DKA is very pleased to share that its long awaited foundation, the Desert Knowledge Research Institute (DKRI), will launch soon. From an idea sown more than seven years ago, the DKRI will grow into a new opportunity for research and researchers in desert knowledge.
The DKRI will act as a conduit and facilitator of desert research programs, funding and collaborations, working to support existing research as well as to identify and generate new research opportunities. As a registered charity, the DKRI can access funding for desert research and is in a great position to create connections and opportunities across remote and regional Australia.
The three focus areas for the DKRI align with the strategic direction of DKA.
Place
Land and country is central to the work of DKA and the DKRI. Research can include:
- Climate change
- Indigenous natural resource management
- Renewable energy
- Agriculture and horticulture
- Innovation in the built environment
People
Aboriginal governance, leadership and land management is essential to community resilience in remote Australia. Research can include:
- Population mobility
- Retaining and recognising emerging Aboriginal leaders
- Leadership and governance including local decision-making
- Capacity building for employment and professional advancement
Knowledge
The accumulation, translation and dissemination of knowledge is in the DNA of research institutes. For the DKRI, this includes the outcomes of the research it facilitates, and its partnership with DKA who host and protect the many aspects of desert knowledge that currently exist. This program can include:
- Knowledge translation from existing accumulated research into practical application
- Knowledge ownership and commercialisation
For more information, please contact Dr Melodie Bat.