Think: Sustainability

What are five sounds you liked today? A lot of the time, we get through the day without listening much to the world around us. But if we pay a little more attention, what can we learn? In this episode, we look at acoustic ecology, and how listening can be a tool to get us to care more about our planet. Featuring: Ingrid Neilson, musician Dr Brent Keogh, Lecturer, School of Music and Sound Design, University of Technology Sydney Producer/presenter: Josh Green Music: Ingrid Neilson

What is ecological linguistics? How does the English language shape our perceptions of the environment? In this episode we discuss the different terms used to describe climate change and then highlight some more subtle ways language can shape our perceptions of the world around us. Featuring: Lee Joachim, Yorta Yorta man, Board Member of Living Languages Australia. Professor Arran Stibbe, Professor of Ecological Linguistics, University of Gloucestershire Dr Helen Bromhead, Linguist, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Griffith Research Centre for Social and Cultural Research and Project Lead at the Griffith Climate Action Beacon, Griffith University Dr Jeremy Walker, Co-director of the Climate Justice Research Centre, and Senior Lecturer in Social and Political Sciences Program, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences University of Technology Sydney Producer/Presenter: Marlene Even Music: Epidemic Sound ‘If It’s Flooded, Forget it’, public safety advertisement, 2021, ACT Emergency Services Agency

Coral reefs are under serious threat, an IPCC report predicts that even if global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels it would result in a 70-90 percent decline of tropical coral reefs. In this episode we open our eyes, nose and ears to discuss the innovative ways coral reefs can be conserved. In the first half of this episode we learn about the sounds of coral reefs and in the second half the ‘smell’ of coral reefs. Featuring: Dr Miles Parsons, research scientist, Australian Institute of Marine Science Dr Caitlin Lawson, research associate at the Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney and School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Producer/Presenter: Marlene Even Music: Epidemic Sound Ningaloo Reef lagoon area recording (credit: Reef Song Project, AIMS) North West Australia Fish Choruses recording (credit: Curtin University)

With the most anticipated international cooperation on climate change this decade now over, in this episode we reflect on what the COP26 conference has achieved, Australia's contributions, and consider its impact on those most vulnerable to the climate crisis. Featuring: Dr Sven Teske, Research Director at the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney Dr Cameron Tonkinwise, Research Director at the Design Innovation Research Centre at the University of Technology Sydney Producer/Host: Sophie Ellis Music: Epidemic Sound

What do you think of when you imagine a swamp? They may not be regarded as postcard-perfect environments but swamps play really mportant roles ecologically, regulating water and storing carbon. But they’re at risk, and the problems mostly boil down to human causes. This episode looks at swamps, what’s threatening them, and what’s being done to keep them safe. Featuring: Grant Hose, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University John Merson, Executive Director, Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute Heather Goodall, Professor Emerita, University of Technology Sydney Producer/presenter: Josh Green Music: Epidemic Sound

Shanes Park is destined to be western Sydney’s new national park. The project aims to attract tourists to western Sydney, with visitor facilities and an education centre planned for 2023. But those developments and others, have ecologists concerned about the health of the site going forward. Featuring: Wayne Olling, Manager of Flora and Fauna, Blacktown and District Environment Group Leigh Martin, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Producer/presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel Assistant producer: Eamonn Culhane Music: Epidemic Sound

Kids have come to represent the face of the environmental justice movement and for good reason. In this episode, we examine the work of young people fighting for a stable climate future, their ability to motivate change, and how they reckon with the pressure of being held as beacons of hope. Featuring: Anna Thieben, Co-convenor of Envio collective at The University of Technology Sydney Damien Nguyen, Co-convenor of Envio collective at The University of Technology Sydney Ashjayeen Sharif, Student activist Greenpeace campaigner Thanks to the expertise of Dr. Laura Schuijers, research fellow at Melbourne University Law School for her substantial contribution to the analysis of the Sharma v Environment Minister case featured in this episode (15:30 - 18:15) Producer/ Presenter: Sophie Ellis Music: Epidemic Sound

Green roofs have a myriad of benefits including attracting biodiversity, reducing air pollution, storm water management and reducing the impact of the urban heat island effect. Did you know that green roofs can also improve the efficiency of solar panels? In this episode we explore how integrating a green roof with a solar photovoltaic system (known as a biosolar green roof) can boost the solar energy output. In the second half of this episode we look into some incentives that could increase the uptake of green roofs. Featuring: Dr. Peter Irga, Environmental Engineer at the University of Technology Sydney. Robert Fleck, Research Engineer for the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology and PhD Candidate at the University of Technology Sydney, Jorge Chapa, Head of Market Transformation at the Green Building Council of Australia. Producer/Presenter: Marlene Even Music: Epidemic Sound

In a special World Food Day episode of Think: Sustainability we invite three guests to discuss what role short food supply chains have in supporting sustainable resilient food systems. How do we create contingency plans to build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress in our food systems? In this #WorldFoodDay discussion we hear about the resilience of food systems from Solomon Islands to Tropical North Queensland to North-East Victoria. Featured: Dr Federico Davila, Research Director & Senior Research Fellow (Food Systems) at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney. Dr Kimberley Reis, Environmental & Social Planning Lecturer, Griffith University. Serenity Hill, farmer, co-founder of the Open Food Network, and a Director of both Open Food Foundation and Open Food Network Australia. Producer/Presenter: Marlene Even Music: Epidemic Sound

Plastic pollution is an undeniable problem. One solution proposed to help solve our plastic woes is bioplastics. In this episode, we look at what bioplastics actually are, how algae is changing the industry, and whether they can deliver on the environmentally sound promises they make. Featuring: Dr Unnikrishnan Kuzhiumparambil Lead Chemist as The Climate Change Cluster at The University of Technology Sydney Professor Leonie Barner, Director of the Centre for Waste Free World at the Queensland University of Technology. Producer/Host: Sophie Ellis Music: Epidemic Sound

How are fashion designers using digital technology to reduce textile waste? In this episode we discuss how digital technologies such as 3D pattern making software and body scanning are key to a sustainable fashion industry. Featuring: Dr Timo Rissanen, Associate Professor in Fashion and Textiles, University of Technology, Sydney Nat Stratos, Circular Design Practitioner and Facilitator, Co-Director of 3D and Circular Design. Annie Tran, fourth year honours student studying Fashion at the University of Technology, Sydney. Producer/Presenter: Marlene Even Music: Epidemic Sound

Digital labour and remote working trends have seen incredible uptake due to the pandemic. Though we may think these changes to our lives exist only in the ephemeral online world, in this episode we explore whether the digital workforce could help us build more sustainable cities. Featuring: Andrew Butt, Associate Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning at RMIT University David Bissell, Associate Professor in the School of Geography at University of Melbourne Shanaka Herath, Lecturer in the School of Built Environment at The University of Technology Sydney Producer/Host: Sophie Ellis Music: Epidemic Sound

Climate Fatigue is one of the many terms used to describe a sense of apathy or dread caused by the constant exposure to images of climate change. We explore how Art can help disrupt this feeling and revitalize how we relate to the climate crisis. Featuring: Dr Zoë Sadokierski, Senior Lecturer in the School of Design at The University of Technology Sydney. Kate Scardifield, Artist and Co-Director of the Material Ecologies Design Lab The University of Technology Sydney. Alankrita Narayan, Author of ‘Urban Sunbirds in Delhi- Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions’ and Participant in the Urban Field Naturalist Project. Producer/Host: Sophie Ellis Music: Epidemic Sound

Energy poverty is a complex socioeconomic issue. Many people are experiencing the health, social, and economic disadvantages of living in energy inefficient homes. In this episode, we discuss minimum energy efficiency standards for renters and access to renewable energy. Featured: Riley Brooke, renter, policy and campaigns officer at the Tenants’ Union of NSW. Caroline Valente, PhD candidate, School of the Built Environment, University of Technology Sydney. Aliya Uteuova, visual reporter covering environmental justice for The Guardian US Bryan Tran, community organiser at the Sydney Alliance Producer/presenter: Marlene Even Music: Epidemic Sound

What are the threats to honeybees and what wider impact could this have for us? We discuss the impact Australia’s recent bushfires and floods had on beekeepers and the issues facing Australia’s apiary industry. Featuring: Dr Nural Cokcetin, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Technology Sydney’s ithree institute Bruce White OAM, beekeeper, bio-security officer and a former President of the NSW Amateur Beekeepers’ Association Producer/Host: Marlene Even Music: Epidemic Sound

Increasingly severe and frequent natural disasters are a part of our reality as a result of climate change. But how will this affect global economies? This episode explores how climate change is affecting the insurance industry. How this influences where and how we live. The industry’s response to climate risk and What we need to change to make sure Australia remains insurable in the face of a changing climate. Featuring: Tom Davies, Climate Change Special Advisor at The Insurance Council of Australia Gordon Noble, Partnerships Manager at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney. Sue Falkenhagen, Townsville Resident. Music: Blue Dot Sessions, Epidemic Sound, Solecism by Scott Buckley

Globally countries are striving towards a transition from diesel and petrol vehicles to electric ones. In this episode we explore the electrification of New South Wales’ public transport, specifically buses. Featuring: Mathew Hounsell, senior researcher at the Transport Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney Katelyn Purnell, Phd researcher, Centre for Energy and Environmental Markets, University of New South Wales Robyn Preston MP, local member for Hawkesbury, member of the Liberal Party, Chair of the Legislative Assembly Committee on Transport and Infrastructure Producer/Host: Marlene Even Music: Epidemic Sound

The way we produce our food needs to change. Our current practices will not meet the demands of a growing population and a warming climate. Algae, that slimy green stuff you find at the beach, might just help us more sustainably produce our food. This episode looks at how Algae biotechnologies are revolutionising the agriculture and aquaculture industry. Featuring Professor Peter Ralph, Executive Director of Climate Change Cluster at The University of Technology Sydney Dr Graeme Barnett, CEO and Managing Director of Qponics Limited Bastien Finet, Operations Manager at Pacific Reef Fisheries Music: Epidemic Sound

Legal personhood or ‘rights of nature’ laws have been around since as early as the 1970s and have attracted lawmakers in jurisdictions all over the world. But what do these legal concepts offer? How do they interact with current environmental laws? And what are their limits? Producer: Marlene Even Producer/Presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel Featured: Michelle Maloney, co-founder and national convener, Australian Earth Laws Alliance Dr Virginia Marshall, Wiradjuri Nyemba woman, lawyer and Indigenous postdoctoral fellow at the Australian National University Music: Epidemic Sound

In this episode of Think: Sustainability, is Australia doing its best to care for our Pacific neighbours as they confront the effects of a changing climate? How can we improve current labour programs and pathways? Producer/Presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel Featured: Mesulame Ratukadreu, Pacific Labour Scheme worker Jonathan Pryke, Director, Pacific Islands Program, Lowy Institute Amanda Moors-Mailei, Student Equity Project Officer, Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion, University of Technology Music: Epidemic Sound