News

Graduate Perspectives from Australia, China, and the US - Harvard University.

Climate Conference: Science & Humanities
3-4 March 2010

From James Lovelock's Gaia thesis, to Tim Flannery's historical and ecological work, global discussion on climate and climate change spans humanities and science. This Conference will bring together 40 graduate students from Australia, China, and the US - to present their global perspectives on climate and climate change. The Conference aims to highlight research work that displays genuine disciplinary crossover. Science students and Humanities/Social Science students will exchange research ideas, crossing disciplines, cultures, and continents.

The conference is co-sponsored by the Go8, the Harvard Committee on Australian Studies, and the Consortium of China 9 Research Universities (C9). Professor Alison Bashford, Harvard Chair of Australian Studies (09/10) will convene the conference.

Applications for Australian students are open now and close 1 July 2009. One science and one humanities student from the University of Sydney will be selected to attend this conference at Harvard University. Funding includes $2,500 travel + $800 accommodation.

Download information and application form here

Help Health to have a voice at Copenhagen

The Climate Change Health Council has mounted an ambitious international campaign, aimed at enabling the ‘health voice’ to be properly heard in the lead up to the UN Climate Change conference in Copenhagen, in Dec 2009. The Copenhagen negotiations are widely recognized as the last chance to gain global agreement on a framework to cap and reduce carbon emissions. The Climate Change Health Council has developed a petition which enables health professionals to make a pledge “to protect health through active engagement to limit the causes of human-caused climate change”

If you are a student or staff engaged in a health profession then you can sign the petition below. Otherwise we urge the staff, students and the public to ask their physician, and any other health professionals they encounter, whether they have signed the pledge.

Sign the pledge here.

In the UK the medical students are being particularly active. View news here.

The Institute for Sustainable Solutions Searches for a New Director

The University of Sydney is conducting a global search for a Senior Academic and Professor to lead and manage the Institute for Sustainable Solutions.

She or he will take the lead in promoting interdisciplinary sustainability research and teaching at the University. The Director will also be the public 'face' of the Institute and will showcase the activities of the Institute to the broader community in a variety of fora. The position has been advertised in: The Australian, Science, and Nature as well as at www.job.ac.uk and www.academickeys.com.

It may be that through your academic networks both internationally and domestically you know someone who would be suited to the position. If you do, please direct them to the advertisement on the University's webpage and advise them to contact , Dean of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at for further information about the position.

To receive a full candidate pack, prospective applicants should contact .

The closing date for applications is 20 April 2009.

Seed Grants for Interdisciplinary Research 2009

This seed funding scheme aims to support, on a competitive basis, high quality, interdisciplinary research projects focused on solutions to a sustainability issue of local, national or global significance. This first round is open to all those who responded to the call for expressions of interest in December 2008.

Funding for projects of one to two years in duration is available. Total budget for this scheme in 2009/10 is up to $500,000.

Applicants must be members of the academic staff and on the payroll of the University. Emeritus and Honorary appointees are not eligible to apply for funding from this Scheme.

For more information, or to apply for a copy of the Guidelines and Application Form, contact at the University's Research Office.

The closing date for applications is 27 March 2009

Upcoming Events

One Million Women: The launch of an exciting new climate change initiative

Tuesday 19 May 2009, 10.45 – 12.15am
Maclaurin Hall, The Main Quadrangle, The University of Sydney (Map)

This event will launch a Campaign run by Climate Coolers which seeks to enlist one million women across Australia, to each abate at least one tonne of carbon.

The Institute for Sustainable Solutions has formed a strategic partnership with the One Million Women Campaign and it will be launched by the University Chancellor, Professor Marie Bashir.

Climate Coolers is a not for profit, women-led initiative to cut CO2 pollution and are building a network of women across the country to engage Australians everywhere to take action on climate change.

Climate Coolers aim is to inspire women everywhere to get involved through our national campaign and through local community and household projects. They aim to:

- Raise awareness across the country
- Create social change
- Cut CO2 NOW through energy efficiency and renewable energy projects
- Give every person and every household a planned strategy to cut their CO2 consumption.

Find out more about Climate Coolers

Invite to 1million Women launch

News archive

Economic Growth Version 1.0 is finished: The great disruption has begun

The Lecture by Paul Gilding on 29 April 2009 was part of the Sydney ideas: international public lecture series

Paul Gilding is a prominent Australian writer and activist for action on climate change and sustainability. He argues that we have entered a period of global ecological crisis and economic stagnation that will last for decades.

In his lecture Paul argued that this economic stagnation will lead to an economic and social transformation of significance in the history of humanity. That crisis is now inevitable because the fundamental drivers are not opinion or politics but the established momentum of changes in the ecosystem. This is not philosophy Paul claimed, its physics and biology.

He outlined the crisis we are now entering, and how it will present humanity with a clear choice between civilizations’ collapse, or economic and social transformation. He assured the audience that humanity will choose the latter, because there is no other way around the wall. Paul also detailed how this will lead to the complete transformation of our cities, our transport system and our energy sector in order to achieve a net zero CO2 economy. Whole sectors of the economy and many businesses will need to be replaced and all this will occur within a few decades.

Watch the video of Paul’s talk.

Catalysis Public Lecture and Symposium

Yes We Can: Catalysing Hope for a Sustainable Future

The Public Lecture and panel discussion was hosted by the ABC’s Robin Williams 14 April 2009

As the environmental state of the planet becomes more and more uncertain, the need for solutions that will effect genuine, significant change is increasingly crucial. Who will create the solutions to ensure that we can achieve a truly sustainable future? What is the science behind these solutions and what are the hurdles to their implementation?

The Catalysis Public Lecture proceedings sought to galvanise and energise Australia’s response and attitudes towards sustainability through a moving and thought provoking mix of lectures, debate, music and poetry. To find out about the solutions that will effect genuine and significant change, the drivers of the science behind these solutions and the hurdles affecting their implementation, you can view a video of the Public Lecture here soon.

Catalysis: A Major Key to Sustainability

The International 3-Day Symposium was held in the new Law building 15 – 17 April 2009

The world is standing at the technological threshold of a revolution that is driven by the need for truly sustainable (industrial) processes, both in the production of chemicals as well as in the generation of power.

The symposium brought together catalysis experts from around the world to highlight potential answers to these pressing issues. These solutions were discussed through a series of plenary lectures, orations and keynote speeches both from fundamental scientific viewpoints as well as from applied approaches. The three day symposium focused on breakthrough science, technology transfer and industry examples.

Launch of the Institute for Sustainable Solutions

The launch of the Institute on Tuesday 15 July 2008 featured a series of free lectures.

Speakers included Professor Jeffrey D Sachs, a leading international adviser at the forefront of economic development and environmental sustainability.

Where: University of Sydney,
1.30pm – Lectures commenced in the MacLaurin Hall
3.00pm – Launch of the Institute for Sustainable Solutions and a debate on sustainability, adjudicated by Adam Spencer
4.30pm – Launch Reception
5.30pm – Professor Jeffrey D Sachs lecture, at the Great Hall