Dr Nicole Carter

 

 

Fulbright Senior Scholar

 

Media profile

 

“That water availability can influence energy choices and that energy choices have freshwater implications are only recently part of the international and national debates over the future energy economy and prospects for energy and environmental security.”

 

Dr Nicole Carter, Natural Resources Specialist with the Congressional Research Service at the U.S. Library of Congress, Washington, DC, will come to the Australian National University in Canberra to explore factors shaping the energy sector’s water use in Australia and other water resource management issues.

 

“In the last decade, Australia more than any other country has invested financial and political capital in transforming its water policy. It is exploring opportunities to more efficiently use water and to more reliably meet human and environmental needs,” Nicole said. “Pursuing water policy reforms, however, is neither simple nor politically expedient. I want to learn about both the benefits and drawbacks of these reforms.”

 

“Climate change and new demands for water are testing freshwater systems globally. My research will investigate whether Australia's investment in reforming water policy will allow it to better adapt and prosper in midst of increasing constraints.”

 

Using data compiled from government and industry sources and collected through interviews Nicole’s Fulbright research will analyse water-related decisions by the energy sector.

 

Her research aims to identify policies that may increase energy’s water use (e.g., promotion of some climate mitigation and renewable electricity technologies) and policies that are or could be used to manage this use. The results could inform water, energy, and climate policy in Australia and elsewhere.

 

The Fulbright Scholar Program will provide Nicole with the opportunity to concentrate her research and thoughts on issues of long-term significance for U.S. water policy through the lens of Australia's experience.

 

Nicole has a BS (Civil Engineering) from The University of Texas at Austin; an MS (Engineering) and a PhD (Civil and Environmental Engineering) from Stanford University. She has published extensively, including many reports to Congress. In her spare time she enjoys hiking and water sports.