Description:
You will work with Sunshine Coast community. You will co-create and test a solution that can be applied in the Sunshine Coast Council area to reduce or eliminate the amount of single use plastic going to landfill.
The co-creation (CBETM) framework pioneered by Professor Rundle-Thiele will be applied in this project.
The Sunshine Coast project will feature implementation of a mixed method research design (design thinking, co-design, reviews, surveys, expert interviews, stakeholder workshops). The research will uncover a behavioural change, new technology or new waste management practice solution for testing.
Your project aim is to rapidly identify one or more solutions for testing. Your solution will be evaluated, and if successful iterated and scaled up during your three-year PhD project period.
The solution that you will test will aim to reduce the amount of contaminated plastic waste going to landfill. Lasting impacts will deliver cost savings to community, job generation and improved health for people and planet. Your evaluation may measure impacts arising from your work.
In this project you will gain skills relevant to behavioural change, community and stakeholder engagement and process, outcome and impact evaluation. This PhD project will help you establish a track record relevant to the circular economy, sustainability, behavioural change, waste minimisation and program evaluation. It also provides a great opportunity to work in one Australia regional community.
Academic supervisor(s): Professor Sharyn Rundle-Thiele
Industry partner(s): Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland Government, Sunshine Coast Council, Australian Council of Recycling Inc, Australian Local Government Association Limited, Earthwatch Institute, Parley Foundation. Planet Ark Environmental Foundation, Saffron Aid (Australia) Pty Ltd.
Remuneration: Eligible for Top-up ($15,000 per year tax free stipend on top of University Scholarship stipend + $10,000 per year expenses years 1-3) or Full Scholarship ($38,982 tax free stipend per year for 3.5 years + $10,000 per year expenses years 1-3)
Location: Griffith University (Nathan Campus), Sunshine Coast Council.
Selection criteria: Applicants should meet Griffith University HDR admission requirements as well as the scholarship admission criteria of the CRC. This scholarship is primarily targeting local students but international students may be considered subject to the approval of the Solving Plastic Waste CRC.
For more information or to apply: Interested applicants should apply by contacting Professor Sharyn Rundle-Thiele, Griffith University at [email protected].