https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/ en https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/05/14/salt-on-the-rise-what-lagoon-microbes-reveal-about-the-future-of-coastal When coastal lagoons degrade, it's not the fish that react first, it’s the microbes. Environment Institute member Dr Christopher Keneally has lead new research alongside Professor Justin Brookes, and with University of Adelaide academics Dr Virginie Gaget, Dr Stephen Kidd, Associate Professor Luke Mosley and Dr Daniel Chilton and Associate Professor David Welsh, have contributed to a global review exploring how microbial communities in coastal lagoons respond to rising salinity and nutrient stress. These microbes act as early warning systems, helping us detect and ideally prevent ecosystem collapse. May 20 2025 Marilia Jean Belperio https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/05/14/salt-on-the-rise-what-lagoon-microbes-reveal-about-the-future-of-coastal https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/05/14/professor-phil-cassey-on-the-rising-threat-of-reptile-smuggling-in-australia Environment Institute Member and Wildlife Crime Research Hub Director Professor Phill Cassey has commented on the illegal smuggling of reptiles that is occurring in Australia. May 16 2025 Marilia Jean Belperio https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/05/14/professor-phil-cassey-on-the-rising-threat-of-reptile-smuggling-in-australia https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/05/14/bob-croser-woodland-recovery-supplementary-scholarships-now-available Seeking six full-time PhD students to each receive an annual $10,000 top-up. Projects cover three priority research areas for woodland recovery in the Mt Lofty Ranges.  May 14 2025 Marilia Jean Belperio https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/05/14/bob-croser-woodland-recovery-supplementary-scholarships-now-available https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/05/07/professor-melissa-nursey-bray-selected-as-australian-government-representative Congratulations to Professor Melissa Nursey-Bray, Environment Institute member and research initiative lead for people, nature, climate, who has been selected by the Australian Government to represent Australia at a global IPBES workshop. May 14 2025 Marilia Jean Belperio https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/05/07/professor-melissa-nursey-bray-selected-as-australian-government-representative https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/05/13/learning-fiery-lessons-for-durable-law-reform-recruiting-now-for-a-fully This project will help to address a significant knowledge gap by examining what ‘better’ bushfire laws could look like in Australia. This PhD position is fully funded and includes a ‘top up’ stipend. Applications open until 30 July 2025 (or until position is filled). Candidate must commence by 30 September 2025. May 13 2025 Marilia Jean Belperio https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/05/13/learning-fiery-lessons-for-durable-law-reform-recruiting-now-for-a-fully https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/05/07/deputy-director-damien-fordham-joins-screening-and-panel-discussion-for-ocean Environment Institute Deputy Director Associate Professor Damien Fordham will be a guest panellist for OCEAN with David Attenborough. Presented by Wild Earth Oceania (WEO), the event will take place on May 15 at 6:00 PM at Event Cinemas Marion. The screening will be followed by a Q&A panel discussion. May 9 2025 Marilia Jean Belperio https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/05/07/deputy-director-damien-fordham-joins-screening-and-panel-discussion-for-ocean https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/05/07/how-urban-greening-is-shaping-the-cities-of-tomorrow Environment Institute member and Lead of the Green Urban Futures Initiative, Professor Veronica Soebarto, has contributed to the recently published paper in Frontiers in Sustainable Cities journal Urban greening for climate resilient and sustainable cities: grand challenges and opportunities. May 7 2025 Marilia Jean Belperio https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/05/07/how-urban-greening-is-shaping-the-cities-of-tomorrow https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/04/23/south-australian-biodiversity-under-threat-from-ongoing-drought-crisis Three Environment Institute members have featured in The Guardian, shedding light on how South Australia’s historic dry spell is impacting ecosystems. Dr Stefan Caddy-Retalic spoke on widespread tree dieback across the Adelaide Hills, Dr Jess Marsh raised alarms for the critically endangered Kangaroo Island assassin spider, and Dr Katja Hogendoorn warned of a looming collapse in native bee populations. April 25 2025 Marilia Jean Belperio https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/04/23/south-australian-biodiversity-under-threat-from-ongoing-drought-crisis https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/04/15/is-australia-ready-for-a-20-year-megadrought Australia’s droughts are becoming longer and more intense, new research from Dr Georgy Falster at the University of Adelaide suggests the country could face megadroughts lasting 20 or more years. Supported by an ARC DECRA Fellowship, Dr Falster is taking a holistic approach by combining historical data from tree rings, weather records, and climate models to better understand past droughts and predict future risks. Her work aims to improve national preparedness and ensure droughts don’t become disasters. April 22 2025 Marilia Jean Belperio https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/04/15/is-australia-ready-for-a-20-year-megadrought https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/04/08/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.    April 17 2025 Marilia Jean Belperio https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/news/list/2025/04/08/new-methods-discovered-to-repurpose-lignin