The Conversation

Both when disaster strikes and when climate change has more everyday impacts, community radio stations play a leading role in helping locals understand and adapt to the challenges they face. Bridget Backhaus, Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Media Studies, Griffith University Kerrie Foxwell-Norton, Associate Professor in Journalism, Media and Communication, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Kimberley region of Western Australia is currently being devastated by flooding. Remote communities need more support with prevention and recovery plans. Toni Hay, Expert in Indigenous climate adaptation, Indigenous Knowledge Courtney-Jay Williams, Principal Advisor at Indigenous Climate Change, Indigenous Knowledge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Birdsong plays a vital social role in the lives of these gregarious finches. Simon Griffith, Professor of Avian Behavioural Ecology, Macquarie University Hugo Loning, PhD candidate in Behavioural Ecology, Wageningen University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new gecko species in New Zealand was named te mokomoko a Tohu in consultation with a local Māori tribe. This could be a good example for how taxonomists might approach the naming of new species. Lachie Scarsbrook, DPhil Student, University of Oxford Kerry Walton, Researcher, University of Otago Nic Rawlence, Senior Lecturer in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

While this prominent and well funded project has gone into voluntary administration, those enthused about rapid decarbonisation and Australia’s renewable energy export potential need not despair. Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Has climate action bogged down? Hardly. Nations are redoubling their efforts in visible and less visible ways. Wesley Morgan, Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ranging from 12 to 22 centimetres, these tiny octopus are extremely venomous and found all over Australia. Here’s what to do if you see someone get bitten. Zoe Doubleday, Marine Ecologist and ARC Future Fellow, University of South Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Globally, the air is getting hotter and drier, which means flash droughts and risky fire conditions are developing faster and more frequently. Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The tragic death of Steve Irwin in 2006 gave stingrays a reputation for being dangerous. But stingray-caused deaths are incredibly rare. Jaelen Nicole Myers, PhD Candidate, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Are our animal companions showing off when they share more than toys with us? And what should we do about it? Mia Cobb, Research Fellow, Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For years, the ‘safeguard mechanism’ has been widely criticised for lacking teeth. Labor’s new reform doesn’t change that much. Rebecca Pearse, Lecturer, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Residents are living with the impacts of climate change and know it’s happening. But leaving their homes would strike at the heart of their identity. Merewalesi Yee, PhD Candidate, School of Earth and Environment Sciences, The University of Queensland Annah Piggott-McKellar, Research Fellow, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology Celia McMichael, Senior Lecturer in Geography, The University of Melbourne Karen E McNamara, Associate Professor, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More must be done to ensure the Albanese government truly delivers the emissions reductions it has promised. Andrew Macintosh, Professor and Director of Research, ANU Law School, Australian National University Don Butler, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

But here’s why this seemingly unremarkable bird could save other, less obvious species from devastation. Dominique Potvin, Senior Lecturer in Animal Ecology, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An overhaul of Aotearoa’s conservation laws could allow Māori to resume traditional harvesting practices of some native species. Nic Rawlence, Senior Lecturer in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Kerry Walton, Researcher, University of Otago Richard Walter, Professor of Archaeology, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If the situation doesn’t change, Africa – indeed, the world – may lose one of its most iconic animal species. Rachael Gross, PhD Scholar in Applied Conservation Ecology, Australian National University Rob Heinsohn, Professor of Evolutionary and Conservation Biology, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There would be no life on Earth without invertebrates, but they are understudied and underappreciated. The Bug of the Year competition aims to change that, so have your say and vote! Jennifer Jandt, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More of us than ever want to see the ice continent. But is the environmental awakening many return with worth the emissions and possible environmental damage? Elizabeth Leane, Professor of English and Associate Dean, Research Performance, University of Tasmania Anne Hardy, Associate Professor, Tourism and Society, University of Tasmania Can Seng Ooi, Professor, University of Tasmania Carolyn Philpott, Senior Lecturer in Musicology, Conservatorium of Music, School of Creative Arts and Media; Adjunct Senior Researcher, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, University of Tasmania Hanne E.F. Nielsen, Lecturer, University of Tasmania Katie Marx, PhD Candidate, Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sugar water feeding in cities helps native nectar-eating birds in winter, but it’s important to use the right feeders to avoid pathogens. Daria Erastova, Doctoral researcher, University of Auckland Ellen Hume, Doctoral researcher of social ecological systems, University of Auckland Margaret Stanley, Associate professor, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australians buy so much stuff that they have run out of space in their homes for it all, so storage businesses are booming. Louise Grimmer, Senior Lecturer in Retail Marketing, University of Tasmania Gary Mortimer, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Queensland University of Technology Martin Grimmer, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Professor of Marketing, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.