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Creating Wasted Whey into Opportunity

New research found by Jack Hetherington from the Centre for Global Food and Resources, has discovered innovative ways to repurpose whey, a by-product of cheese production and one of the largest sources of food loss and waste in the Australian dairy industry. 

Saving Urban Trees

Stefan Caddy-Retalic, an adjunct senior lecturer at the University of Adelaide’s Waite Arboretum and an Environment Institute member, comments on thw preservation of the iconic Overbury Drive red gum. He shares his knowledge in urban ecology, gaining attention from major media outlets like The Guardian, Yahoo News, AOL, and MSN.

Giant Spiders and the Secrets of Nullarbor

Environment Institute member Dr Jess Marsh, has become one of the first people on written record to encounter a Troglodiplura spider in the wild, a species as large as your hand and completely eyeless. We extend our congratulations to Dr Marsh as she begins her ARC Industry Fellowship at the University of Adelaide, focusing on the Nullarbor caves and the Troglodiplura species.

The Urgent Need to Rethink Climate Economics

A new Australian study has found that traditional economic models significantly underestimate the global economic impact of climate change, particularly when considering extreme weather events and interconnected supply chains. Mark Lawrence, Environment Institute member and an expert in climate risk from the University of Adelaide, emphasises that the economic consequences could be even worse than projected.

How Freshwater Transformed the Coorong's Microbial World

Environment Institute members Chris Keneally and Justin Brookes and their team have conducted groundbreaking research on how floods impact microbial communities in the Coorong Lagoon. Their study revealed that the 2022 flood not only reduced methane-producing microbes but also promoted beneficial bacterial growth, highlighting the vital role of freshwater flows in restoring ecological balance. 

Are we witnessing a major setback for Australia’s nature protection laws?

A new bill introduced to Parliament seeks to limit the federal government’s ability to reconsider past environmental approvals, even when new evidence shows harm. The move is tied to ongoing salmon farming in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour, putting the endangered Maugean skate at further risk. Dr Phillipa C. McCormack, Environment Institute Future Making Fellow, explores the consequences in her piece for The Conversation, calling for urgent reform of Australia’s outdated environmental laws.