The Conversation

With the right leadership, Australia can turn green hydrogen’s stumbles into a global triumph for heavy industry. Changlong Wang, Research fellow in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Monash University Stuart Walsh, Senior lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Burning plastic as fuel for cooking and heating releases toxic chemicals into the air and contaminates food. Yet this is common in many parts of the world. Bishal Bharadwaj, Adjunct Research Fellow, Curtin Institute for Energy Transition, Curtin University Peta Ashworth, Professor and Director, Curtin Institute for Energy Transition, Curtin University Pramesh Dhungana, Lecturer, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Science doesn’t occur in a vacuum – politics, harassment and intimidation can hamstring progress. Robert Hales, Director, Centre for Sustainable Enterprise, Griffith University Carolyn Troup, Research Fellow, Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing, Griffith University David Peetz, Laurie Carmichael Distinguished Research Fellow at the Centre for Future Work, and Professor Emeritus, Griffith Business School, Griffith University Georgina Murray, Associate Professor in Humanities, Griffith University Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Researchers examined how disaster risk informs decisions about new housing. They found crucial problems that leave communities exposed. Francesca Perugia, Senior Lecturer, School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University Courtney Babb, Lecturer in Urban and Regional Planning, Curtin University Steven Rowley, Professor, School of Economics, Finance and Property, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Older homes are more at risk from bushfires. Retrofitting can make your house more likely to weather a fire. Subha Parida, Lecturer in Property, University of South Australia Lyrian Daniel, Associate Professor in Architecture, University of South Australia Michaela Lang, Postdoctoral Researcher in Behavioural Science, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

What can we learn from the bushfires in Tasmania? Beware of climate change, especially the unpredictable nature of blazes sparked by dry lightning. David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Grant Williamson, Research Fellow in Environmental Science, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When landscapes change, exotic species take advantage of new habitats. Such a pulse of colonisation coincided with the Ice Age some 2.6 million years ago. Pascale Lubbe, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Molecular Ecology, University of Otago Michael Knapp, Associate Professor in Biological Anthropology, University of Otago Nic Rawlence, Associate Professor in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Most of the seafood Australians consume comes from overseas. This includes products from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing operations. We can fix this. Leslie Roberson, Postdoctoral research fellow, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Carissa Klein, Associate professor in Conservation Biology, The University of Queensland Rosa Mar Dominguez-Martinez, PhD Candidate, Ocean Conservation Team, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

All countries must accelerate efforts to avert the biodiversity crisis, and preserve Earth’s precious natural places for future generations. Justine Bell-James, Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor in Conservation Science, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Second generation rat poisons are so potent that they’re banned for home use in Europe and North America. But here, you can pick them up at Bunnings or Coles. Robert Davis, Associate Professor in Conservation, Edith Cowan University Judy Dunlop, Research Fellow in Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University Melissa Snape, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Ecology, University of Canberra Stephanie Pulsford, Adjunct Fellow in Ecology, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Just as caring for a human loved one can come at great personal cost, a growing body of research shows people with a seriously ill pet experience ‘caregiver burden’. Susan Hazel, Associate Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide Tracey Taylor, PhD Candidate, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Even if Zelia doesn’t hit towns directly, it’s likely to cause a lot of damage. Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Dingo culling is allowed in Victoria’s east until 2028, raising questions over how we balance the needs of humans and animals. Danielle Ireland-Piper, Associate Professor, ANU National Security College, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Before buying or renting your next home, take a closer look at how it will cope with the heat. Try this expert 12-point guide to avoiding ‘hot boxes’. Sarah Robertson, Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University Nicola Willand, Associate Professor, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Ralph Horne, Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation, College of Design & Social Context, RMIT University Trivess Moore, Associate Professor, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A parliamentary report has called on for a second icebreaking vessel and more reliable funding for Antarctic research. Jane Younger, Lecturer in Southern Ocean Vertebrate Ecology, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ambae islanders combine their ecological observations with scientific data to develop an early-warning system to predict where and when fish become contaminated. Meg Parsons, Associate Professor in Historical Geography, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Allan Rarai, PhD Candidate in Environmental Management, The University of the South Pacific Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Selling power from your EV back to the grid is now possible. Early adopters say it’s not simple – but change is coming Scott Dwyer, Research Director, Energy Futures, University of Technology Sydney Jaime Comber, Senior Research Consultant in Energy Futures, University of Technology Sydney Kriti Nagrath, Research Principal in Energy Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate change is pushing crocodiles outside their comfort zone, and there may be a limit to how much their natural cooling behaviours can help them beat the heat. Kaitlin Barham, Wildlife ecology researcher, The University of Queensland Craig E. Franklin, Professor in Zoology, The University of Queensland Ross Dwyer, Senior Lecturer, Animal Ecology, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The plane’s cabin is an unfamiliar and stressful environment for your pet. And people with allergies or phobias may not want to share the plane with dogs and cats. Susan Hazel, Associate Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The NT government has given billions of litres of water from the Roper River to irrigators. When will Australia start managing our rivers for the future? Quentin Grafton, Australian Laureate Professor of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Anne Poelina, Professor and Chair Indigenous Knowledges & Senior Research Fellow Nulungu Institute of Research University of Notre Dame & Chair Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council, University of Notre Dame Australia Sarah Milne, Associate Professor, Head of Resources, Environment and Development Department, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.