Ecopolis is a book about cities, ecology and climate change written by one of Australia’s leading advocates and pioneers of sustainable architecture. Challenging conventional definitions and limitations of architecture and planning, it proposes a strong trans-disciplinary approach that links built environment professionals, life scientists and the wider community in the design of human settlements as living components of the biosphere.
The book includes what may be the first definition of the purpose of cities in the modern era and introduces the powerful concept of the urban fractal. The author demonstrates the history and lineage of his philosophy through an extensive review of the work of key theorists and practitioners which, in itself, provides a useful reference tool for ecocity theorists.
Identifying key theorists, practitioners, places and philosophies, the book provides a solid theoretical context, and goes on to present a series of design and planning tools for achieving Sustainable Human Ecological Development (SHED). Combining knowledge from diverse fields to present a synthesis of urban ecology, the book will provide a valuable resource for students, researchers and practitioners in architecture, construction, planning, geography and the traditional life sciences.
Inadequate funding for Australian research institutions and the lure of well funded overseas organisations has contributed to Australia losing solar research expertise throughout the past decade.
The Australian Solar Institute will provide much needed support for the Australian solar community, helping to retain Australian solar expertise and develop the next generation of Australian solar researchers. The Institute will foster greater collaboration between researchers in universities, research institutions, and industry and help forge strong links with peak overseas research organisations.
Our gardens are a microcosm of nature; the ecological processes that go on in a garden mirror those operating on a global scale. The better we understand and quantify these cycles and processes, the more effective will be our own management strategies.
Sustainable Gardens shows amateur and professional horticulturists how to make informed decisions when designing, constructing and maintaining parks and gardens for reduced environmental impact.
It describes the historical context of the global, national and local environmental issues that confront us and examines the idea of sustainable living as a means of addressing these issues. It draws attention to the new discipline of sustainability science with its emphasis on environmental accounting, and how this is being applied at the global, national, country, household and individual levels to establish benchmarks, set management goals, assess trends and measure progress towards sustainability. The book also discusses how gardens can make a major contribution to a sustainable future through increased food production and a close connection with the local environment.
For full details and booking forms for the training courses below visit the Enabling Change website.
Enabling Change
Designing professional behaviour change projects
Transform your abilities as a change agent with this enjoyable, hands-on workshop. You’ll get valuable insights into the psychology of behaviour change, inspiring case studies and a proven step-by-step project design methodology. Whether you’re working in the area of climate change, healthy living, road safety or water conservation you’ll never think about change, or design change projects, the same way again. Over 2000 Australian government professionals have so far attended this popular workshop.
Sydney: 23-24 February
Melbourne: 5-6 March [Note change of dates - was 4-5 March]
Perth: 9-10 March
Proactive Community Engagement Designing positive, productive community consultation projects
There’s plenty of room for improvement in the way government agencies and councils engage their communities in plan-making. This intensive hands-on workshops demystifies the concepts, introduces vital understandings from the psychology of risk communication and guides participants through a simple, effective template to design more effective projects. Last year over 200 professionals, mainly in local government, attended this training, with rave reviews (and an average satisfaction rate of 92%).
Sydney: 26-27 February
Melbourne: 2-3 March [Note change of dates - was 17-18 Feb]
Perth: 12-13 March
Come along to the Summer Hill Community Centre, 131 Smith St Summer Hill on Wednesday 18 February 2009 at 7.30pm and hear about biodiversity along the GreenWay corridor in the Inner West of Sydney. Hosted by the Inner West Environment Group (IWEG), the discussion forum will examine the topic: “Bushcare sites in the Inner West and their contribution to local biodiversity and sustainability”. There will be speakers from local Councils and agencies followed by open discussions session. Refreshments provided. For location map visit the Inner West Environment Group website.