The Conversation

Community batteries are popular. But that doesn’t mean they’re always the right tool for the job. We have to make sure they do what we want them to do Bjorn Sturmberg, Senior Research Fellow, Battery Storage & Grid Integration Program, Australian National University Alice Wendy Russell, Research fellow, Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program, Australian National University Hedda Ransan-Cooper, Senior Research Fellow, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Australian National University Louise Bardwell, Research Assistant, Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program, Australian National University Marnie Shaw, Associate professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Archaeologists speak out against the removal of three rock art panels to pave the way for the construction of a new fertiliser factory in Western Australia. Benjamin Smith, Professor of Archaeology (World Rock Art), School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Joakim Goldhahn, Rock Art Australia Ian Potter Kimberley Chair, The University of Western Australia Paul S.C.Taçon, Chair in Rock Art Research and Director of the Place, Evolution and Rock Art Heritage Unit (PERAHU), Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Mould is a health hazard and renters are most at risk. Here experts in health, law, building and construction examine the problem of mould in homes and offer guidance for both renters and landlords. Rebecca Bentley, Professor of Social Epidemiology and Director of the Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy Housing at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne Nicola Willand, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Tim Law, Guest lecturer and Practice Lead — Building Sciences, at Restoration Industry Consultants Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We shouldn’t let controversy over the approval of one small, short-lived mine distract from more consequential decisions looming on coal. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Funding decisions under the federal program were largely driven by simplistic considerations, such as the cost of each tree, rather than benefits to threatened species. Jayden Engert, PhD Candidate, James Cook University Susan Laurance, Professor, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Until now, a limitation of records of past fires is that these have come from sediments laid down in lakes and bogs. Records for dryland regions have been lacking, but dune deposits can fill the gap. Nicholas R Patton, Postdoctoral Researcher, Integrated Terrain Analysis Program, Desert Research Institute James Shulmeister, Adjunct Professor, University of Queensland, and Professor and Head of School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Solar power is growing at 20% a year. That simple fact could change the world for the better in under a decade Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research reveals baby clownfish like Nemo are incredible athletes, able to swim 10-50 body lengths per second. Their athletic traits support their journey from the open ocean back to the reef. Adam T. Downie, Marine Biologist, James Cook University Jodie L. Rummer, Professor of Marine Biology, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When people are involved in planning for climate transition that takes account of their other daily concerns, such as housing and jobs, they become more positive about transformative change. Amanda Tattersall, Research Lead Sydney Policy Lab, Postdoctoral Fellow Geography, Host of ChangeMakers Podcast, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Where there’s fire, there’s smoke – could plumes from the Black Summer of fire have cooled regions of the Pacific and triggered a La Niña? New research suggests it’s possible. Martin Jucker, Lecturer in Atmospheric Dynamics, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fear and Wonder is a new climate podcast, brought to you by The Conversation, and sponsored by the Climate Council. In this episode, we discuss possible solutions to the climate crisis. Joelle Gergis, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, Australian National University Michael Green, Host + Producer, The Conversation Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s time we question our national priorities, and start funding the nature that sustains us. Sarah Bekessy, Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, Leader, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group (ICON Science), RMIT University Brendan Wintle, Professor in Conservation Science, School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, The University of Melbourne Rachel Morgain, Senior Research Fellow, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Most of our 10.8 billion existing homes are in need of a retrofit to improve their performance and cut household energy use and emissions. The $1.6 billion for energy upgrades covers 170,000 homes. Trivess Moore, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Ralph Horne, Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation, College of Design & Social Context, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Two billion to subsidise green hydrogen sounds like a lot. But the world is racing ahead and we’re still at the starting line. Kondo-Francois Aguey-Zinsou, Professor of Chemistry, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Reparing farm dams helps farmers – and nature. What if farmers could access loans for nature repair work – and only repay them when revenue is high? Bruce Chapman, Director, Policy Impact, College of Business and Economics, Australian National University David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We know industrial farming needs to change. But regenerative agriculture may not be the transformation our global food system needs. Anja Bless, PhD Candidate, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The contestants’ relationships with nature clearly shape their actions. As armchair experts, each of us may reflect on our own relationship with nature and how we would act in the same situation. Lily van Eeden, Research fellow, Monash University Christina Renowden, PhD candidate, Monash University Fern Hames, Director, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Kate Lee, Program Coordinator, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Melissa Hatty, Research Fellow, BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University Sarah Bekessy, Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, Leader, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group (ICON Science), RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Over a decade of protest led to the banning of fuel exploration in New Zealand waters. As this extract from a new book explains, that ‘win’ is still precarious and may depend on the election result. Amanda Thomas, Lecturer in Environmental Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Gradon Diprose, Senior Researcher, Environmental Social Science, Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research Sophie Bond, Associate Professor in Geography, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Changes to the petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT) are long overdue, but Labor’s modest attempt at reform represents a missed opportunity. Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate change is bringing heightened droughts, heat stress and floods. For our fruit trees, that means tougher conditions. To prepare means mining their genomes to hunt for resilience. Rajeev Varshney, Professor, Murdoch University Abhishek Bohra, Senior research fellow, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.