Dr Katrina Proust
Areas of expertise
- Dynamical Systems In Applications 010204
- Historical Studies 2103
Research interests
Biography
My background in historical archaeology allows me to study the historical factors and the feedback behaviour that shape relationships between humans and our environment.
I have worked with the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, of the International Council for Science (ICSU) in its Urban Health Programme (2012-2016). This work led to collaboration with the United Nations University International Institute for Global Health in Malaysia (2014-2018) on the social and environmental determinants of public health. In 2016 we won a Wellcome Trust Seed Award in the Medical Humanities to investigate historical factors that influenced public health and urban planning in colonial George Town, Penang.
Other collaboration has been with Academia Sinica Taiwan (2014-2017) in developing and facilitating systems thinking workshops on air quality and public health.
Researcher's projects
In collaboration with Dr Barry Newell (FSES), I am carrying out action research centred on the development of an approach called Collaborative Conceptual Modelling (CCM). CCM provides a conceptual framework to support collaborative groups and integrative projects. Our approach is intended to help members of a collaborative group to develop a shared understanding of the dynamics of social-ecological systems.
Our action research takes place in systems thinking workshops. In CCM we demonstrate that complex behaviour can be described in both words and causal diagrams. This correspondence allows us to introduce causal diagrams as a visual language. Research includes improving ways to making systems thinking accessible to a wide range of policy makers and managers.
Applications
- facilitating systems thinking workshops for FSES and other ANU students
- contributing to the DFAT-ANU Awards Program on climate change adaptation
Available student projects
I am interested in mentoring students who want to apply systems thinking to complex human-environment issues and problems. Areas of application include the coastal zone (particularly the NSW south coast), climate change adaptation, and urban health.
Past student projects
2016-2018 – A complex systems approach to urban renewal and social inclusion in Hong Kong (Kate Sewell, FSES)
2014 – Role of open spaces in revitalizing World Heritage Sites: A case study of George Town, Penang, Malaysia (Christine Duran, Masters thesis, Crawford School)
2012 – Taking a systems approach to dengue-fever management in the Caribbean (Karemah Francois, Masters thesis, FSES)
2011-2013 – Health Impacts of Climate Change in Urban Areas: A Pathway to Adaptation (Helen Brown, PhD, Curtin University WA)
Publications
- Newell, B., Tan, D. & Proust, K. 2021. 'Systems Thinking for Health System Improvement', chapter 2 in Systems Thinking Analyses for Health Policy and Systems Development – A Malaysian Case Study; Cambridge University Press, p.17-30.
- Lee Y., Tan D., Siri J., Newell B., Gong Y., Proust K., Marsden T. 2020, 'The role of public health dietary messages and guidelines in tackling overweight and obesity issues', Malaysian Journal of Nutrition, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 31-50.
- Williamson, F. and Proust, K. 2020, ''Living in a State of Filth and Indifference to … Their Health": Weather, Public Health and Urban Governance in Colonial George Town, Penang, Environment and History, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 233–259.
- Brown, H., Proust, K., Newell, B. et al. 2018, 'Cool Communities—Urban Density, Trees, and Health', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 15, no. 7, pp. 1531-1547.
- Newell, B. and Proust, K. 2018, 'Escaping the complexity dilemma', in Ariane Konig and Jerome Ravetz (ed.), Sustainability Science: Key issues, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, London, pp. 96-112pp.
- Siri J., Newell B., Proust K., Capon A., 2016, 'Urbanization, Extreme Events, and Health: The Case for Systems Approaches in Mitigation, Management, and Response', Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 28 (2S), 15S–27S. DOI: 10.1177/10105395/5595694
- Newell, B. and Proust, K. 2012. Introduction to Collaborative Conceptual Modelling. ANU Working Paper. https://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/9386
- Proust, K., Newell, B., Brown, H., Capon, A., Browne, C., Burton, A., Dixon, J., Mu, L., Zarafu, M. 2012 'Human Health and Climate Change: Leverage Points for Adaptation in Urban Environments'. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 2134-2158. http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/6/2134
- Brown, H., Proust, K., Spickett, J., Capon, A. 2011, 'The potential role of Health Impact Assessment in tackling the complexity of climate change adaptation for health', Health Promotion Journal of Australia, vol. 22, no. s1, pp. s48-s53.
- Newell, B. and Proust, K. 2009. I See How You Think: Using Influence Diagrams to Support Dialogue. ANU Centre for Dialogue. http://www.anu.edu.au/dialogue/2009/I%20See%20How%20You%20Think.pdf
- Newell, B., K. Proust, G. Wiltshire, D. Newell, 2008, Taking a Systems Approach to Estuary Management. Proceedings of 17th NSW Coastal Conference, Wollongong, 2008.
- Proust, K 2008, 'Salinity in Colonial Irrigation: British India and South-Eastern Australia', Australian Geographer, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 131-147.
- Newell, B., Proust, K., Dyball, R., McManus, P. 2007, 'Seeing obesity as a systems problem', NSW Public Health Bulletin, vol. 18, no. 11-12, pp. 214-218.
- Fazey, I, Proust, K, Johnson, B et al. 2006, 'Eliciting the Implicit Knowledge and Perceptions of On-Ground Conservation Managers of the Macquarie Marshes', Ecology and Society, vol. 11, no. 1, p. 25.
- Proust, K 2005, 'Hugh McKinney A colonial Engineer', Australian Journal of Irish Studies, vol. 5, pp. 1-18.
- Proust, K 2003, 'Ignoring the signals: irrigation salinity in New South Wales, Australia', Irrigation and Drainage, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 39-49.
