Learning the complexity of scientific knowledge about climate change with computer modelling and visualization technologies. This project provides benefits to the national priorities of a environmentally sustainable Australia; and frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries. The project helpins students in Australia more deeply understand the sciences that underlie environmental sustainability. Learning with modelling and visualization technologies will help student ....Learning the complexity of scientific knowledge about climate change with computer modelling and visualization technologies. This project provides benefits to the national priorities of a environmentally sustainable Australia; and frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries. The project helpins students in Australia more deeply understand the sciences that underlie environmental sustainability. Learning with modelling and visualization technologies will help students learn important scientific knowledge and prepare them for the use of frontier technologies that are becoming infused into the practices of scientists and professionals in many fields. This project also directly contributes to the national Digital Education Revolution initiative.Read moreRead less
Science and Citizenship: Democracy in the age of science-mediated risk. This community-based project in the Goulburn Valley focuses on citizens' negotiation of scientific expertise, perceptions of risk and participation in policy formation. It asks: 'how can democracy work in a world of proliferating cultures of expertise?' The project will produce an environmental history drawn from citizens' experience of transforming the landscape for irrigation and agribusiness, and of scientific advice ov ....Science and Citizenship: Democracy in the age of science-mediated risk. This community-based project in the Goulburn Valley focuses on citizens' negotiation of scientific expertise, perceptions of risk and participation in policy formation. It asks: 'how can democracy work in a world of proliferating cultures of expertise?' The project will produce an environmental history drawn from citizens' experience of transforming the landscape for irrigation and agribusiness, and of scientific advice over time. It will explore how citizens deal with conflicting scientist-generated scenarios around climate change and environmental flows in the light of their historical experience, and trial new modes of public policy formation.Read moreRead less
Clean fuels for the future: Scale up and optimisation of microalgal oil production and biodiesel synthesis. The development of renewable carbon-neutral fuels is an urgent challenge facing our society. This project aims to develop an innovative system for biodiesel production from local Australian algae species. If cultivated under the right conditions, microalgae are very efficient near-continuous producers of biodiesel and are likely the only renewable source of fuel that could match our curren ....Clean fuels for the future: Scale up and optimisation of microalgal oil production and biodiesel synthesis. The development of renewable carbon-neutral fuels is an urgent challenge facing our society. This project aims to develop an innovative system for biodiesel production from local Australian algae species. If cultivated under the right conditions, microalgae are very efficient near-continuous producers of biodiesel and are likely the only renewable source of fuel that could match our current and future demand without competing for arable land and food production. Such systems couple the national/community benefits of energy generation, carbon-capture, biodiesel production and the clean-up of wastewater. Successful outcomes from this project will bring this innovative technology closer to commercial reality. Read moreRead less
Second generation biofuels: developing environmentally friendly high-efficiency microalgae for biofuel production. The development of CO2-neutral (biodiesel) and CO2-free (hydrogen) fuels is an urgent challenge facing our society to combat climate change and protect against oil price shocks. Successful outcomes from this project will bring this innovative technology closer to commercial reality. The solar-powered microalgal systems being developed, offer a number of national/community benefits ....Second generation biofuels: developing environmentally friendly high-efficiency microalgae for biofuel production. The development of CO2-neutral (biodiesel) and CO2-free (hydrogen) fuels is an urgent challenge facing our society to combat climate change and protect against oil price shocks. Successful outcomes from this project will bring this innovative technology closer to commercial reality. The solar-powered microalgal systems being developed, offer a number of national/community benefits including
1. A high-efficiency frontier-technology for clean fuel production for the Australian and international market
2. A new process to desalinate water
3. Frontier technology to sequester atmospheric CO2
4. Frontier technologies for wealth generation in drought- or salinity-affected and naturally arid regionsRead moreRead less
Targeted bioengineering and systems biology for solar powered hydrogen production in green algal cells. The development of clean fuels to combat climate change and protect against oil price shocks, is an urgent challenge facing our society. Fuels make up ~67% of the energy market, yet most low-CO2 emissions technologies (e.g. nuclear and clean-coal-technology) target the electricity market. In contrast the Solar Bio-H2 process uses algal photobioreactors to drive solar-powered H2 fuel production ....Targeted bioengineering and systems biology for solar powered hydrogen production in green algal cells. The development of clean fuels to combat climate change and protect against oil price shocks, is an urgent challenge facing our society. Fuels make up ~67% of the energy market, yet most low-CO2 emissions technologies (e.g. nuclear and clean-coal-technology) target the electricity market. In contrast the Solar Bio-H2 process uses algal photobioreactors to drive solar-powered H2 fuel production from water (ultimately sea water, facilitating desalination). This project aims to improve the efficiency of the process towards economical levels. The Solar Bio-H2 process reduces water requirements for biofuel production. Locating bioreactors on non-arable land also eliminates competition between biofuel and food production.Read moreRead less
Development of Environmental Health Indicators in the Context of Sustainable Development. Protecting and promoting community well-being and population health is an essential aspect of sustainable development (SD). It is critical, therefore, to develop rigorous environmental health indicators (EHIs) to provide solid bases for the planning of SD and environmental management decision-making. However, a framework for the development of EHIs has not been attempted. This research aims to increase fun ....Development of Environmental Health Indicators in the Context of Sustainable Development. Protecting and promoting community well-being and population health is an essential aspect of sustainable development (SD). It is critical, therefore, to develop rigorous environmental health indicators (EHIs) to provide solid bases for the planning of SD and environmental management decision-making. However, a framework for the development of EHIs has not been attempted. This research aims to increase fundamental knowledge on the relationship between EHIs and SD, to identify a core and extended set of EHIs, and to assess implications of EHIs in the planning of SD and environmental management. A framework for identification and application of EHIs will be developed.Read moreRead less
Managing Ecosystem Change in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Protected areas are the primary mechanism for conserving Australia's unique biodiversity. Of added significance are areas of biodiversity recognised as World Heritage Areas, such as the GBMWA. Climate, pest species and altered fire regimes potentially diminish their ecological values but some of these anthropogenic threats can be managed. Effective management depends on spatially-explicit understanding that allows prior ....Managing Ecosystem Change in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Protected areas are the primary mechanism for conserving Australia's unique biodiversity. Of added significance are areas of biodiversity recognised as World Heritage Areas, such as the GBMWA. Climate, pest species and altered fire regimes potentially diminish their ecological values but some of these anthropogenic threats can be managed. Effective management depends on spatially-explicit understanding that allows priorities to be set and management objectives identified and tested. This research will develop a model for determining management priorities for large protected areas, meeting State, National and International obligations. Significant conservation benefits will accrue along with social, economic and human well-being benefits.Read moreRead less
Climate Change Projections and Policy Design Under Uncertainty. The issue of climate change and policy responses is one of the most important questions facing the world today. This research develops a global framework for understanding the many complexities surrounding this issue, for undertaking projections of emissions, for evaluating alternative policy proposals and for developing new policies. In particular it will provide a framework for undertaking alternative scenarios about future econom ....Climate Change Projections and Policy Design Under Uncertainty. The issue of climate change and policy responses is one of the most important questions facing the world today. This research develops a global framework for understanding the many complexities surrounding this issue, for undertaking projections of emissions, for evaluating alternative policy proposals and for developing new policies. In particular it will provide a framework for undertaking alternative scenarios about future economic growth and carbon emissions and attempt to quantify uncertainties. It will also focus on major developing countries such as China and India which will be critical in the future evolution of world economic activity and greenhouse emissions.Read moreRead less
Carbon neutral communities: making the transition. This project has well defined National benefits, both economic and social, for the collaborative partners, the business community, policy makers, community groups and the broader Australian community. It contributes toward NRP 1, through developing practical measures for reducing GHG emissions in Australian urban areas, and strategies for overcoming barriers to greater uptake of energy efficiency and alternative technologies; and helping Austra ....Carbon neutral communities: making the transition. This project has well defined National benefits, both economic and social, for the collaborative partners, the business community, policy makers, community groups and the broader Australian community. It contributes toward NRP 1, through developing practical measures for reducing GHG emissions in Australian urban areas, and strategies for overcoming barriers to greater uptake of energy efficiency and alternative technologies; and helping Australia to meet its greenhouse reduction targets. The project economic benefits to through energy savings; stimulating innovation in urban design, building design and transport use; promoting new business opportunities; and encouraging more sustainable lifestyle decisions. Read moreRead less
Resilience of Moreton Bay to climate change: Links between nutrient inputs and plankton dynamics. A healthy Moreton Bay, with its lucrative fishing, iconic turtles, dugongs and seabirds, helps support the $9 billion per annum tourist industry in SE Queensland. Moreton Bay is under increasing threat from nutrients produced by a mushrooming coastal population and from climate change impacts. Here we investigate nutrient-plankton relationships and develop a simple model to evaluate future impacts o ....Resilience of Moreton Bay to climate change: Links between nutrient inputs and plankton dynamics. A healthy Moreton Bay, with its lucrative fishing, iconic turtles, dugongs and seabirds, helps support the $9 billion per annum tourist industry in SE Queensland. Moreton Bay is under increasing threat from nutrients produced by a mushrooming coastal population and from climate change impacts. Here we investigate nutrient-plankton relationships and develop a simple model to evaluate future impacts on bay health. This project will put Australian scientists at the forefront of research focused on the adaptation of coastal marine environments to climate impacts, and ensure that Moreton Bay remains healthy now and into the futureRead moreRead less