|
|
|
Editor's note
|
|
There’s something amazing about old trees in big cities. You can’t help but wonder how they’ve managed to survive, why were they the lucky tree that missed being lopped in exchange for a new road, building or path. Interestingly, Australia’s landscapes (even our cities) are dotted with mature eucalypts that were standing well before Captain Cook sailed into Botany Bay. They’re important not only for historical reasons, but also environmentally – the number of native birds in an area declines by half with the loss of every five mature eucalypts.
In this piece, Associate Professor Philip Gibbons explains the importance of preserving these old trees – if you’re planning a nice weekend walk, you mind find yourself appreciating them a little more than before.
|
Molly Glassey
Newsletter Editor
|
|
|
Top story
|
Mature trees have horizontal branches that are attractive to wildlife and birds.
from shutterstock.com
Philip Gibbons, Australian National University
The ecological value of old trees is irreplaceable for native Australian fauna. Identifying and preserving these trees in cities through smarter planning strategies is important for local wildlife.
|
Weekend Listening
|
Alvaro Mendoza/Unsplash
Madeleine De Gabriele, The Conversation; Phoebe Roth, The Conversation; Justin Bergman, The Conversation
As we reach the World Cup's halfway point, we're asking: what is sport worth? On today's episode, we explore the money and diplomatic power plays lingering behind the scenes of every big tournament.
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Denis Muller, University of Melbourne
Many female politicians have had to endure sexist abuse, from Cheryl Kernot to Julia Gillard to Sarah Hanson-Young. And it is not a matter that should simply be brushed aside.
-
Mark Alfano, Delft University of Technology
Why are we so serious about not being too serious? The philosophy of humour has the answer.
|
|
Health + Medicine
|
-
Ian Musgrave, University of Adelaide
The study only showed a correlation between drinking coffee and living longer, but it's still plausible coffee caused the effect.
-
Kim Murphy, Monash University
We asked an immunologist to assess the evidence for a popular cold and flu herbal remedy. She concluded there isn't enough evidence to support its use.
|
|
Arts + Culture
|
-
Deirdre Coleman, University of Melbourne
The author Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein when she was 18. A new film investigates the gender politics of the novel's creation.
-
Saskia Beudel, University of Canberra
Climate change can seem far removed from our everyday lives, which is why a citizen science program measuring how frogs are dealing with a warming world is so important.
|
|
Business + Economy
|
-
Jonathon Louth, Flinders University
“You can’t just come in like a fly and take-off” - patience and time on community is key to improving financial well-being in remote communities.
-
Levon Ellen Blue, Queensland University of Technology
We are seeing widespread financial exploitation because of cultural, economic and political factors that haven't been addressed. Regulators should do more.
|
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Cassandra Cross, Queensland University of Technology
Data breaches are fact of modern life. It's likely each of us will have our personal information compromised at some point. Here's how to reduce the risk and limit the damage if and when it occurs.
-
Jim Bowler, University of Melbourne
It's been half a century since Jim Bowler discovered Mungo Lady which changed the course of Australian history. But now he says the find has fallen off the national radar, leaving a legacy of shame.
|
|
Environment + Energy
|
-
Nicola Willand, RMIT University; Ralph Horne, RMIT University; Trivess Moore, RMIT University
Energy justice is a social issue, and by leaving it up to vulnerable people to sort it out for themselves, we as a society risk making it even worse.
-
Richard 'Bert' Roberts, University of Wollongong; Lynette Russell, Monash University; Michael Bird, James Cook University
On the golden jubilee of the discovery of Mungo Lady's 40,000-year-old remains, we can reflect on Aboriginal Australia's vast history, which predates the arrival of Homo sapiens in both Europe and America.
|
|
Education
|
-
Penny Van Bergen, Macquarie University; Carol Newall, Macquarie University
Children lying is rarely cause for concern and actually means your child is developmentally normal.
-
Dominic O'Sullivan, Charles Sturt University
When it comes to teaching Indigenous students, Australia could learn much from New Zealand.
|
|
Cities
|
-
Sofie Pringle, Queensland University of Technology
We searched Instagram for city images people associated with happiness. And they consistently included similar features, such as water, nature and heritage buildings.
-
Philip Gibbons, Australian National University
The ecological value of old trees is irreplaceable for native Australian fauna. Identifying and preserving these trees in cities through smarter planning strategies is important for local wildlife.
|
|
| |
Featured jobs
|
|
University of Western Australia — Perth, Western Australia
|
|
University of Melbourne — Parkville, Victoria
|
|
Griffith University — Chandler, Queensland
|
|
UNSW Sydney — Sydney, New South Wales
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
Featured events
|
|
|
192 Wellington Parade, Melbourne, Victoria, 3002, Australia — Association for Sustainability in Business
|
|
|
14-20 Blackwood St , North Melbourne, Victoria, 3051, Australia — Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation
|
|
221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Australia — Deakin University
|
|
409 Hunter Street, NEWCASTLE, New South Wales, 2300, Australia — University of Newcastle
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
