The inaugural UTS:Engage event “Sustainability research – from nanotechnology to sustainable design” on 15 July 2010 showcased some of the sustainability research conducted at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Over 65 external guests were welcomed to UTS by master of ceremonies Prof Stuart White and heard Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Prof Attila Brungs speak about the importance of universities, business and government working together to tackle the problems and issues that are most pressing. The presentations and posters from the event are now available on the Engage webpage.
Join a Walk Against Warming event near you on Sunday 15 August 2010 – to find your nearest walk visit the Walk Against Warming website.
Can light-colored rooftops and roads really curb carbon emissions and combat global climate change? The idea has been around for years, but now, a new study by researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory that is the first to use a global model to study the question has found that implementing cool roofs and cool pavements in cities around the world can not only help cities stay cooler, they can also cool the world, with the potential of canceling the heating effect of up to two years of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions. Read more in this Berkeley Lab News Release.
Brisbane City Council’s EzyGreen Energy Reduction Program provides residents with a range of energy saving options to save on their household energy bill and help the environment. Council’s EzyGreen initiative bundles local, state and federal energy savings schemes into one easy-to-use program. To find out more visit the Brisbane City Council website.
The City of Sydney is conducting a City Farm Feasibility Study to investigate potential sites for a city farm, research best practice and consult with the community about what a city farm in central Sydney should look like. City Farms are large demonstration sites designed to educate residents, businesses and schools about sustainable living in an interactive setting. To find out how you can be involved visit the City Farm Feasibility Study webpage.
The call for abstracts and workshop expressions of interest for the Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC) 8th National Conference has been extended to 15 August 2010. With the theme “Planning conservation to achieving restoration”, the Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC) 8th National Conference (Perth 28 Sep – 1 Oct 2010) is a conference for everyone involved in conserving Australia’s unique flora and native vegetation. To find out more visit the conference webpage.
Landcare Australia is encouraging everyone to become a citizen scientist during Landcare Week. Every Australian can participate in this Landcare Week activity. Simply register with ClimateWatch and you can monitor, collect and record data that will help shape the Australia’s scientific response to climate change. Data collected by ClimateWatch will be used by anyone studying the impact of climate change on ecosystems. To find out more about how you can participate visit the Landcare Week 2010 webpage.
Landcare Queensland, with the support of the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country Program is rolling out the “Our volunteers do it in the bush” Landcare Week campaign aimed at increasing awareness of natural resource management in urban areas and boosting the number of young people involved in Landcare activities. Landcare Groups are urged to register projects – the campaign will be primarily focussed around South East Queensland, Toowoomba and Cairns, however where possible other regional locations will be included. To find out more visit Landcare Queensland.
The annual Queensland Landcare Conference to be held in Caloundra from 15–17 September 2010 with the theme Celebrating 21 years of Landcare, will capture the progress, achievements and future opportunities for one of the strongest community movements in Australia’s history. The first gathering of Queensland landcarers was held in Brisbane in 1990, since that time the landcare and natural resource management sector of Queensland have gathered annually for the Queensland Landcare Conference at different locations around Queensland ranging from Townsville to Roma and including a previous visit to Caloundra in 2000 to debate and discuss changing trends in land management. To find out more visit the conference website.
In any ecological survey, there is a chance that a species occupying a site will not be detected during a survey of that site. Georgia Garrard’s research has investigated detectability issues in the Western (Basalt) Plains grassland community on the northern and western fringes of Melbourne in close proximity to Melbourne’s urban growth boundary, where there is continual pressure for development. Read the rest of this entry »