The Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand is proud to present a 2-day workshop which will provide Impact Assessment (IA) practitioners with the thinking and writing skills to present data and reach conclusions in a clear evidence-based manner.

This workshop is targeted to practitioners who are working in government, consultancy and industry, and any other environmental professionals who prepare IA reports.

In the large documents involved in assessments of environmental effects (AEE), there is often much useful data, and the final conclusions are often sensible. However, it can be difficult for readers to see how the data actually leads to the conclusions or supports the recommendations offered.

This workshop shares two sets of tools collectively called ‘Organised Reasoning’. The first toolkit provides a structured sequence of steps to help organise your thinking and your argument. The second toolkit shows how to better present arguments in the written text of your documents. Assessments are complex documents and using the tools of argument can make them easier for audiences to understand. And easier for authors to write!

The workshop shows how AEE documents contain common errors in their arguments and weaknesses in their writing. Participants will assemble evidence and reasoning for several different kinds of argument found in AEE's. We practice steps, and introduce computer-based tools, that show how to bring improved arguments into technical report writing. We discuss how people have implemented these steps in their AEE practice. Participants learn a revised approach to planning, preparing and writing technical material that they can use immediately on the job to write stronger cases in their AEE's. The workshop includes opportunities for discussion and practice. You’ll receive a handout documenting the main ideas. Lunch is provided.

Meet the speaker

Dr Glenn Brown has over 25 years experience as an ecologist and educator specialising in environmental management. He has worked on environmental projects for industry, government and non-governmental organisations in Canada and other countries. He teaches courses on Ecosystem Science and Management and on Analytical Thinking and Communications in the masters program in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University in British Columbia and works as an independent consultant.

He has delivered courses on "Organised Reasoning" at International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) conferences from 2015 and also this year in Brisbane. He has also provided the course through the IAIA affliate in Western Canada on 15 occasions in six cities and in China.

Click here to view Dr Glenn Brown's website and biography →

Click here to download the event flyer →

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Cancellation Policy

Full refunds will be given for any cancellations made one week prior to the workshop. Cancellations made less than one week prior to the workshop but less than 3 days will attract a 50% penalty. Cancellations made less than 3 days prior to the workshop will attract the full 100% fee. Delegates unable to attend are welcome to send an alternative delegate. Please contact Central Office to arrange this.