The Conversation

For puppies, looking at objects is the next best thing to touching them, and they can learn about their environment through short excursions to see traffic, pedestrians and other dogs. Melissa Starling, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Sydney Jacqueline Norris, Professor of Veterinary Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Microalgae taste like grass and are packed with nutrients. Martina Doblin, Senior Research Fellow, Plant Functional Biology & Climate Change, University of Technology Sydney Donna Sutherland, Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney Peter Ralph, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Chimbu is a baby tree kangaroo, and he is the latest success in a complex web of international conservation. Marissa Parrott, Reproductive Biologist, Wildlife Conservation & Science, Zoos Victoria, and Honorary Research Associate, BioSciences, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With a bit of sensible planning, you can retain plants close to your home without creating a huge bushfire risk. Philip Gibbons, Professor, Australian National University Geoff Cary, Associate Professor, Bushfire Science, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

COVID-19 is the latest new infectious disease arising from our collision with nature. Fiona Armstrong, Executive Director, Climate and Health Alliance, Occasional Lecturer, School of Public Health and Human Biosciences, La Trobe University Anthony Capon, Director, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University Ro McFarlane, Assistant Professor in Ecological Public Health, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The heatwave highlights the connectedness of our climate systems: from the monsoon tropics to the southernmost continent. Dana M Bergstrom, Principal Research Scientist, University of Wollongong Andrew Klekociuk, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, University of Tasmania Diana King, Research officer, University of Wollongong Sharon Robinson, Professor, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The report reveals the worst environmental conditions in many decades, if not centuries. Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Luigi Renzullo, Senior Research Fellow, Australian National University Marta Yebra, Senior lecturer, Australian National University Shoshana Rapley, Research assistant, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

From a scientific perspective, the results are fascinating and world-first. From a personal perspective, what I saw will stay with me for a long time. Jodie L. Rummer, Associate Professor & Principal Research Fellow, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The coronavirus is devastating, but failing to tackle climate change because of the pandemic only compounds the tragedy. Natasha Chassagne, University Associate, University of Tasmania, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A behavioural science expert, a botanist, an environment media expert and an entomologist suggest ways to connect with nature in your garden. Anthea Batsakis, Deputy Editor: Environment + Energy, The Conversation Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Biodiversity is often highest in places with human activity. The fishing industry has shown we can often have it both ways: maintain important livelihoods while protecting precious marine life. Piers Dunstan, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Natalie Dowling, Researcher, CSIRO Simone Stevenson, PhD Candidate, Deakin University Skipton Woolley, Research scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research shows how deeply entrenched "us" and "them" attitudes make it much harder to make a fair energy transition. Rebecca Colvin, Lecturer, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Powerful owls need old, hollowed-out trees to nest in, but humans keep chopping them down. Now, designers have partnered up with ecologists to build them high tech artificial nests. Dan Parker, PhD Candidate, University of Melbourne Bronwyn Isaac, Lecturer, Monash University Kylie Soanes, Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne Nick Bradsworth, PhD Candidate, Deakin University Stanislav Roudavski, Senior Lecturer in Digital Architectural Design, University of Melbourne Therésa Jones, Associate Professor in Evolution and Behaviour, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For the next couple of decades, Snowy 2.0 will in fact store coal-fired electricity, not renewable electricity. Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For dogs, grooming can mean dousing in water, restraint, manipulation of the body, and touching of taboo areas by unfamiliar people. Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of Sydney Melissa Starling, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Sydney Simone Blackman, Lecturer in Law, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Most fungi go unseen, but they play a vital role in ecosystems. Adam Frew, Lecturer, University of Southern Queensland Andy Le Brocque, Associate Professor, University of Southern Queensland Dale Nimmo, Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Eleonora Egidi, Researcher, Western Sydney University Jodi Price, Senior Lecturer in Vegetation Ecology, Charles Sturt University Leanne Greenwood, PhD candidate, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The government says it'll make a fracking ban 'permanent', but it can still be overturned by another government in future. Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

I entered firefighter school at 23 and thought I was hard enough to withstand anything thrown at me. Fourteen years later, I can say firefighters are not indestructible. Greg Penney, PhD Candidate, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A move towards working from home, less air travel and prudent stimulus spending could flatten emissions growth in the longer term. Glen Peters, Research Director, Center for International Climate and Environment Research - Oslo Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The lack of progress by governments in reducing global emissions means bold solutions across multiple fronts are now needed. David Blair, Emeritus Professor, ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery, OzGrav, University of Western Australia Bruce Hobbs, CSIRO David Franklin Treagust, John Curtin Distinguished Professor, Professor of Science Education, Curtin University Malcolm McCulloch, Professor, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.