Latest stories

Building our nation’s climate and disaster resilience: where to from here?
Dec 16, 2020
Recent extreme climate and disaster events are fresh in our minds given the summer of 2019/20. So it's timely to question what we can do to build climate and disaster resilience to support our communities, the economy and our environment.

Where there’s smoke there’s complex decisions in the land that burns
Dec 15, 2020
Australia is one of the most fire-prone countries on earth. Last summer, as the fires raged, so did the national debate: could we have done more to prevent the carnage? Should we have done more hazard reduction burning?

NSW Digital Twin to inform emergency planning this bushfire season
Dec 15, 2020
The new NSW Spatial Digital Twin will assist emergency services in developing effective emergency management strategies ahead of the upcoming bushfire season.

Why don’t our cities cope with heavy rain?
Dec 14, 2020
As our climate changes, we'll experience more extreme weather. We're researching how we can create better cities that can withstand heavy rains and floods.
Issue 273 – Disaster resilience
In a year beset by extreme events, this month we’re focusing on disaster resilience. Our researchers are helping Australia better understand, respond to and prepare for these extreme events and emergency situations – from bushfires to floods, from hailstorms to droughts. In this edition, we look at flood forecasting, hazard reduction burning and more.

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The waste problem hiding in your mobile phone
Nov 3, 2020
The allure of new technology has created a little talked about waste problem. Lithium ion batteries power many of our devices yet are not recycled effectively, if at all. In order to close the loop on battery resources, Australian researchers are looking ahead and creating sustainable technologies to recycle these batteries.

Meet our researcher exploring where the wildfires are
Nov 3, 2020
With a view of bushfires from the ground to the air, CSIRO scientist Matt Plucinski wants Australians to learn from the other crisis of 2020.

Reflections on the first national-scale snapshot of Indigenous engagement in marine science
Nov 10, 2020
Engagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in marine research can deliver mutual benefits for researchers and Indigenous people. A new survey has investigated scientists’ motivations, perceptions and practices for engaging Traditional Owners.

Australia’s blue economy set to boost coronavirus recovery
Nov 17, 2020
As the pandemic impacts industries across the world, managing ocean resources sustainably is more important than ever to spur new marine and economic opportunities.

The state of ocean acidification
Nov 25, 2020
Ocean acidification is often thought of as a future impact of our changing climate. But exactly what is it, what are its impacts and is it really a problem of the future?

Precision crop stubble grazing to benefit farmers in vulnerable times
Nov 26, 2020
The nutritional value of crop stubble for grazing sheep has been reassessed for the first time in 25 years. A new tool will also help farmers review their practices to get the most benefit.

Rising sea levels in Australia may demand novel solutions
Nov 26, 2020
With Australia expected to experience ongoing sea level rise over the coming decades, high-resolution climate projections are one way to inform quick community adaptation. Elsewhere, scientists are turning to novel nature-based solutions to help defend our coastlines.