Welcome to the Oceania Regional Network
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Upcoming events
Previous events and recordings
Oceania Map. Credit: Dr. Erin Walsh
Who we are
The ITD Alliance Oceania Regional Network is a network of individuals and institutions that aim to increase connections and knowledge sharing among people engaged in inter- and transdisciplinary practice, research and education in the Oceania region and to strengthen our global voice about the unique characteristics of Oceania.
The network was co-founded in August 2024 by the ITD Alliance and NITRO-Oceania (Network of Leaders of Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Research Organisations in the Oceania region). The ITD Alliance is grateful to NITRO-Oceania for funding the administrative support for the network. Activities to achieve the aims and expand the network are being developed by our organising team.
What we do
To increase connections and share knowledge throughout Oceania, our current activities include:
- Sponsoring seminars and other events, especially in conjunction with existing events sponsored by others.
- Promoting relevant events in the region and the network via regular communication to subscribers.
- Sponsoring informal, virtual meetups to strengthen relationships and explore topics of interest.
How you can participate
- Subscribe to the ITD Alliance Oceania Regional Network and receive communications about events and opportunities in inter- and transdisciplinarity in the Oceania region.
- Share information about the network and related events within your own networks.
- Participate in sponsored meetups and seminars to gain insight, make new connections, and contribute your voice (open to all, usually online).
- Propose and help plan activities (contact us).
Upcoming Events
Complex identities: Navigating transdisciplinary research as PhDs and ECRs
Date: 28 July 2026, Tuesday
Time: 1:30pm-3:00pm AEST, Convert to your time zone
Registration: [Link to be added when available]
Meeting link will be sent to registrants
Conducting transdisciplinary research is a significant challenge for seasoned academics, but for PhD students and Early Career Researchers (ECRs), there is the additional challenge of nurturing their emerging academic identity within (often indifferent or even hostile) institutional settings. Six PhDs/ECRs will explore the challenges and opportunities they have faced as they develop their academic identities in a variety of research fields and institutional situations. The panel includes:
| Name, Position, Institution | Transdisciplinary Research Field |
| Dr Lucy Allen-Kelly, Lecturer, University of Technology Sydney – Transdisciplinary School | Creative and arts-based approaches in transdisciplinary education |
| Salvador Cantellano, PhD student, Griffith University – Creative Arts Research Institute | Participatory filmmaking for climate change communication |
| Dr Jess Cheok, Postdoctoral Fellow, CSIRO – Collaborative and Adaptive Futures | Co-design, Indigenous engagement, addressing complex conservation and sustainability challenges |
| Payal Maharaj, PhD student, University of Queensland – One Ocean Hub Project | Women’s health, sustainable development, governance & policy |
| Andrew Sullivan, PhD student, University of Tasmania – Centre for Marine Socioecology | Ocean Governance |
| Mikaela Young, PhD student, University of Sunshine Coast – Seaweed Research Group | Improving desirability of sustainable and nutritious food sources for Australian consumers |
The event will be hosted and moderated by Iain Gordan, Honorary Professor with the Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University, and Linda Wilson, a PhD student and tutor at the University of Western Australia.
This hour-long webinar will be followed by a 30-minute open discussion – a Talanoa – where you can connect with others across Oceania who are passionate about inter- and transdisciplinarity. A recording of the webinar will be available from this page after the event.
Previous Events
May 7, 2026: “Talanoa and Community Engagement Partnerships: Indigeneity and Science Lessons from the Pacific”, A dialogue between Indigenous iTaukei (Fijian) practitioner, Adi Vasulevu Merewalesi Levu, and a Brazilian scientist based in Australia, Leo Dutra (CSIRO).
The abstract and details are available in the webinar description on YouTube. The flyer is also available with speaker biographies. 33 people attended and many stayed for the Talanoa.
February 27, 2026: “Lessons learnt for leading transdisciplinary centres and programs”, A dialogue between Peat Leith (CSIRO, Australia) and Lorrae van Kerkhoff (Australian National University).
The abstract and details are available in the webinar description on YouTube. The flyer is also available with speaker biographies. 54 people attended and around 30 stayed for the Talanoa.
31 July 2025: “Grappling with Transdisciplinarity: Tips and Challenges“, A dialogue between Allan O’Connor (Adelaide University, Australia) and Allanah Ryan (Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University of New Zealand).
The abstract and details are available in the webinar description on YouTube. The flyer is also available. More than 50 people attended and around 25 stayed for the Talanoa (not counting speakers and organisers).
1 May 2025: “Transforming undergraduate learning: Teaching transdisciplinarity on a university-wide scale”, A dialogue with Giedre Kligyte (University of Technology Sydney) and Chris Browne (The Australian National University)
The abstract and details are available in the webinar description on YouTube. The flyer is also available. More than 50 people attended and around 20 stayed for the Talanoa (not counting speakers and organisers).
7 November 2024: Inaugural seminar “On the Nature and Practice of Crossdisciplinary Integration”, Michael O’Rourke, Michigan State University
It was great to engage with those of you who joined us on 7 November. 25 people participated in all or part of the seminar, and 10 people stayed for the following “talanoa” (a word from Fiji meaning “free-flowing conversation”). During the talanoa, participants discussed key points from the seminar and identified activities they would like the Oceania Regional Network to organise to strengthen relationships among transdisciplinary scholars and practitioners in the Oceania region. During the talanoa, participants suggested that future activities include opportunities to present works in progress and to support early career researcher pathways in the region. If you have additional ideas for Oceania Regional Network events in the coming year, or any other comments or questions, please email them to Caryn Anderson (caryn.anderson@itd-alliance.org).
Many thanks to the Network of Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Research Organisations – Oceania (NITRO-Oceania) and the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) at University Technology Sydney (UTS) for their collaboration to make this event possible.
Subscribe for news and events
Subscribe to the ITD Alliance Oceania Regional Network and receive communications about events and opportunities in inter- and transdisciplinarity in the Oceania region. Let us know if you would like to help plan and develop activities.
Organising Team
The organising team of the ITD Alliance Oceania Regional Network includes:
- Gabriele Bammer (ITD Alliance President, Australian National University, Australia)
- Mindy Blaise (Centre for People, Place, & Planet, Australia)
- Beth Fulton (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia; President of NITRO-Oceania)
- Saskia de Klerk (University of the Sunshine Coast)
- Iain Gordon (Australian National University; Past President of NITRO-Oceania, Australia)
- Giedre Kligyte (TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Australia)
- Melissa Jackson (Griffith University, Australia)
- Peat Leith (CSIRO, Australia)
- Jason Prior (Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, Australia)
- Melissa Robson-Williams (Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, New Zealand-Aotearoa)
- Linda Wilson (Australian National University, Australia)
Contact Us
If you have questions about the ITD Alliance Oceania Regional Network, please contact Caryn Anderson, Executive Secretary of the ITD Alliance at: caryn.anderson@itd-alliance.org.
Oceania Map
Thanks to Dr. Erin Walsh, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH) at The Australian National University (ANU) for producing the image. The countries included are taken from the online version of the United Nations publication “Standard Country or Area Codes for Statistical Use” (https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/; see geographic regions in the left hand side menu).