Listening to the river

How can deepening our knowledge of the Richmond River help us to reduce the impacts of flooding in the Northern Rivers? 

Join us for a conversation with researchers from Southern Cross University about the ways they are working with our community to increase our understanding of the Richmond River. 

As part of the Southern Cross University’s Vice Chancellor’s Flood Recovery Project Scheme, Emily Horton, Associate Professor Adele Wessell and Dr Brendan Cox have been collaborating with people across the Northern Rivers to bring together a wealth of knowledge about our local river. 

Their research explores the ways we live with a dynamic and highly modified river in our landscape, with the ambition to develop creative new solutions that will allow us to live in harmony with our waterways, regenerate the landscape and reduce the impacts of flooding.  

Emily, Adele and Brendan will share highlights from their research, followed by a Q&A session. 

Thursday 17 October 2024

10.30am – 12.30pm

Living Lab Northern Rivers shopfront

11 Woodlark Street, Lismore

Free. Places are limited and registrations are essential.

Please get in touch with us at livinglabnr@scu.edu.au or on 02 6626 9188 if you have any accessibility requirements that you want to discuss with us.

About our speakers

Emily Horton

Emily is an Honours student in Marine Science and Management at SCU, her research focuses on the social aspects of river health. Her work explores community values and aspirations of Richmond River health. Exploring community-driven approaches to river restoration. Emily's research highlights the importance of local community participation in improving and maintaining river health, underscoring the critical role of public engagement in effective river management strategies. 

She will be sharing highlights from her project Talking about the Richmond River - community values for river health in a post-flood environment, co-authored with Professor Amanda (Mandy) Reichelt-Brushett and Marie-Chantale Pelletier.

More about Emily

More about this project

Associate Professor Adele Wessell 

Adele is an environmental historian who lives in Dundarimba (Lismore). She is State Library of NSW Merewether Fellow 2024, writing a history of the Richmond River. Adele is doing a Graduate Certificate in Digital Archiving and committed to preserving and making available records of the river.

She will be sharing highlights from her project, an online data repository to understand how to manage the Richmond River catchment and restore its health. 

More about Adele

More about this project

Dr. Brendan Cox

Dr. Brendan Cox is a freshwater ecologist and founding member of the Richmond Riverkeeper Association. Specializing in using water bugs as indicators of river health, he is passionate about the recovery of the Richmond River. He also leads engaging community education events that highlight the importance of water bugs and the ecological significance of these tiny creatures in maintaining and restoring the health of our rivers.

He will be sharing highlights from his project, creating and coordinating an ongoing citizen science program to assess riverine ecosystem health across the catchment.

More about Brendan

More about this project

This event is part of Richmond Riverfest 2024, in collaboration with Richmond Riverkeeper and Southern Cross University.

More about the Vice Chancellor’s Flood Recovey Project Scheme.

Disclaimer: We may take photographs of the speakers and the audience at this event for promotional purposes. Please let us know if you wish not to be photographed.