Visiting Fellow
The dynamics of society-nature interactions
Phone: +61 (0)2 6125 8150
Fax: + 61 (0)2 6125 0746
E-mail: Barry.Newell@anu.edu.au

Dr Barry Newell is a physicist who has a background in system dynamics, astrophysics, mathematics and science education, operations research, and management. He has 20 years experience in astronomical research followed by some 14 years experience in industrial process improvement, working in particular with Ford Australia, Telstra, and various companies within the Rio Tinto group. For the last seven years he has focused his research on the dynamics and management of human-environment complexes.

Professional Activities

Dr Newell’s research involves working with academic colleagues, policy makers, managers, and members of the wider community to develop more integrated policies for the sustainable management of human communities.  Among his areas of activity are theoretical and applied work in pursuit of the following general ideas:

1. Models of Causation: The notion that the creation of conceptual metaphor is the central process in the construction of an individual’s understanding of cause and effect. Application of this idea to support the development of more accessible system theory, better ways to teach mathematics and dynamics, and more systemic approaches to management and policy making.

2. Integrative Research: The notion that the development of a shared understanding of basic dynamical concepts is a crucial enabler of integrative research and policy design. Metaphorical-idea-analysis of key concepts from dynamical systems theory, and the development of widely accessible metaphors to support interdisciplinary understanding and communication.

3. Sustainability: The notion that a basic understanding of feedback dynamics is crucial to the sustainable management of human activity systems. The development of case studies that illustrate key system principles. Work with the members of coastal communities to develop integrated policy to enhance community resilience and adaptability.

Current projects include (a) the production, in collaboration with Dr Katrina Proust (ANU), of a textbook designed to promote a wider understanding of the basic dynamics of human-environment complexes, (b) collaborative work, with members of the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (SRCMA) and the local community, on the development of an Estuary Management Plan for Pambula Lake Catchment and Estuary, (c) the development, with members of the SRCMA, of a Local Leader’s Program on the NSW Far South Coast, (d) the development, with ANU and industry colleagues, of a systemic approach to the management of the Cotter Catchment in the ACT as part of the Fenner School’s Canberra Sustainability Study, and (e) the establishment, in collaboration with ANU colleagues, of a study of the links between climate, energy, and water. The Climate-Energy-Water Links project is aimed at increased policy integration.

Selected Publications

Newell, B., Crumley, C.L., Hassan, N., Lambin, E.F., Pahl-Wostl. C., Underdal, A., and Wasson, R., 2005, “A conceptual template for integrative human-environment research”, Global Environmental Change, 15, 299-307. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2005.06.003 [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science]

Fazey, I., Proust, K., Newell, B., Johnson, B. and Fazey, J.A., 2006, “Eliciting the Implicit Knowledge and Perceptions of On-Ground Conservation Managers of the Macquarie Marshes”, Ecology and Society, 11(1):25. http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol11/iss1/art25

Proust, K. and Newell, B., 2006, Catchment and Community: Towards a management-focused dynamical study of the ACT water system. Research paper for ACTEW Corporation, Canberra. http://www.water.anu.edu.au/pdf/publications/Catchment%20and%20Community.pdf

Newell, B., Proust, K., Dyball, R., and McManus, P., 2007, “Seeing Obesity as a Systems Problem”, NSW Public Health Bulletin, 18 (11-12), 214-218. DOI: 10.1071/NB07028 [http://www.publish.csiro.au/]

Proust, K., Dovers, S., Foran, B., Newell, B., Steffen, W. and Troy, P., 2007, Climate, Energy and Water: Accounting for the Links. Discussion paper commissioned by Land & Water Australia.  http://www.lwa.gov.au/downloads/publications_pdf/ER071256.pdf