The Conversation

We don't know for sure which one is smarter, because not everyone agrees on what "intelligence" means. Both have their own special behaviours and skills and we can't say who is more intelligent. Kerstin Bilgmann, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

From 3D printing using plastic waste to growing cherry trees in the Himalayas, young people are not sitting idle while the world burns. Danilo Ignacio de Urzedo, PhD candidate, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Despite the optimistic name, the showy everlasting only has three wild populations in Australia. But a West Australian public school has stepped up to help grow vital new seeds. Leonie Monks, Research scientist, Murdoch University Alanna Chant, Invited User Andrew Crawford, Research scientist Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A devastating quake and tsunami in the Pacific Ocean prompted a new kind of post-disaster research. Ten years on, we need these lessons to prepare for a precarious future. Dale Dominey-Howes, Professor of Hazards and Disaster Risk Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Queensland can no longer cull sharks in protected areas of the Great Barrier Reef, but it's time to move away from culls, nets and drumlines altogether. There are better ways to keep our beaches safe. George Roff, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Christopher Brown, Senior Lecturer, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The IPCC report says extreme sea level events that used to hit once a century will occur once a year in many places by 2050. This situation is inevitable, even if emissions are dramatically curbed. Jess Melbourne-Thomas, Transdisciplinary Researcher & Knowledge Broker, CSIRO Kathleen McInnes, Senior research scientist, CSIRO Nathan Bindoff, Professor of Physical Oceanography, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Nerilie Abram, ARC Future Fellow, Research School of Earth Sciences; Chief Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia cannot distance itself from moral responsibility for emissions from exported fossil fuels. Jeremy Moss, Professor of Political Philosophy, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scott Morrison told reporters he discussed climate change with his daughters, aged 10 and 12, but didn't share, unfortunately, the girls' views on the subject. Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Plastic waste is flowing into our oceans at ever increasing rates. Only a global, industry-led solution can turn off the tap. Andrew Forrest, PhD Candidate, University of Western Australia David Tickler, PhD Candidate in Marine Ecology, University of Western Australia Jessica Meeuwig, Professor & Director, Marine Futures Lab, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia is installing renewable energy at more than ten times the global average. This is excellent news, but raises serious questions about integrating this electricity into our grids. Matthew Stocks, Research Fellow, ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science, Australian National University Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Ken Baldwin, Director, Energy Change Institute, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Every day, new "alternative facts" are peddled in the public realm. But misinformation is not solely a modern problem - its origins are as old as humanity. Will J Grant, Senior Lecturer, Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University Rod Lamberts, Deputy Director, Australian National Centre for Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The summit was supposed to get global climate action back on track. But despite a few bright spots, the urgent action needed to avoid a climate catastrophe looks a long way off. Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Australian landscape is very old and the soils in inland areas can be very fragile. Ken Doust, Senior Lecturer in Engineering Management , Southern Cross University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When neatly dissected cane toad corpses began turning up next to a creek in the Kimberley, scientists went on the hunt for the clever killer. Marissa Parrott, Reproductive Biologist, Wildlife Conservation & Science, Zoos Victoria, and Honorary Research Associate, BioSciences, University of Melbourne Simon Clulow, MQ Research Fellow, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Himalayan villages are growing food in the forests, a traditional model that can fight both land clearing and world hunger. Jagannath Adhikari, Sessional Lecturer, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Unlike a car, you can't just stick a battery-powered engine in a plane and expect it to fly. Despite that, small planes might be the future of electric flight. Dries Verstraete, Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Design and Propulsion, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Politicians might get the most airtime when it comes to climate change, but Australians would rather hear about it from weather presenters. David Holmes, Director, Climate Change Communication Research Hub, Monash University Stephanie Hall, Communications Manager, Climate Change Communication Research Hub, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Few feel the pain of the Great Barrier Reef's decline more acutely than the scientists trying to save it. Ahead of a UN climate summit, two researchers write of their grief, and hope. Jon Brodie, Professorial Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Alana Grech, Assistant Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Rogue construction union boss John Setka is already in fights with the Labor party and the ACTU leadership. Now he faces a battle with parliament. Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick is moving to refer… Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Mass strikes help target the psychological factors most important for acting on climate change, by emphasizing social norms and reinforcing the effectiveness of collective action. Belinda Xie, Scientia PhD Scholar, School of Psychology, UNSW Ben Newell, Professor of Cognitive Psychology, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.