Plus a conversation on transforming unjust systems, PM's literary award shortlist and more
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Director's Note
7 November 2023
It has been a difficult month, with the defeat of the voice here in Australia and the outbreak of war in the Middle East – upsetting for those dedicated to principles of justice, sovereignty, and inclusive democracy. And yet, in the midst of these, preparations have continued for the next COP meeting on climate governance, including crucial negotiations on Loss and Damage funding for countries most vulnerable to climate-induced disasters.
I have recently returned from Nijmegen in the Netherlands where I attended the 2023 Conference on Earth Systems Governance. The focus of the conference was bridging sciences and societies for sustainability transformations. SEI led discussions of innovative examples of democratic practice, legal accountability, critical minerals and just transition, and ways of institutionalising multispecies justice. We also discussed current and potential collaborative projects with colleagues from Toronto, Utrecht, and Copenhagen, among others. Continuing the conversation on critical minerals, SEI has just launched a new podcast mini-series on critical minerals led by Professor Susan Park.
Here at home, congratulations to the many SEI members who have recently been recognised for their excellent work. A special shout out to SEI Deputy Director Associate Professor Thom van Dooren, who has been shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award in the Non-Fiction category and has also been awarded a Discovery Project alongside SEI member Associate Professor Dinesh Wadiwel and colleagues at Curtin University on New Approaches to Multispecies Conflict and Coexistence.
Sincerely,
David Schlosberg
Director, Sydney Environment Institute
Unearthing critical minerals podcast
Join Prof Susan Park as she unpacks what are minerals, why are they important for the renewable energy revolution and what are the big issues in mining them.
Transforming unjust systems
Listen to this thought-provoking conversation between SEI's Dr Anna Sturman and A/Prof Alyssa Battistoni, a US scholar and voice in progressive climate debates.
Prime Minister's Literary Awards
SEI Deputy Director A/Prof Thom van Dooren has been shortlisted for a Prime Minister's Literary Award in the non-fiction category.
Charting a sustainable future
Researchers discussed the recent United Nations Global Sustainable Development Report at this event in partnership with the Faculty of Medicine and Health.
More events
The Heat and Health Research Incubator 2023-2024 Summit Series, Extreme Heat: Maternal and Child Health | Thu 16 November
University of Sydney Brain and Mind Centre Symposium, Bridging Gaps: Inclusivity in Brain and Mind Science | Thu 23 November
University of Sydney Nano Institute 2023 Network for Sustainable Nanotechnology Global Summit | Mon 27 - Wed 29 November
2023 Cleveringa Address, How Stories Change Reality in the Cases of Climate Change and Social Conflict | Tue 28 November
Sonia Marks Memorial Lecture, given by Professor Françoise Lionnet (Harvard/UCLA) on 'Breathing inAimé Césaire, Ananda Devi and Luce Irigaray' | Wed 6 December
Other news
Our recent Critical Minerals Symposium considered how the rapid shift in resource competition will shape our world. Prof Susan Park reflects on this critical minerals race.
SEI Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Justin See writes on the importance of energy justice in the transition to renewables.
2023 SEI Collaborative Fellows, Dr Diana Chester and A/Prof Damien Ricketson hosted a mini-series on media storytelling and the environment.
For Disaster Risk Reduction Day on October 13, SEI members in the Faculty of Engineering reflected on three ways researchers are aiding disaster risk reduction.
Become a member
Interested in joining our global network? Submit an expression of interest. SEI members receive opportunities to work with environmental scholars and practitioners from across disciplines to tackle the greatest challenges of our time.
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