Research

The nature of Earth can be arranged into diverse ecosystems ranging from terrestrial landscapes and vegetation to inland aquatic systems and marine areas, and underpin our planet’s wealth of biodiversity and renewable resources. How our ecosystems are managed so they conserve species and functions is explored. The services that our ecosystems provide and strategies to avoid their degradation are integral to ensure resilience to current and future climate and societal pressures.

Our climate is central to the state and regulation of our ecosystems, food, water, health and infrastructure security. Understanding and observations of our current climate system allows us to predict how our future energy and societal choices will impact future climate. Understanding climate change risks to our natural and human environments allows us to identify key societal, economic and policy actions.

We are currently using our natural systems at an unsustainable rate, as custodians of our Earth, we strive to leave our planet better than how we inherited it. To do this we need to understand how the natural environment and social systems interact. Sustainability science addresses the challenge of how to meet the needs of present and future generations while reducing poverty and conserving our environment.

Natural resources of water, air and land underpin our environmental and societal health. Earth minerals are vital for technology and for the energy transition to a zero carbon future. Environmental hazards of extreme weather, bushfires, earthquakes and land-use impact our food, ecosystem and infrastructure security. Controlling pollution and waste is a major challenge for sustainability, environmental and human health.

Our energy system has allowed rapid technological and economic development of society but at a large cost to our environment. How energy is generated, produced and harvested has implications for health, climate and economic security. How we transition our energy system to carbon neutrality requires an understanding of current non-renewable reliance and new renewable energy solutions.