The Conversation
Photos from the field: these magnificent whales are adapting to warming water, but how much can they take?
When humpback whales shift their distribution and behaviour, it can lead to unexpected human encounters and new challenges.
Olaf Meynecke, Research Fellow in Marine Science, Griffith University
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Labor politicians need not fear: Queenslanders are no more attached to coal than the rest of Australia
Queenslanders head to the polls tomorrow. The Palaszczuk Labor government has vocally backed the resources industry – but our research suggests the issue will not decide the election result.
Bruce Tranter, Professor of Sociology, University of Tasmania
Kerrie Foxwell-Norton, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities, Griffith University
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The bushfire royal commission has made a clarion call for change. Now we need politics to follow
Australia is still grappling with the devastation wrought by the bushfires earlier this year. The Royal Commission's final report marks the first step in the country's disaster adaptation journey.
David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania
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UN report says up to 850,000 animal viruses could be caught by humans, unless we protect nature
Human damage to biodiversity is leading us into a pandemic era. A new report shows we must urgently transform our relationship with the environment.
Katie Woolaston, Lawyer, Queensland University of Technology
Judith Lorraine Fisher, Adjunct Professor University of Western Australia, Institute of Agriculture
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Genome and satellite technology reveal recovery rates and impacts of climate change on southern right whales
Southern right wales have been hunted to near extinction. Now their genome has been sequenced to help biologists track their recovery and understand the impacts of climate change, past and future.
Emma Carroll, Rutherford Discovery Fellow, University of Auckland
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Pumped hydro isn't our energy future, it's our past
It's a big-engineering solution that costs twice as much the equivalent amount of batteries.
Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University
Steven Percy, Senior Research Fellow, Victoria University
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New polling shows 79% of Aussies care about climate change. So why doesn't the government listen?
A new poll from The Australia Institute shows 71% of Aussies want the country to be a global leader in climate action. Yet Australia lags behind the rest of the world.
Rebecca Colvin, Lecturer, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
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Climate explained: did atomic bomb tests damage our upper atmosphere?
It's not only nuclear bomb tests that disrupt the atmosphere, there are a number of natural events that can do the same. But how long does any damage last?
Brett Carter, Senior lecturer, RMIT University
Rezy Pradipta, Research scientist, Boston College
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Super-charged: Australia's biggest renewables project will change the energy game
Many Asian nations are shunning fossil fuels, presenting a huge opportunity for Australia's renewables sector. And one massive project has stepped up to the plate.
John Mathews, Professor Emeritus, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University
Elizabeth Thurbon, Scientia Associate Professor in International Relations / International Political Economy, UNSW
Hao Tan, Associate professor, University of Newcastle
Sung-Young Kim, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Discipline of Politics & International Relations, Macquarie School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University
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Distress, depression and drug use: young people fear for their future after the bushfires
The bushfire royal commission is due to hand down its findings this week. Our research shows the fires left young people deeply worried about their future, and they need support.
Amy Lykins, Associate Professor, University of New England
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Japan plans to dump a million tonnes of radioactive water into the Pacific. But Australia has nuclear waste problems, too
Japan's plan is a terrible idea, but so is our government's plan to send nuclear waste to South Australia temporarily.
Tilman Ruff, Associate Professor, Education and Learning Unit, Nossal Institute for Global Health, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne
Margaret Beavis, Tutor Principles of Clinical Practice Melbourne Medical School
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Bob Brown is right – it's time environmentalists talked about the population problem
Our species has far exceeded its fair share of the planetary bounty, and Brown is right to call for the global population to peak.
Colin D. Butler, Honorary Professor, Australian National University
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Food, tools and medicine: 5 native plants that illuminate deep Aboriginal knowledge
'As I learn more about First Peoples’ plant knowledge, I'm also better understanding the broader Australian community's failure to recognise the depth and breadth of our expertise.'
Zena Cumpston, Research Fellow, University of Melbourne
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Hard to spot, but worth looking out for: 8 surprising tawny frogmouth facts
Breeding pairs spend a great deal of time roosting together and the male often gently strokes the female with his beak.
Les Christidis, Professor, Southern Cross University
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You’ve probably heard of the Green New Deal in the US — is it time for one in Australia?
Many countries have decided a Green New Deal is exactly the right stimulus response to the COVID crisis. Australia's steadfast investment in fossil fuels will only hold us back.
Kate Crowley, Associate Professor, Public and Environmental Policy, University of Tasmania
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Fewer flights and a pesticide-free pitch? Here's how Australia's football codes can cut their carbon bootprint
Professional sport has enormous power to influence positive change. So ahead of this weekend's grand finals, let's examine the carbon emissions of our major men's football leagues.
Brett Hutchins, Professor of Media and Communications Studies, Monash University
Libby Lester, Director, Institute for Social Change, University of Tasmania
Michael Ambrose, Research Team Leader, CSIRO
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Humans threaten the Antarctic Peninsula's fragile ecosystem. A marine protected area is long overdue
More than 280 women in STEMM call for a marine protected area to be established in the waters of the Western Antarctic Peninsula.
Marissa Parrott, Reproductive Biologist, Wildlife Conservation & Science, Zoos Victoria, and Honorary Research Associate, BioSciences, University of Melbourne
Carolyn Hogg, Senior Research Manager, University of Sydney
Cassandra Brooks, Assistant Professor Environmental Studies, University of Colorado Boulder
Justine Shaw, Conservation Biologist, The University of Queensland
Melissa Cristina Márquez, PhD Candidate, Curtin University
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Explainer: what is the electricity transmission system, and why does it need fixing?
Labor has pledged to create a A$20 billion corporation to upgrade Australia's energy transmission system. So what's this all about?
Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute
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Some say neoliberals have destroyed the world, but now they want to save it. Is Scott Morrison listening?
The IMF wants government intervention on climate change. It's now abundantly clear Australia's climate policies are at odds with even the most conservative approach to economic management.
John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra
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Forget your fixie, we're more likely to ride bikes if we can carry more on them
Australian bicycles are largely influenced by sport, not utility. We should embrace cargo bikes for their usefulness, over speed.
Robbie Napper, Senior Lecturer, Design, Monash University
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