ECOS – Science for sustainability

The experimental Velkerri vertical well pad in the Beetaloo Sub-basin.

Mitigating and offsetting emissions from proposed onshore gas production in the Northern Territory

March 27, 2023

Meeting net zero targets will require mitigating and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions from proposed development in the Northern Territory.

Lake Tuggeranong south of Canberra is a popular place for recreation but also often suffers from toxic algal blooms in summer. This made it a good candidate to test a new water quality monitoring system called AquaWatch. Image: Allan Sharp / Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

AquaWatch: the ‘weather forecast for water quality’ that’s an Australian world first

March 21, 2023

Satellites and high-tech sensors are revolutionising the way water quality challenges will be monitored and responded to into the future.

New markets on the menu with plant biosecurity tool

March 20, 2023

A new science-backed tool makes it easier to select measures to reduce plant pest and disease risks related to trade. The tool opens up more options for farmers to protect biosecurity with less reliance on chemical treatments.

Illustration of an elephant bird hatching from an egg.

Eggshells tell story of extinct elephant birds

March 1, 2023

How many species of elephant birds existed on the Island of Madagascar? The answer may lie in the eggshells they left behind more than 1000 years ago.

Sweet opportunity for Australian exotic mushroom growers

February 28, 2023

Queensland’s sugar cane industry already produces around 95% of Australia’s sugar – but thanks to a new collaboration facilitated by CSIRO, it’s also fertile ground for home-grown exotic Asian mushrooms.

3. Sebstainable Directors Tawab Frahmand and Vladimir Finn

Solving the polystyrene problem with science

February 22, 2023

Our scientists are working on a ground-breaking portable device to upcycle polystyrene into high-value raw materials with zero waste.

Tops of cooling towers of atomic power plant. Image by Shutterstock.

Radioactive waste isn’t going away. We’ve found a new way to trap it in minerals for long-term storage

February 21, 2023

Our new and safer way to capture and store radioactive waste can be applied world-wide

The Totten Glacier with blue sky and ocean.

Unravelling ENSO mysteries on ice

February 21, 2023

A new study reveals that projected changes in the tropical Pacific can influence the Southern Ocean: specifically, an increasingly stronger El Niño may accelerate the melting of Antarctica's ice shelves and ice sheets.

Underwater view of a reef looking up toward sunlight.

Revolutionising environmental monitoring using eDNA

February 15, 2023

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a game-changer for monitoring biodiversity. New Australian/New Zealand guidelines for working with eDNA will support end-users taking up this exciting technology.