2019-05-07 P&E Agenda - Item 3 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Sustainability Institute - Concepts and Options Report

While not essential, proposals that seek to have the direct involvement of Council staff and/or
members of the community in the research activities (i.e., citizen science) will be considered as the
preference for awarding research projects. This community engagement will greatly assist in the
uptake of the research outputs turning these outputs into outcomes and which then can provide
impacts much faster than is traditionally achieved. In addition, the Board and any Project Steering
Committees must ensure that research outputs and data are stored in a way that can be easily
accessed by the community and other research projects. Direct links between research projects
within the Institute and with activities undertaken by others outside of the Institute are considered
the norm.
Funding of the Institute and the projects undertaken is obtained from a diversity of investment
sources that is controlled and driven by the Board. Council assists with the financial management of
the Institute.


Basic Structure
   Institute is overseen by a Board whose members rotate on a regular basis. Board membership
    should include representatives of the Council, at least two research entities and significant
    members of the Noosa community. The Chair of the Board is a non-aligned significant member
    of the Noosa community.
   The Board sets the research agenda and calls for expressions of interest into research topics
    identified as priorities by the Council and/or community as well as determining the
    appropriateness of and approving any unsolicited research submissions.
   The Institute potentially has a physical presence than is not only used as a focal point for
    research but also a place for community activities, art and science fairs/presentations.
   The Institute actively promotes educational activities that are linked to the research undertaken.
    The educational activities are focused both at the school level (both primary and secondary) and
    at the adult and community level.
   A funding structure is established that seeks funding from all levels of government and
    encourages input by industry and other benefactors. Broad sponsorship is sought.
   Research agencies are encouraged to enter into Collaborative Research Agreements that
    enable on-going multiple research projects. CRAs should be set for a determined minimum time
    period and cover all legal aspects of research undertaken under the Institute.
   The institute is managed by a person with strong research knowledge, supported by other staff
    on at least a part time basis.
   Data and other research outputs are to be stored in a manner that enable long-term access by
    the Council, community and other research activities.
   The Institute has strong links to other activities in the Noosa region as well as broader links with
    other Councils and State Governments. Information sharing and joint research topics are
    common. A common data sharing network is established that has broad partnership at least
    within the South of Queensland.
Aims
   Research topics must demonstrate a system approach that links not only environmental or
    physical research but also social, ethical and economic analysis of research outputs.
   Research topics should also demonstrate how the research activities and aims are linked to other
    existing and concurrent research.
   There is a strong requirement for research to include citizen science and reporting back to a
    dedicated Project Steering Committee. The membership of Project Steering Committees should
    have a representative of the funding source, a researcher with knowledge of the area of research
    and a member of the Noosa community.
   Research must demonstrate the links and benefits to the Noosa community and environment.
   Research outcomes are to be reported on a regular basis to the community.


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