoln University and will involve field research in Fiji and/or Vanuatu.  As part of a cohort of PhD students (including others based at the University of the Sunshine Coast) the successful applicant will interact with researchers scanning disciplines of human geography, gender studies, environmental communication, policy analysis, water management, and soil and water science. The project team includes researchers from Lincoln University, University of the Sunshine Coast, University of the South Pacific, CSIRO, and independent consultants.

Water Security for Locally Relocated Coastal Communities in the Western Pacific Islands - ACIAR 

Value

The stipend for this PhD will be NZ$34,450 per annum for 3 years, and your annual tuition fees will also be paid for. There will also be a contribution to fieldwork costs.

Closing Date

Friday, 20 September 2024 (midnight, New Zealand time).

Selection Criteria

To be successful in this position you will ideally have the following:

• An Honours and/or Research Masters degree in a relevant social science field.
• An interest in issues such as water, climate change adaptation, and/or community well-being.
• A strong ability to work independently and to collaborate with a team.
• Strong analytical skills and experience in conducting fieldwork.
• Experience in working with rural Pacific Island communities in equitable and respectful ways.
• Evidence of publications is preferred but not essential.

Availability

Eligiblity Criteria: This scholarship is open to Pacific Islanders.

Further information and how to apply

For further information specifically about the role, please contact Professor Tim Smith:

Tim.Smith@lincoln.ac.nz

Please email your CV, along with a cover letter, to Professor Tim Smith.

For further information about the project, please visit the Australian Government Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research website:

Water Security for Locally Relocated Coastal Communities in the Western Pacific Islands - ACIAR

For overseas applicants

For overseas applicants, please visit Immigration New Zealand website or the New Zealand Government's official Covid-19 website, to review the latest health and visa requirements for visiting and working in New Zealand.

Note that PhD degrees in NZ are research-only degrees usually lasting three years (i.e. there is no course-work component).