Think: Sustainability

In this episode of Think: Sustainability, we spotlight some exciting new developments in the sustainability sector. What projects have been underway while we’ve been glued to our TVs, following COVID and the US election? We talk to three experts in environmental fields to celebrate innovative renewable energy projects, the circular economy and what a Joe Biden election victory means for Australia’s climate policy. Producer: Marlene Even Producer/Presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel Featured: Dr Nick Florin, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), University of Technology Sydney. Manager of the Resource Futures research group and directs and undertakes collaborative research projects with industry and government partners on resource conservation, recovery and recycling. Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Director of the Circular Economy Innovation Network and founding Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) UNSW. Dr Chris Briggs, Research Principal, Institute

In this episode, we explore the psychology of climate change. With the help of Carl Jung’s analytical psychology, we look at how our internal disorder may be hindering efforts to solve external problems. What is holding us back from effective climate action, individually and collectively? Producer/presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel Featured: Jonathan Marshall, Future Fellow and member of the Climate Justice Research Centre, University of Technology Sydney Music: Epidemic Sound

This is the second-part of a two-part series of Think: Sustainability, where we speak to those living in precarious housing situations. In part one, we spoke to public housing tenants. In this episode, we hear from some of the half a million international students trapped in Australia. Producer/Presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel Featured: Mon Mon Myo Myint, Rajendra Kumar, Rojal L. Shrestha, international students Adam Loftus, School Breakfast 4 Health and Agencies Team Leader, Foodbank Kylie Ebert, Director, Student Life, Macquarie University Alan Morris, professor, Institute for Public Policy and Governance, University of Technology Sydney Music: Epidemic Sound, Blue Dot Sessions

In this two-part series of Think: Sustainability, we speak to those living in precarious housing situations in Australia. In part one, tens of thousands sit on public housing waiting lists, and a severe lack of funding in the sector means that those who make it in, are some of the most vulnerable in society. Producer/Presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel Featured: Alan Morris, professor, Institute for Public Policy and Governance, University of Technology Sydney Fiona Ross, public housing tenant, co-founder Friends of Public Housing Sara Wilkinson, building surveyor, professor, School of Built Environment, University of Technology Sydney Music: Epidemic Sound, Blue Dot Sessions

In this episode, we take a closer look at whether COVID19 has shone a harsh light on aviation’s carbon footprint, or whether despite the crisis; the big players in aviation will be unwilling to turn-off auto-pilot. Producer/Presenter: Max Tillman Featured: Audrey Quicke, researcher, the Australia Institute Climate Jonothan O'Neill, manager, UTS Protospace Dr Ben Hankamer, Queensland Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative Music: Epidemic Sound

In this episode, we examine space debris, what is it and why is there more of it? We examine current and emerging space junk removal technology. And what laws and measures are in place to hold those who litter, to account? Presenter/Producer: Marlene Even Featured: Dr. Martin Bell, astrophysicist, and lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. Dr. Cassandra Steer, a lecturer at the Australian National University College of Law and a mission specialist at the Australian National University Institute for Space. Mike Lindsay, Chief Technology Officer, Astroscale. Music: Epidemic Sound Sound: ‘Starlink mission’, 18th August 2020 (credit: SpaceX) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTMJK7wb0rM Interview with Peter Meiklejohn, from the documentary ‘Searching for Skylab' 2019 (credit: ‘Searching for Skylab’, Dwight Steven-Boniecki) www.searchingforskylab.com ‘Flight Controllers Activity During Skylab Reentry On 12.7.1979’, (credit: NASA) ‘Sounds of Saturn: Hear Ra

In this guest episode from Think: Digital Futures, producer Caitlin McHugh examines how climate breakdown is changing the way people live. In cities, already soaring temperatures are compounded by the concrete, treeless layouts of most urban centres, while extreme weather decimates crops and disrupts our food supply chains. But what are the possibilities of green walls and vertical agriculture in our urban centres, how can technology help us adapt to a worsening climate? Producer/presenter: Caitlin McHugh Featured: Sarah Wilkinson, Professor, School of Built Environment, UTS Tim Schork, Associate Professor, School of Architecture, UTS Marc Carmichael, Senior Lecturer, School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, UTS Mel Fyfe, CEO and Co-founder of Blakthumb Music: Epidemic Sound, Tomas Skyldeberg

In this episode we look at how a post-COVID economy can serve the interests of the planet and how to take lessons learnt from one crisis and apply them to the next. Featured: Honourable Bob Carr, Industry Professor at Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS. Former Premier of NSW and former Foreign Minister of Australia. Dr Deborah Cotton, Senior Lecture, Finance Discipline Group, Business School, UTS Sarah Fumei, Project Manager, ClimateWorks Australia Producer/presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel Music: Epidemic Sound

In this episode, we take a look at the world of conservation after two major blows: the Black Summer bushfires and COVID-19. How have these crises affected the work of conservationists? And what are their demands of government, heading into the future? Producer/Presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel Producer: Marlene Even Featured: Dr Kellie Leigh, Executive Director, Science for Wildlife Jonathan Webb, Associate Professor and Wildlife Ecologist, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Reannan Honey, PhD student, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Music: Epidemic Sound

In this episode, we assess the real impacts of bushfire smoke on our health, why it may be crucial health practitioners and environmental scientists collaborate in anticipation of worse bushfire seasons in the future. Producer/Presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel Featured: Benjamin Herder, asthma sufferer David Bowman, co-author of the University of Tasmania study, professor of pyrogeography and fire science Dr. Arnagretta Hunter, cardiologist and clinical senior lecturer, Australian National University Medical School Dr. Alex Baumber, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation, University of Technology Sydney Music: Epidemic Sound

The coronavirus pandemic saw a boom in gardening with many people taking up the hobby during their time in isolation. We know scientifically that being in nature can decrease stress as well as a myriad of other health benefits. In this episode we look at why nature is good for our mental health and the inequitable access to green spaces. Presenter/Producer: Marlene Even Featured: Phil Pettitt, Community Greening Coordinator, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney Professor Tonia Gray, centre for educational research, Western Sydney University Dr Peter Irga, research fellow, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Business School, University of Technology Sydney Professor Sara Wilkinson, professor of sustainable property, school of built environment, University of Technology Sydney Dr Fiona Orr, senior lecturer in mental health nursing, University of Technology Sydney Music: Epidemic Sound

It’s safe to say Dr Ian McGregor has committed his entire career to tackling this century’s biggest challenge, global warming. Ian has attended every United Nations Climate Summit since 2009. He earned a place on Afghanistan’s delegation for six of those summits, in the lead-up to the Paris Agreement in 2015. Ian spent time in the country himself, consulting with the Afghan government on climate change policy. He has worked with some 35 other Least Developed Countries. Ian and I spoke about climate refugees and the political systems best suited to tackling global warming. Produced and presented by: Julia Carr-Catzel Featured: Dr Ian McGregor, Business School, University of Technology Sydney Music: Epidemic Sound

As we confront one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century - the climate crisis - people around the world are becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of guidance from governments. Leading some to seek solutions elsewhere. Big business has been hailed both the most obvious obstacle and obvious opportunity for saving the environment. But, can we trust the promises of big business to meet sustainability targets? What’s genuine and what’s just a bit of greenwashing? Presenter/Producer: Julia Carr-Catzel Producer: Marlene Even Featured: Peter Fleming, Professor, Business School, University of Technology Sydney Daye Moffit, Executive Strategy Director, Landor Music: Epidemic Sound

In this episode we’re looking at how Australia’s disastrous bushfire season affected our water systems. How drinking water can become so easily compromised. And how experts are working to make sure our system is resilient for next time. Producer/presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel Featuring: Stuart Khan, Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales Stuart White, Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Music: Epidemic sound

How do we heal an ecosystem traumatised by fire? How will climate change result in more intense fires? And why aren't we listening to Indigenous fire management recommendations from past inquiries? Producer/Presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel Production Assistant: Marlene Even Featured: Oliver Costello, CEO, Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation Kevin Tolhurst, Associate Professor, Fire Ecology and Management, University of Melbourne Brad Murray, Senior Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney More information on cultural burning: #116 Rekindling Cultural Burning

In part two, we examine how the climate crisis is fuelling ecofascist ideology, how the ideology may be taken up by more mainstream politicians and how ideas spread online. Featured: Andrew Jakubowicz, emeritus professor, sociology, University of Technology Sydney Betsy Hartmann, emeritus professor, development studies, Hampshire College, Massachusetts, USA Producer/Presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel

In part one, we unpack the history of ecofascism. The ideology written in the manifestos of terrorists. We trace back the movement to its beginnings in German philosophy, Eugenics, Hitler's 'blood and soil' slogans and Norse mythology. We also examine how overpopulation has changed meaning over the past few decades - and how all of this is linked to environmentalism. Featured: Andrew Jakubowicz, emeritus professor, sociology, University of Technology Sydney Betsy Hartmann, emeritus professor, development studies, Hampshire College, Massachusetts, USA Producer/Presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel

Through the heart of Inner-Sydney runs a river pushed to the environmental brink. The Cooks River has bared the burden of urban development in Sydney from the time colonisers settled in Australia. But the river, once dubbed Australia's most polluted, is on the mend. In this episode, we meet the people who want to bring the Cooks River back to life. Featuring: Jennifer Newman, Lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney Ian Tyrell, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of New South Wales Sue Burton, Executive Officer of the Cooks River Alliance Dr Ian Wright, Senior Lecturer in Natural Science at the University of Western Sydney Anne Leahy, President of the Cooks River Valley Association Peter Monroe, Co-Founder of the Mudcrabs Ranjit, Mudcrabs Coordinator Producer/Presenter: Victor Petrovic

In this episode: as the most vulnerable citizens bear the brunt of the climate crisis, confronted with civil conflict and forced to migrate as climate refugees - will the international community come to their aid? Featured: Christopher Odeyemi, PhD student, University of Technology Sydney Dr Ian McGregor, Business School, University of Technology Sydney and member, Climate Action Research Group, UTS. Dr Julian Bolleter, Deputy Director, Australian Urban Design Research Centre, University of Western Australia Producer/Presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel

On this episode, we question how journalists have been covering the climate crisis. We look at whether they are numbing audiences with never-ending urgent messaging. And, we examine a new wave of young activists campaigning for climate action, assessing to what extent they can make a difference. Featured: Tom Morton, Professor in Journalism, researcher at Centre for Climate Change, University of Technology Sydney Tooba Farooqui, student and climate change activist Nathaniel Geiger, Associate Professor, Communication Sciences, Indiana State University Producer/presenter: Julia Carr-Catzel