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Restoring a gem in the Murray-Darling Basin: the success story of the Winton Wetlands

Fri, 2020-06-19 16:07
The number of visitors to the restored wetlands is increasing each year, as is the wildlife. Max Finlayson, Adjunct Professor, Charles Sturt University Lance Lloyd, Honorary Research Fellow, Federation University Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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People need to see the benefits from local renewable energy projects, and that means jobs

Fri, 2020-06-19 06:05
Renewable energy projects are often in direct competition with fossil fuels for the hearts and minds of communities. There's a way to win people over though, with ongoing local employment. Tom Morton, Associate Professor, Journalism, Stream Leader, Climate Justice Research Centre, University of Technology Sydney James Goodman, Professor in Political Sociology, University of Technology Sydney Jonathan Paul Marshall, Future Fellow, University of Technology Sydney Katja Müller, Postdoctoral Researcher in Anthropology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg Riikka Heikkinen, PhD Candidate, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Fighting fire with fire: how Botswana is adopting the ancient burning of Indigenous Australians

Thu, 2020-06-18 13:46
As the bushfire royal commission examines whether to expand the use of indigenous fire techniques, overseas countries are already on board. Sam Johnston, Senior Fellow, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Expensive, dirty and dangerous: why we must fight miners' push to fast-track uranium mines

Thu, 2020-06-18 06:05
In my 24 years of research, including visiting most sites, I've yet to see a successful rehabilitation case study of Australia's uranium mines. Gavin Mudd, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Energy giants want to thwart reforms that would help renewables and lower power bills

Wed, 2020-06-17 14:24
The rules governing Australia's electricity market are more than 20 years old and no longer serve consumers, or climate action. But big energy companies are using COVID-19 to delay reform. Daniel J Cass, Research Affiliate, Sydney Business School, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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'Shovel-ready' projects ignore important aspects of community resilience

Wed, 2020-06-17 08:02
Research shows communities become more resilient to future crises when people have access to basic services such as supermarkets, hospitals and schools. Tom Logan, Lecturer of Civil Systems Engineering, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Mr Morrison, you can cut 'green tape' without harming nature – but it'll take money and gumption

Wed, 2020-06-17 06:03
I was a federal environment official for 13 years. Streamlining approvals for big infrastructure projects is a big environmental risk, unless it's done properly. Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Cats wreak havoc on native wildlife, but we’ve found one adorable species outsmarting them

Tue, 2020-06-16 14:52
If long-nosed potoroos can co-exist with one of the world's most deadly predators, then it's time we rethink our conservation strategies. Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Amy Coetsee, Threatened Species Biologist, University of Melbourne Anthony Rendall, Associate Lecturer in Conservation Biology, Deakin University Tim Doherty, ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Sydney Vivianna Miritis, PhD Candidate, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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The number of climate deniers in Australia is more than double the global average, new survey finds

Tue, 2020-06-16 09:04
Australia ranks third in the world in climate change deniers. It's a bronze medal we don't want. Caroline Fisher, Co-author of the Digital News Report: Australia 2020, Deputy Director of the News and Media Research Centre, and Assistant Professor of Journalism, University of Canberra Sora Park, Lead Author of Digital News Report: Australia 2020, Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Arts & Design, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Pass the shiraz, please: how Australia's wine industry can adapt to climate change

Tue, 2020-06-16 06:04
All of Australia's 71 wine regions will become warmer this century. That means big changes for the industry. Tasmania, for example, may become better known for shiraz than pinot noir. Gabi Mocatta, Research Fellow in Climate Change Communication, Climate Futures Programme, University of Tasmania Rebecca Harris, Senior lecturer, Manager, Climate Futures Program, University of Tasmania Tomas Remenyi, Climate Research Fellow, Climate Futures Programme, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Planting non-native trees accelerates the release of carbon back into the atmosphere

Mon, 2020-06-15 17:09
Tree planting projects that use non-native trees risk releasing more carbon back into the atmosphere, undermining efforts to fight climate change. Lauren Waller, Postdoctoral Fellow, Lincoln University, New Zealand Warwick Allen, Postdoctoral fellow, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Don't count your fish before they hatch: experts react to plans to release 2 million fish into the Murray Darling

Mon, 2020-06-15 05:57
Fish must be released into good quality water, with suitable habitat and lots of food. These conditions have been quite rare in Murray Darling rivers in recent years. Lee Baumgartner, Professor of Fisheries and River Management, Institute for Land, Water, and Society, Charles Sturt University Jamin Forbes, Freshwater Ecologist, Charles Sturt University Katie Doyle, Freshwater Ecologist, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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The coastal banksia has its roots in ancient Gondwana

Fri, 2020-06-12 14:47
The plant takes its name from the colonial botanist Joseph Banks, but the coastal banksia's history goes way back to ancient times. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Putting stimulus spending to the test: 4 ways a smart government can create jobs and cut emissions

Fri, 2020-06-12 05:51
Governments are throwing billions of taxpayer dollars on stimulus measures after COVID-19. But they must do it diligently, and transparently. Thomas Longden, Research Fellow, Crawford School, Australian National University Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Australian National University Zeba Anjum, PhD student, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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An El Niño hit this banana prawn fishery hard. Here’s what we can learn from their experience

Fri, 2020-06-12 05:51
An El Niño event in 2015-16 led to the lowest ever catch in redlegs. Fisheries must work with research to climate-proof their management. Eva Plaganyi, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Laura Blamey, Research Scientist, CSIRO Robert Kenyon, Marine Ecologist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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At least 1,241 tonnes of microplastics are dumped into Aussie farmland every year from wastewater sludge

Thu, 2020-06-11 05:52
We must stop using biosolids for farmlands immediately, especially when alternative ways to recycle wastewater sludge already exist. Abbas Mohajerani, Associate Professor, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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It's 12 months since the last bushfire season began, but don't expect the same this year

Wed, 2020-06-10 11:57
It was June last year when the first bushfires started in what became known as the Black Summer that claimed lives and destroyed homes. Kevin Tolhurst, Hon. Assoc. Prof., Fire Ecology and Management, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Climate explained: does your driving speed make any difference to your car's emissions?

Wed, 2020-06-10 05:54
You can reduce your fuel consumption by 15-20% with improved driving habits alone – reducing emissions and saving money at the same time. Ralph Sims, Professor, School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Kylie’s hut: bushfires destroyed the writing retreat of an Aussie literary icon

Wed, 2020-06-10 05:52
Kylie Tennant's hut is fondly remembered by locals, tourists and aspiring writers who have visited since the 1980s. Brigid Magner, Senior Lecturer in Literary Studies, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Curious kids: How far away can dogs smell and hear?

Tue, 2020-06-09 05:49
Imagine being able to detect a smell from more than a kilometre away. Dogs can sniff out things from a greater distance than that. Susan Hazel, Senior Lecturer, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide Eduardo J Fernandez, Visiting Assistant Professor, Florida Institute of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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