Environment

Cellulose glitter in vials

Plant-based glitter outshines plastic alternatives

Glitter microplastics are commonly found in sewage sludge and wastewater, but a new sustainable glitter made from plant cellulose has been developed and has no impact on the environment

Frogs are amazing thumbnail image

Frogs are amazing

Frogs are a vital but endangered part of Australia’s ecosystems. By being part of Frog Month Victoria, you can help protect them in your neighbourhood

A social media platform that is actually good for democracy? thumbnail image

A social media platform that is actually good for democracy?

Australian communities are experimenting with innovative digital democracy tools to find agreement on contentious issues like climate change, inspired by powerful examples from Taiwan

Hand holding a transparent tube full of grasshoppers

Q&A

Q&A: How a ‘pooter’ is helping endangered grasshoppers find new homes

Translocation is helping protect the endangered Key’s Matchstick Grasshopper and enhancing ecosystems in south-eastern Australia

Man riding a shared e-scooter across tram tracks in Melbourne CBD, not wearing a helmet

What the e-scooter ban tells us about Australia’s circular economy

Banning shared e-scooters in Melbourne could hinder the growth of circular business models across Australia

A massive smoke plume from a wildfire

Climate change is supercharging the world’s wildfires

A new annual global assessment of wildfires warns that climate change has increased the risk of extreme fire weather by about 20 times in some parts of the world

A dog chasing a ball across a grassy field

We checked if Melbourne really is a dog-friendly city

The city looks, smells and sounds very different to our most popular animal friends, so we mapped Melbourne to see if it is a City for Dogs

Aerial drone view of extensive landfill dump

Opinion

Are cheap plastics the new tobacco?

Understanding ‘tobacco tactics’ can help fight the global plastic waste crisis, because the reality is plastic production is growing faster than we can recycle it

person canoeing on a calm river

Ten things you should know about legally recognising the rights of Nature

As Nature around the world gains increasing rights as a ‘person’ or ‘living entity’, we need to understand what this means on the ground (or in the water)

Yellow baya bird weaving its nest in a green forest.

Birds are the ultimate architects, designing their nests for every climate

Whether it’s a dome, cup or pendant, new research shows bird nest designs match specific climatic conditions, giving hope that some can adjust nesting behaviours for changing weather conditions

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Acknowledgement of country

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Owners of the unceded lands on which we work, learn and live. We pay respect to Elders past, present and future, and acknowledge the importance of Indigenous knowledge in the Academy.

Read about our Indigenous priorities
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