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New Methods Discovered to Repurpose Lignin
Environment Institute member Dr Fiona Whelan and Associate Professor Stephen Bell, have developed a new sustainable method to repurpose lignin waste. Using an enzyme from the bacterium Amycolatopsis thermoflava, they’ve created a more environmentally friendly way to break down lignin, a common by-product from forestry.
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Rising Temperatures Linked to Growing Mental Health Burden in Australia
Environment Institute member Professor Peng Bi has led a landmark study that links rising temperatures to an increasing burden of mental and behavioural disorders in Australia, including depression and anxiety. The data highlights the urgent need for climate adaption, as it projected up to a 50% increased in mental health impacts by 2050 if no action is taken. The peer-reviewed study was published in Nature Climate Change and featured in ABC Online.
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2024 Resilient Youth Report Finds Concerning Decline in Students Connection to Nature
The recently released 2024 Resilient Youth Report by WiLDLab reveals a concerning decline in students' connection to nature. For the first time, the report links this disconnection to student wellbeing, as highlighted by project lead and Environment Institute member Dr Mark Kohler.
'Steering Sustainability' a FAME Podcast
Join Professor Melissa Nursey-Bray and Dr Ariane Gienger as they dive into the complexities of building a sustainable future in their podcast, Steering Sustainability. Each episode features engaging conversations with leading experts, offering both sobering and hopeful insights into how we can create lasting positive change.
Looking back on WOMADelaide 2025
The Environment Institute presented The Planet Talks at the 2025 WOMADelaide Festival, held on Saturday, 9th March. Taking place at the Frome Park Pavilion, these thought-provoking sessions brought together inspiring speakers to discuss, collaborate, and spark positive change for the environment. Click to listen to both sessions now.
Urgent Call to Investigate Kangaroo Deaths on Fleurieu Peninsula
Associate Professor Wayne Boardman from the University of Adelaide has called for a thorough investigation into the recent deaths of kangaroos on the Fleurieu Peninsula, challenging assumptions that the cause is phalaris staggers and emphasizing the need to consider environmental factors such as toxins and climate impacts.
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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.
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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.
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