Degree type
PhD
Closing date
1 February 2025
Campus
Hobart
Citizenship requirement
Domestic
Scholarship
$33,511pa for 3.5 years
About the research project
Climate change impacts are placing freshwater resources under increasing strain worldwide, through drought, altered precipitation and extreme rainfall events. These pressures are prompting interest in technologies to harness and manage atmospheric water. Some technologies are already quite established, such as cloud seeding or fog harvesting. Others, like cloud ionisation, are only just emerging.
Some technologies are governed on a case-by-case basis, but exploitation and management of atmospheric water largely occurs in a legal vacuum. Atmospheric water is treated differently to ground or surface water in Australia. It is not governed as a resource, and there are no defined obligations regarding manipulation, ownership or liability for damage. As greater demands will be placed on atmospheric water in the years ahead, this is a topic of emerging importance.
This PhD project will examine the mechanisms needed to govern atmospheric water in Australia, accounting for the fact that atmospheric water travels across jurisdictional boundaries. We invite proposals that examine the potential for governing atmospheric water resources, at the intersection of climate law, water law, and technology law, with the possibility for comparative analysis.The project may cover issues such as ownership of atmospheric water, liability for impacts from use of such resources, and questions of distributive justice.
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Primary Supervisor
Funding
The successful applicant will receive a scholarship which provides:
- a living allowance stipend of $33,511 per annum (2025 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
- a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
- a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)
If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.
As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding
Other funding opportunities and fees
For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees of undertaking a research degree, please visit Scholarships and fees.
Eligibility
Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.
Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.
Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:
- Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus
Selection Criteria
The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.
Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:
- Bachelor of Laws First class honours or equivalent
Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:
- Demonstrated expertise in environmental, climate or natural resources law, policy, or science
- Very strong research skills
Application process
- Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
- Contact Prof Jan McDonald to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
- In your application:
- Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
- Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
- Apply prior to 1 February 2025.
Full details of the application process can be found under the 'How to apply' section at Research degrees.
Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.
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