Research and development versus applied science
Research and development forms a small but vital component of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) overall science effort.
The EPA delivers a wide range of applied science services to support its management and regulatory responsibilities in areas such as compliance monitoring, pollution assessment, biodiversity conservation, protected areas, environmental planning and community and industry engagement.
Applied science programs include environmental monitoring, data gathering and information reporting through physical, chemical and biological sciences and also in social, economic, planning and policy fields. The EPA also undertakes and supports applied systems development to support instrument applications, information technology and industry rating tools.
The distinction between research and development (R&D) and the EPA’s core applied science assessment and monitoring programs is key to understanding the scope of this R&D plan.
Applied science activities are mostly undertaken within the EPA, rather than externally, and are mostly applications of existing technologies as part of routine data collection programs.
A significant component of the EPA’s R&D effort relies on collaboration with external organisations. An example is the technology-oriented R&D coordinated by the EPA through the Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund (QSEIF) to support the development of new environmentally sustainable technologies in Queensland. On the other hand, the Agency’s biodiversity conservation sciences R&D is performed largely in-house by EPA staff, often in partnership with research and community groups.
EPA Science Program
Priority Areas
- Parks Masterplan implementation
- Species conservation
- Ecosystem conservation
- Environmental sustainability
- Climate change adaptation/mitigation
- Clean environment
- Heritage
- Specialist systems, support, methodologies
Examples:
- Environmental monitoring (water, air, coastal, vegetation)
- Environmental asset mapping (biodiversity assessment, wetlands)
- Wildlife surveillance
Examples:
- Species recovery research
- Resource-use efficiency research
- Animal tagging and range research
Last updated: 26 July 2007
