Centre for Applied Climate Sciences (ICACS)

Institute for Agriculture and the Environment, University of Southern Queensland

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The Centre leads research in climate science and importantly, the application of this science to help industry and communities better manage climate variability and risk. By integrating climate science into agricultural, economic, environmental and social models, ICACS has developed practical solutions and tools for improved decision making. These tools can help better manage agricultural production and environmental risks, mitigate economic loss and manage risk and return in commodity, insurance and equity markets. ICACS has two focussed research themes: Climate science, water resources, and decision sytetms; and Climate, agricultural, grazing and associated trading systems.

Website https://www.usq.edu.au/research/institutes-centres/ilse/applied-climate-science

Key science sectors

• Environment and nature
• Food and agriculture
• Social sciences

Strengths and capabilities

• Climate science and risk management analysis
• Seasonal climate forecasts
• Climate science, agricultural, grazing and associated trading systems
• Agricutural risk managment
• Understanding El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) global impacts
• Integrating climate, agriculture and water into agricultural models

Number of research staff

20-100 research staff

Address

T Block Annex, 521-535 West Street, Toowoomba, 4350

Lead researchers

• Professor Roger Stone—Chair, UN Commission for Agriculture
• Assoc Professor Shahbaz Mushtaq—UN Technical Commission on Climatology - Expert Team on Climate Risk Management
• Professor Joachim Ribbe—Improving the physical understanding, numerical simulation and forecasts of severe storm events over Australian cities

Achievements of the centre

• Developing the World's first integrated seasonal climate forecasting and coffee production modelling system
• Improving the physical understanding, numerical simulation and forecasts of severe storm events over Australian cities
• Professor Roger Stone elected to Chair of the UN global program on natural hazards

Organisation type

• University Research Centre
• International Research Centre