|
|
|
|
The Labor government won the election on a promise to go harder when it comes to action on climate change. So it might come as a surprise to learn that Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King yesterday allowed the oil and gas industry to explore ten new sites in Australian waters, covering almost 47,000 square kilometres.
On the same day, she also gave a green light to developing two offshore greenhouse gas storage areas, betting on technology critics say isn’t yet proven to work at scale.
But these developments won’t bolster Australia’s energy security or help us decarbonise, argues University of Melbourne energy analyst Samantha Hepburn. She writes that opening up new gas fields, potentially continuing fossil fuel extraction for decades, is harmful while carbon capture and storage remains uncertain.
In our Friday essay, meanwhile, climate scientist Joelle Gergis, a lead author for the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment report, writes of her grief in the face of government inaction on climate change, and of corporate interests “willing to sacrifice our planetary life-support system to keep the fossil fuel industry alive”.
“I feel overwhelmed and saturated with sorrow,” writes Gergis in her passionate and heartfelt essay. But such feelings of intense sadness must be faced, she argues, for us to move towards further action.
|
|
Anthea Batsakis
Deputy Environment + Energy Editor
|
|
Samantha Hepburn, Deakin University
Opening up new fossil fuel exploration will damage our longer-term security and undermine our climate imperatives. It is dangerous for the planet.
|
Joelle Gergis, Australian National University
The science tells us this is our last chance to avert planetary disaster. Accepting our feelings of intense loss – for ourselves and the Earth – can propel us into action, writes Joelle Gergis.
|
Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The escalating cost of living is your ally when you’re an opposition seeking election, but when you’re in office, it’s a rampaging beast to manage, economically and politically.
|
Pi-Shen Seet, Edith Cowan University; Janice Jones, Flinders University
We hear the term ‘skills shortages’ all the time in media and policy debates. But what skills do we need, and more importantly, how do we get them?
|
Matthew Sussex, Australian National University
Putin simultaneously seeks to control Ukraine, to dominate Russia’s region, and to hasten the fall of the West. And is an internal struggle on the horizon?
|
Susan Hazel, University of Adelaide; Tracey Taylor, University of Adelaide
You may dismiss many behaviour changes as just a normal part of ageing. But it may be doggy dementia, or canine cognitive dysfunction.
|
Luke Greenacre, Monash University; Adrian Dyer, Monash University; Jair Garcia, Monash University; Scarlett Howard, Monash University
Horizontal number lines are often the default option – but our brains may process numbers more quickly in a vertical arrangement.
|
Kristie Patricia Flannery, Australian Catholic University; Sarah Bendall, Australian Catholic University
Just like in Westeros, the fates of royal dynasties from history have been shaped by illness and affliction.
|
Politics + Society
|
-
John McKay, Deakin University
The decision is understandable, but it’s not without costs, both for Sweden and the wider world, especially in the longer term.
-
Michelle Evans, The University of Melbourne; Duncan McDonnell, Griffith University
A record 11 Indigenous representatives are now in federal parliament, most of them women. But despite the improvement in representation, research tells us their road ahead won’t be an easy one.
-
Carol Richards, Queensland University of Technology; Rudolf Messner, Queensland University of Technology
Food insecurity is increasing in Australia and around the world with women most affected.
-
Alexander Gillespie, University of Waikato
New Zealanders fighting in Ukraine are facing significant risks, with no official support from the government. The fighters’ motives may be noble but are they muddying the waters?
-
Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
In this Podcast Michelle and David Littleproud discuss a number of topics including the recent Morrison fiasco, the upcoming jobs and skills summit and his vision for the National Party.
-
Danielle Ireland-Piper, Bond University
The High Court found the NSW laws were not unconstitutional – but there is still much room for reform.
|
|
Health + Medicine
|
-
Caroline Baker, La Trobe University; Abby Foster, Monash University; Rebecca Nund, The University of Queensland
Almost 4,000 Australians are diagnosed with head and neck cancer each year. Oral cancer is one type.
-
Belinda Lunnay, Torrens University Australia; Kristen Foley, Torrens University Australia; Paul Ward, Torrens University Australia
Many of our interviewees didn’t see alcohol as only a bad thing and had complex reasons for their relationships with alcohol.
-
Jan Feld, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Anne Ardila Brenøe, University of Zurich; Thomas Dudek, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Researchers have long differed on whether growing up with a sister or brother influences who we become as adults. New research using big data aims to finally settle the argument.
|
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Md Abdul Alim, Western Sydney University; Ataur Rahman, Western Sydney University; Zhong Tao, Western Sydney University
Rainwater is a vital resource in many communities, but it’s not always safe to use. This sustainable and cheap invention could help many households in remote areas.
|
|
Environment + Energy
|
-
Chantel Carr, University of Wollongong
Hot rooftops and a looming skills shortage – these are just a few challenges faced by crucial yet undervalued air-conditioning repair people.
-
Kerry Walton, University of Otago; Nic Rawlence, University of Otago
Only half of New Zealand’s roughly 4,000 mollusc species have been seen alive. Now geneticists can decode DNA from shells in museum collections to trace the life histories of extinct or rare species.
|
|
Education
|
-
Rebecca English, Queensland University of Technology
A Melbourne private school is opening online-only enrolments. Headlines have focussed on the $18,000 fees. But there are many reasons why in-person schooling may not work.
|
|
Business + Economy
|
-
Jim Stanford, University of Sydney
An uncritical obsession with productivity threatens to distract us from the deeper problems Australia must face and fix.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
The Conversation AU
Melbourne VIC, Australia
•
Full Time
|
|
|
University of Tasmania
Launceston TAS, Australia
•
Full Time
|
|
|
Australian National University
Canberra Australian Capital Territory, Australia
•
Full Time
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
Featured Events, Courses & Podcasts
|
View all
|
|
1 - 2 September 2022
•
Perth
|
|
5 September 2022
•
Melbourne
|
|
5 - 9 September 2022
•
Carlton
|
|
26 September - 3 December 2022
•
Melbourne
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
