Oral Presentation NCGRT/IAH Australasian Groundwater Conference 2019

Communicating groundwater science: reporting to reduce cognitive strain and reach a broader audience (151)

Claire Stephenson 1
  1. SLR Consulting, North Wollongong, NSW, Australia

Community and government interest in understanding groundwater related risks and impacts from land use activities continues to rise. With this growing interest there is a greater need for clear communication about what is often referred to as the ‘Dark Arts’ of science.

Hydrogeology is inherently ‘mysterious’ as it relies on understanding the complex movement and behaviour of water we can’t see. To understand the groundwater regime and predict responses to land use change we use a range of techniques to collect, analyse and interpret the ‘clues’. With greater government and public interest in groundwater matters there is a greater need to explain the ‘clues’ and effectively and consistently communicate how the story was pieced together.

This presentation pulls together over a decade of experience in groundwater impact assessments for major projects across Australia, capturing feedback from government agencies, peer reviewers and the broader community. The presentation outlines a framework to help hydrogeologists structure and focus their reports, as well as useful tips on how to best reach the target audience. All projects are unique due to variables such as location, regulatory setting and the type of land use activity. Therefore, the purpose of the presentation is to provide high level guidance on ways to communicate the groundwater assessment process, risks and potential impacts from land use activities to a broader audience, and hopefully gain more trust in good science.