Exploring the effects and maximising the benefits of the Gold Coast Rapid Transit project. Is light rail the ‘solution’ to Australia’s urban transport problems, or an expensive folly? Such questions will be explored in this project that focuses on the Gold Coast Rapid Transit project and comparative examples overseas. The project will include surveys of public transport users, transport modelling and an innovative trial of behaviour changed programs.
Optimising the ecological performance of cities. One of the most environmentally destructive impacts that people have is also one of the greatest triumphs of modern civilization—the city. This project will study more than 1000 cities across the world to discover how we should build our cities into the future to achieve economic and social growth in a way that causes minimal environmental harm.
Transforming the outer suburbs through master planned estates: a governmental challenge. Master planned estates are becoming more common on the outer suburbs of capital cities and the developers of these estates are required to plan and manage a whole range of services. This project examines the role that private actors play in 'governing' suburban estates alongside traditional forms of government and the challenges that ensue.
Coastal governance. This project aims to discover coastal governance approaches that embrace vulnerability and change. Current coastal management approaches are failing as existing threats intensify and new threats emerge. This project expects to generate knowledge on diverse vulnerabilities, with insights advancing the disciplines of human geography and public policy through improved understanding of the relationships between people, place and change. This is expected to support ongoing economi ....Coastal governance. This project aims to discover coastal governance approaches that embrace vulnerability and change. Current coastal management approaches are failing as existing threats intensify and new threats emerge. This project expects to generate knowledge on diverse vulnerabilities, with insights advancing the disciplines of human geography and public policy through improved understanding of the relationships between people, place and change. This is expected to support ongoing economic, environmental, social and cultural benefits that are derived from the Australian coast.
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Determining how plant populations will respond to climate change. It is widely predicted that global climate change will result in extinctions, invasions and disruption of the ecosystem services plants provide. In order to manage or adapt to these consequences of changing climate we need accurate forecasts of where suitable conditions for sustainable plant populations will occur. This project will enable better forecasts of where and how fast plant populations will expand or contract in response ....Determining how plant populations will respond to climate change. It is widely predicted that global climate change will result in extinctions, invasions and disruption of the ecosystem services plants provide. In order to manage or adapt to these consequences of changing climate we need accurate forecasts of where suitable conditions for sustainable plant populations will occur. This project will enable better forecasts of where and how fast plant populations will expand or contract in response to climate change. New population modelling methods which integrate plant survival, growth and reproduction along environmental gradients, together with field studies at unprecedented national and international scales, will enable better forecasts of future locations for plant dependent industries and environmental services.Read moreRead less
Emergence and evolution of a multi-host pandemic: amphibian chytridiomycosis as a model. Emerging infectious diseases are contributing to the sixth mass extinction. This study will focus on the most important disease, chytridiomycosis, which has caused the extinction of hundreds of amphibian species. It will examine the reasons for its emergence and how it is evolving - this will improve management of it and other emerging diseases.
Transcending language barriers to environmental sciences. This project aims to enhance the global flow of scientific knowledge for biodiversity conservation by tackling the impediment of language barriers. The project draws from literature reviews, modelling and global surveys to shed light on details of biodiversity science published in non-English languages, and how language impedes the use of biodiversity science in decision-making. The project will produce a database and search system for no ....Transcending language barriers to environmental sciences. This project aims to enhance the global flow of scientific knowledge for biodiversity conservation by tackling the impediment of language barriers. The project draws from literature reviews, modelling and global surveys to shed light on details of biodiversity science published in non-English languages, and how language impedes the use of biodiversity science in decision-making. The project will produce a database and search system for non-English conservation studies and recognise the importance of translations to better inform policies and practices. This will benefit national and international environmental sciences and policies by increasing knowledge available for synthesis and facilitating science-led conservation.
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Resolving insect evolution. Our poor understanding of the evolution of insects, life’s most successful group, is a huge gap in our knowledge of nature. By analysing genomic data the project will resolve the insect evolutionary tree and discover what drove insect evolution. This will expand our knowledge of how evolution works - a vital part of conserving our biological diversity.
Systematic prioritisation of action for confronting invasive vertebrates in Australia. This project will use novel scientific approaches to effectively prioritise action for mitigating the threats invasive vertebrate pests pose to humans and to biodiversity in Australia. Results will inform policy and management, substantially advancing our understanding of the key factors shaping spatial invasion sources, hotspots, drivers and impact.
Counting a Sixth Mass Extinction. This project aims to investigate how values shape conservation science and policy by utilizing a feminist philosophy of science approach. This project expects to generate new biodiversity assessments by adjusting the cultural lenses through which species are counted and conservation status is assigned. Expected outcomes of this project include the creation of an interactive global biodiversity map, in which data changes when values change, which will reveal biod ....Counting a Sixth Mass Extinction. This project aims to investigate how values shape conservation science and policy by utilizing a feminist philosophy of science approach. This project expects to generate new biodiversity assessments by adjusting the cultural lenses through which species are counted and conservation status is assigned. Expected outcomes of this project include the creation of an interactive global biodiversity map, in which data changes when values change, which will reveal biodiversity trends, species, conservation risks and opportunities that currently remain outside conservation attention. This should provide significant benefits to biodiversity, by opening space for diverse values to broaden the scope of conservation science, ethics, and policy.Read moreRead less