Mediating pracitices : the Wentworth Group and transforming Australia's water culture

Richard Woolley, Kate Davison

    Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperConference Paper

    Abstract

    ![CDATA[This paper looks at the role of the Wentworth Group (TWG) in relation to ongoing struggles over sustainable water futures in Australia. The first part introduces the topic by reference to the social theory of Beck. The second part discusses conceptions of mediation as useful for understanding the work of the TWG. In particular, recent work by Thomas Osborne on intellectual ‘mediation’ is considered. The mediatising of issues surrounding water is described, with the emergence of TWG and its ideas contrasted with another mediatised presentation of water issues in Australia. The circulation of the Group’s blueprint documents, and their advocacy of ideas such as ‘sustainable river health’ in the public domain, is argued to be a sign of cultural contest over understandings of water. It is argued that mediation is also a useful concept for understanding the interrelation of knowledge, politics and the media in the transformation of intellectual practice in the 21st century as exemplified by the multi-faceted work of TWG.]]
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationThe Annual Conference of The Australian Sociological Association: Community, Place, Change: University of Tasmania Sandy Bay Campus, Monday 5 December-Thursday 8 December 2005
    PublisherAustralian Sociological Association
    Number of pages14
    ISBN (Print)0959846050
    Publication statusPublished - 2005
    EventAustralian Sociological Association. Conference -
    Duration: 26 Nov 2012 → …

    Conference

    ConferenceAustralian Sociological Association. Conference
    Period26/11/12 → …

    Keywords

    • Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists
    • mediation
    • water-supply
    • rivers
    • sustainable development
    • Australia

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Mediating pracitices : the Wentworth Group and transforming Australia's water culture'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this