Affiliation/Organization:

Institute for Water Research(IWR), African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Water Centre of Excellence, Rhodes University

Highest degree:

PhD

Education:

BSc (Environmental Science)

University of KwaZulu Natal

MSc (Zoology)

Rhodes University

PhD (Zoology)

Rhodes University

Research Interests:

• Transdisciplinarity
• Adaptive Water Resources Management
• Water Governance
• Water Quality and Pollution
• Aquatic Ecology

Short Biography:

Tally retired from being Director of both the Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University; and the Water Centre of Excellence in the African Research Universities’ Alliance in 2022. Along with Silver and Gold medals from the Southern African Society for Aquatic Scientists, and a South African Women in Water award, she is a pioneer of engaged, transdisciplinary, sustainability research in South Africa, and more widely in Africa. Her Adaptive Systemic Approach is designed to support transformations towards fairness for society and ecosystems (social-ecological justice). Tally’s passionate research and practice spans aquatic ecology, water pollution, water governance and water resources management.

Awards, accolades received in the past 3 years.

• The Rhodes University Vice Chancellor’s Excellence award in Engaged Research

Recent publications

Fry, A.S. et al., (2024) Stepping stones to transformative participatory governance capabilities in a rural landscape restoration project. Ecosystems and People, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2024.2425378

 

Palmer CG, Tanner J. What does practising the Adaptive Systemic Approach offer engaged sustainability science? S Afr J Sci. 2024;120(9/10), Art. #19355. https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2024/19355

 

Fry, A., Clifford-Holmes, J., & Palmer, C. (2024). A systemic analysis of participatory land and water governance in the Tsitsa River Catchment, South Africa. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 41(18) 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.3051

 

Lotz-Sisitka, H., et al., (2024) Interrelated transformative process dynamics in the face of resource nexus challenges: an invitation towards cross-case analysis. Ecosystems and People, 20(1), p. 2297707. https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2023.2297707

 

M. J. T. Weaver, et al. (2023) Exploring transformative processes at the intersections of land, water and livelihoods: a case study from the Tsitsa Project, South Africa, Ecosystems and People, 19:1, 2278307, DOI: 10.1080/26395916.2023.2278307

 

Palmer C., et al. (2023) The Adaptive Systemic Approach: catalysing more just and sustainable outcomes from sustainability and natural resources development research. Rivers Research and Applications, Special Issue: Human-River Relationships in the 21st Century. target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.4178

 

Jackie King & Carolyn (Tally) Palmer (2022) Perspectives on Protecting African freshwater Ecosystems in the Anthropocene, African Journal of Aquatic Science, 47:3, iii-vi, DOI: 10.2989/16085914.2022.2132045

 

Contact:

Phone: +27 82 528 6388
Email: Tally.Palmer@ru.ac.za
Twitter: @WaterResearchRU
ResearchGate: Tally Palmer
Linkedln: Tally Palmer
Personal research website: https://www.ru.ac.za/iwr

Last Modified: Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:28:48 SAST