The ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes (CLEX) is a research consortium of UNSW, Monash University, the University of Melbourne, the University of Tasmania and the Australian National University. It is funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) for the period 2017-2024, with co-investment from the partner universities and a range of other organisations, including the NSW Government.

CLEX conducts world-class research to transform our understanding of the processes that cause climate extremes and improve our capability to represent extremes in computer models. It is focused on answering scientific questions about extreme rainfall, heatwaves and cold air outbreaks, drought and climate variability and teleconnections. The Centre prioritises long-term and “blue-sky” research that complements organisations and initiatives that provide climate information services to the Australian community, such as the Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO and the National Environmental Science Program Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub. CLEX has a Knowledge Brokerage Team that works closely with these, and other public and private sector partners, to ensure that the Centre’s research has impact beyond the academic sphere. Using examples of previous work by the Centre’s researchers and members of the Knowledge Brokerage Team, the presentation will summarise what CLEX can offer to government. Offerings include advice and training on climate science, briefing notes, datasets and research collaborations.