The Conversation

Imagine if a music and light show, and thousands of people, turned up at your house every night for weeks on end. How would you feel? Jaana Dielenberg, University Fellow, Charles Darwin University Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Loren Fardell, Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Therésa Jones, Professor in Evolution and Behaviour, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia lags the US and Canada when it comes to involving Indigenous people in projects on their land. With the growth of renewable energy we have an opportunity to make a fresh start. Adam Fish, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Media, UNSW Sydney Heidi Norman, Professor, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There’s grumbling in the bush about hosting big new renewable projects to power cities. We can do this smarter. Andrew Gunn, Lecturer, Monash University Christian Jakob, Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Power prices surged two years ago – and now are falling sharply. Why does it take so long to see relief? Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Despite its 500-million-year history, the plant-fungi alliance holds mysteries that, once unravelled, could revolutionise agriculture and ecosystem management. Adam Frew, Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University Carlos Aguilar-Trigueros, Research Fellow, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä Jeff Powell, Professor and ARC Future Fellow, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University Natascha Weinberger, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University Stephanie Watts-Fawkes, Research Fellow, Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The road to fuel-efficiency reform in Australia is a bumpy one – and the Albanese government has hazards to negotiate before its proposal becomes law. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Researchers, managers and Traditional Owners are joining forces to understand and combat climate threats to Australia’s many unique World Heritage sites. Jess Melbourne-Thomas, Transdisciplinary Researcher & Knowledge Broker, CSIRO Brenda Lin, Principal research scientist, CSIRO Lance Syme, Secretariat at the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on World Heritage, Indigenous Knowledge Mandy Hopkins, Adjunct industry fellow, University of Southern Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Cyclones and hurricanes are getting more intense. But introducing new categories of storm may not be the answer. Liz Ritchie-Tyo, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Keeping the average global temperature rise below 1.5°C since pre-industrial times is a goal of the 2015 Paris climate deal. New research suggests that opportunity has passed. Malcolm McCulloch, Professor, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We don’t yet fully understand what global climate tipping points mean for Australia. But we know enough to conclude the impacts of passing one or more tipping points must now be considered. Michael Grose, Climate Projections Scientist, CSIRO Andy Pitman, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Governments all over the world are propping up overfishing. Now scientists have penned an open letter calling on trade ministers to implement stricter regulations against harmful fisheries subsidies. Vania Andreoli, PhD Candidate, The University of Western Australia Dirk Zeller, Professor & Director, Sea Around Us - Indian Ocean, The University of Western Australia Jessica Meeuwig, Wen Family Chair in Conservation, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Introduced water buffalo and camels trash native plants – don’t they? Our research shows megafauna herbivores have the same impact wherever they are. Erick Lundgren, Adjunct Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A comprehensive review of research into the economic consequences of controversial water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin reveals many studies are of poor quality. Better standards are needed. Sarah Ann Wheeler, Professor in Water Economics, University of Adelaide Alec Zuo, Associate Professor, School of Economics and Public Policy, University of Adelaide Ying Xu, Research Fellow, School of Economics and Public Policy, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Native rats and mice don’t usually evoke sympathy among the Australian public. The common names for the species – such as swamp rat – do little to help. Steve Morton, Honorary Fellow, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Cultured meats, precision fermentation and other cutting-edge technologies are predicted to disrupt conventional agriculture. Despite the threat, New Zealand is well positioned to ride the wave. Ian Mason, Adjunct Senior Fellow in Renewable Energy Systems Engineering, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Much like our gut microbes, the community of microbes used to process human waste must be healthy to do the job well. Monitoring the DNA in waste sludge can help us ensure the system stays healthy. Christian Krohn, Postoctoral Researcher, School of Science, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A century ago, millions of koalas were killed for their fur. The backlash was fierce. Ruby Ekkel, PhD student in Australian History, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We’re getting faster at building renewables – but we’ll have to speed up even more to reach our 2030 target of 82% clean energy Thomas Longden, Senior Researcher, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Victoria’s decision this week to reject a ban on duck hunting is a shot to the heart for proud Yuin man Jack Pascoe, son of Bruce Pascoe. The black duck Yumburra is a Yuin tribal totem. Jack Pascoe, Research fellow, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The benefits of snake populations on agricultural land far outweigh the potential costs, and farmers should tolerate rather than kill them. Rick Shine, Professor in Evolutionary Biology, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.