USQ professor to lead global climate change research

A USQ meteorologist has been nominated to lead an international research program in climate change, climate variability and sustainable agriculture.

Director of the Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments and USQ Professor in Climatology and Water Resources, Roger Stone, was chosen to lead the international project during a recent United Nations Commission for Agricultural Meteorology.

'At this Mission and Congress, part of the activity was to elect new leaders of UN programs and projects for the coming four-year term,' Professor Stone said.

'Against considerable competition from all other world regions and member nations of the United Nations, I was, as a representative for Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, fortunate to win through to lead this global program.'

Professor Stone said his role would primary be managerial and would involve developing research in four sub-programs in sustainable agricultural management systems under climate variability and climate change, worldwide.

'I believe it’s a coup for USQ, Queensland and Australia and reflects all the work this region – a ‘zone of excellence’ - has achieved over the past 20-25 years in this field.

'The new research program will also address extreme climate events, such as drought, that affect agriculture globally.

'I will, of course, continue in my core role as a professor at USQ.'