Category: sustainability

Under the surface: shedding light on ‘ocean blindness’

What happened when the head of Engineering for Google Australia and the Professor and author behind Australia’s first ever textbook on Marine Ecology came together? Nothing short of the miraculous bringing back to life of an extinct ecosystem in the waters of Australia’s biodiverse southern coastline.

And what’s next on the sparkly horizon?

Prof. Sean Connell with fish on Windara Reef
Prof. Sean Connell with fish on Windara Reef

In this podcast episode find out how the founders of AusOcean, Alan Noble and Prof Sean Connell, are stretching traditional models of marine conservation efforts through open-source hardware and software, and low-cost ways of public engagement. They are a driving force shedding light on the ‘ocean blindness’ that muddies our understanding of biodiversity conservation in marine ecosystems, looking to reverse the tide of extinction in our oceans. 

Eco Futurists is supported by the Environment Institute at the University of Adelaide.

Learn More:

AusOcean https://www.ausocean.org
AusOcean Live Stream https://www.youtube.com/@AusOcean/streams
Marine Biology at the Environment Institute, University of Adelaide

Hosted by Prof Andy Lowe, Interim Director of the Environment Institute University of Adelaide

You can contact Eco Futurists podcast here

Enjoying the show? Rate, review, and share it with your friends to help listeners like yourself explore their inner Eco Futurist.

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Water: too much, too little, too dirty

Water is finally back on the global table after 46 years of not being discussed at a global scale conference. Conservation, salinity, pricing, agriculture, cultural use – the list goes on. Is the subject of water rights at risk of getting lost in an endless talk fest? Where do we start when trying to come up with solutions to the many water issues we face on a local and global scale? What even are ‘water rights’?

In this podcast episode host Prof Andy Lowe Interim Director of the Environment Institute University of Adelaide, speaks with Assoc Prof Peter Burdon and Prof Sarah Wheeler, both from the University of Adelaide. Sarah is a water economist from the School of Economics and Public Policy, and Peter is an expert in environmental law from the Adelaide Law School.

Eco Futurists is supported by the Environment Institute at the University of Adelaide.

Learn More:

United Nations 2023 Water Conference

Water for First Nations – The Murray-Darling Basin Authority

You can contact Eco Futurists podcast here

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Markets for nature. What’s the currency of biodiversity?

Nature is threatened, but it is also messy and complex. Ecologist try to untangle the mess of conservation, governments and industry. Small landowners are trying to help too. How do we work to save life on Earth?

How do we get the scale of investment required to restore our degraded land? Can we create markets for nature? Where does the money come from? And who are the buyers?

In this episode host Prof Andy Lowe Interim Director of the Environment Institute University of Adelaide, speaks with renowned ecologist Prof Hugh Possingham about the need to set aside 30% of every different kind of habitat for conservation in order to sustain the health of our global biodiversity and to establish biodiversity markets to drive these outcomes.

Eco Futurists is supported by the Environment Institute at the University of Adelaide.

Learn More:

You can contact Eco Futurists podcast here

Enjoying the show? Rate, review, and share it with your friends to help listeners like yourself explore their inner Eco Futurist.

Prof Hugh Possingham is currently Chief Councillor of the newly created Biodiversity Council and Chief Scientist of Accounting for Nature, and has recently been Queensland Chief Scientist and Chief Scientist of The Nature Conservancy, the world’s largest environmental non-government organisation. Hugh is also the Chair of The Environment Institute at the University of Adelaide.

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Music – a solution to climate change?

When we discuss ‘Climate Change Solutions’ or ‘Saving the Environment’ we may think of advances in technology, new scientific discoveries or powerful policy changes.

But the truth is, our relationship with our planet today relies on more than just science and technology – it relies on the humanities, the arts, musicians, performers, activists and a whole range of players to make it happen.

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Eco Futurists – Series 1

Planning for the future and breaking new ground across industries must involve improving our natural environment along the way. Our lives and livelihoods depend on it

Announcing a new podcast, in which we hear from people leading the way, not only in imagining, but also providing solutions for a future with environmental sustainability in mind.

We speak to scientific experts, industry leaders, artists, adventurers, and committed personalities who make connections in their local and global communities, making life on earth a priority in their grand plans. They are the Eco Futurists.

Continue reading “Eco Futurists – Series 1” →
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Behind the scenes work to stop illegal logging

Illegal logging is a big issue. Approximately 30% to 50% of all timber traded globally is illegally sourced. Illegal logging comes in many forms. It may be the replacement of high value for low value timber products, it may incorrect declaration of species or region of origin of products, which masks trade in endangered species or export of timber from protected areas, or it may be the mixing of illegitimately and legitimately sourced timber. 

Combating illegal logging also needs to take many forms, many of these are technology solutions that support behaviour change.

Continue reading “Behind the scenes work to stop illegal logging” →
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