The Conversation

The changing dynamic between Borneo’s pigs and Indigenous people is a powerful reminder of the fragility of the human-nature connection. Matthew Luskin, Lecturer in Conservation Science, The University of Queensland David Kurz, Postdoctoral fellow in Environmental Science, Trinity College Fiffy Hanisdah Saikim, Senior lecturer, Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Indigenous Knowledge Matthew D. Potts, Professor, S.J. Hall Chair in Forest Economics, University of California, Berkeley Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Dried foods are a staple in many Aussie diets, but the industry is under threat as recurring drought makes fruit and vegetables harder to process. Charith Rathnayaka, Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Roaming pet cats can kill more than 180 animals each year. But most people who keep cats inside do so for the welfare of their pet. Lily van Eeden, Postdoctoral research fellow, Monash University Emily McLeod, PhD Candidate, Queensland University of Technology Fern Hames, Director, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Zoe Squires, Policy Officer, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The phenomenon is called heliotropism, and sunflowers are most famous for it. But why do they track the sun? And how? Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Soundscapes impact the well-being of human and non-human urban inhabitants. Here’s how noise can change animal behaviour, both in and out of lockdown. Kurt Iveson, Associate Professor of Urban Geography and Research Lead, Sydney Policy Lab, University of Sydney Dieter Hochuli, Professor, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The world is moving away fossil fuels, and there’s nothing Australia can do about it. Racing to dig up and sell whatever fossil fuels we can before the timer stops is not a future-proof strategy. Frank Jotzo, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy and Head of Energy, Institute for Climate Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Mark Howden, Director, Climate Change Institute, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Major research found Australia must keep 95% of coal in the ground to limit global warming. With a little political will, this would be easy to do. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Last month’s dire report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change may have left you feeling overwhelmed. But small changes at the household level really can make a world of difference. Andreas Chai, Associate Professor, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

‘Shape shifting’ animals are evolving to deal with heat – by changing the size of their ears, tails, bills and other appendages. Sara Ryding, PhD Candidate, Deakin University Matthew Symonds, Associate professor, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Goby fish and coral rely on each other to survive. But new research found gobies are declining under climate change, dealing a double blow to Australia’s reefs. Catheline Y.M. Froehlich, PhD Fellow, University of Wollongong Marian Wong, Senior Lecturer, University of Wollongong O. Selma Klanten, Research Scientist, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

From its inadequate safety provisions to vague wording around Native Title rights and interests, the bill leaves us wanting. Madeline Taylor, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University Tina Soliman Hunter, Professor of Energy and Natural Resources Law, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The research, focused on the Jordan Springs estate in Western Sydney, found houses were built close together and made from materials which exacerbate hot weather. Victoria Haynes, Research Officer, University of Sydney Dale Dominey-Howes, Professor of Hazards and Disaster Risk Sciences, University of Sydney Emma Calgaro, Research Associate, Sydney Policy Lab, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Meet the parma wallaby: for decades it was presumed extinct, until it turned up in New Zealand. Today, its failure to charm Australians may have doomed it – for good. Elliott Dooley, PhD Candidate, University of Newcastle Matt Hayward, Professor of Conservation Science, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This is the first time researchers have calculated the amount of carbon released from the world’s decaying wood. They found insects play an enormous role. Marisa Stone, Adjunct Research Fellow, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Kurtis Nisbet, Scientific Officer, Griffith University Sebastian Seibold, Adjunct Teaching Professor, Technical University of Munich Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research also identified steps people wished they’d taken to prepare for disaster, such as protecting sentimental items, planning a meeting place and better managing stress. Agathe Tiana Randrianarisoa, PhD student and Senior Researcher, RMIT University John Richardson, Honorary Fellow, Child and Community Wellbeing Unit, Beyond Bushfires Research Program, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Adopt, neuter and return, or kill? There’s no easy way to deal with Australia’s stray cat problem, and we compare the main options. Trish Fleming, Professor, Murdoch University Heather M. Crawford, Assistant researcher, Murdoch University Mike Calver, Associate Professor in Biological Sciences, Murdoch University Tida Nou, Project officer, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The push for a new environmental crime has attracted high-profile backers including French President Emmanuel Macron, Pope Francis and Greta Thunberg. But we must get the details right. Anthony Burke, Professor of Environmental Politics & International Relations, UNSW Danielle Celermajer, Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new book says Australia’s 20-year water trading experiment is sucking hundreds of millions of dollars each year out of the Murray-Darling Basin and directing water away from productive land. Scott Hamilton, Strategic Advisory Panel Member, Australian-German Energy Transition Hub, The University of Melbourne Stuart Kells, Adjunct Professor, College of Arts, Social Sciences and Commerce, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s alpine region warmed for about 600 years. What makes this climate change particularly interesting is that it bears striking similarity to today. Zoë Thomas, ARC DECRA Fellow, UNSW Haidee Cadd, Research associate, University of Wollongong Larissa Schneider, DECRA fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Imagine flying for five days straight, arriving at your destination emaciated and exhausted, only to find your habitat has disappeared. Such is the plight of the Latham’s Snipe. Birgita Hansen, Senior Research Fellow, Federation University and Better Data for Better Decisions Constellation Leader, Food Agility CRC, Federation University Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.