The Conversation

Employers obligations are set out clearly. What's important is what they "know or reasonably ought to know". Elizabeth Shi, Lecturer, Graduate School of Business and Law, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As Australia picks up the pieces after the fires, we must understand the unique grief Aboriginal people experience from a loss of country. Bhiamie Williamson, Research Associate & PhD Candidate, Australian National University Jessica Weir, Senior Research Fellow, Western Sydney University Vanessa Cavanagh, Associate Lecturer, School of Geography and Sustainable Communities, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The horror of the last weeks and months are a compressed version of the last 30 years in bushfire and climate politics. Marc Hudson, Researcher on sociomaterial transformations, social movements, Keele University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Bureau of Meterology says persistent drought and record temperatures were a major driver of Australia's fire activity, and the context for 2019 lies in the past three years of drought. David Jones, Climate Scientist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Karl Braganza, Climate Scientist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Skie Tobin, Climatologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Plugging ventilation holes in walls helps, but there are dangers. Geoff Hanmer, Adjunct Lecturer in Architecture, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In a matter of weeks, the fires have subverted decades of dedicated conservation efforts for many threatened species. John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University Brendan Wintle, Professor Conservation Ecology, University of Melbourne Chris Dickman, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, University of Sydney David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania David Keith, Professor of Botany, UNSW Sarah Legge, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Wildlife can smell and hear a fire coming, and have developed novel ways to evade it. But they must watch out for cunning predators rushing in for a feed. Dale Nimmo, Associate professor/ARC DECRA fellow, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia has an outsized ability to influence others. Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We pulled four before-and-after NASA satellite images and asked bushfire researcher Grant Williamson to reflect on the story they tell. Sunanda Creagh, Head of Digital Storytelling Molly Glassey, Digital Editor, The Conversation Wes Mountain, Multimedia Editor Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There is little to fear and lots to love about spiders, which have not killed anyone in Australia for 40 years. Leanda Denise Mason, Associate Lecturer, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Local, self organised, community groups can be supported to do strategic hazard reduction through a range of techniques – including targeted grazing, and prescribed or fuel reduction burning. Jason Alexandra, PhD candidate, RMIT University David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As this horrific summer of disaster continues to unfold in coming weeks, we need to overhaul our emergency management plan. Dale Dominey-Howes, Professor of Hazards and Disaster Risk Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Relatively little has changed since the Black Saturday tragedy. It is as though Australia suffers amnesia when it comes to bushfire preparedness. Rod Keenan, Professor, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Shareable online images of chimpanzees, elephants and other animals are threatening their conservation and welfare. Zara Bending, Associate, Centre for Environmental Law, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The peak time for heatwaves in southern Australia has not yet arrived. Many parts of Australia can expect heavy rains and flooding. And northern Australia's cyclone season is just gearing up. Neville Nicholls, Professor emeritus, School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sending holidaymakers directly into forests and national parks right in the middle of peak bushfire season is madness. David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Here's how Australians and their overseas family and friends can monitor the movement of fire fronts in real time. Amanda Gearing, Journalist, author, broadcaster, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Bees innocuously buzzing 'round the birdbath may be a barometer for burgeoning bee invasions. Manu Saunders, Research fellow, University of New England Callum McKercher, PhD Student, University of New England Mark Hall, Research fellow, Western Sydney University Tanya Latty, Associate professor, University of Sydney Tobias Smith, Ecologist, bee researcher and stingless bee keeper, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Beloved family pets have all the qualities we need in the next generation of puppies, so maybe you shouldn't rush to desex them all right away. Jessica Dawson, PhD Student in Anthrozoology, La Trobe University Pauleen Bennett, Professor and Head of Department, Psychology and Counselling, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some predators thrive after fires, other wilt – and one bird even starts them on purpose. Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Ayesha Tulloch, DECRA Research Fellow, University of Sydney Dale Nimmo, Associate professor/ARC DECRA fellow, Charles Sturt University Tim Doherty, Alfred Deakin Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Deakin University William Geary, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.