Environment, Sustainability & Climate Change

We’re firmly in nature’s corner. With world-recognised expertise in identifying and understanding natural patterns and processes, we undertake a steady stream of successful environmental research projects with local, national and international partners.

Our findings support policy and action on habitat reclamation and rehabilitation. Our insights inform species conservation and ecosystem sustainment. For today, tomorrow and a better future for generations to come.

Impact stories

Bringing oyster reefs back from extinction

Oyster reefs carpeted thousands of kilometers of Australian coastline 200 years ago, but were dredged to near extinction within a century of colonial settlement. An ambitious nationwide restoration program now seeks to bring them back. In South Australia, the largest reef restoration in the Southern Hemisphere, Windara Reef, was constructed in 2017 to restore the ecosystem of the native mud oyster, Ostrea angasi, off the Yorke Peninsula.

Bushfire and the challenge to respond to new levels of environmental risk

There have been terrible bushfires this summer across southern Australia – and they are still going. Part of the reason for this disaster is the unprecedented climatic conditions that the country has been facing, including record hot and dry conditions.

Preserving culture: protecting heritage buildings against earthquakes

Our engineering researchers have developed breakthrough methods to earthquake-proof heritage buildings, advancing disaster resilience and safeguarding historic cultural sites around the globe.

New AI-powered Bushfire-fighting App NOBURN Goes Live

University of Adelaide experts from the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) developed a new AI-powered model to help predict and prevent devastating bushfires.

Wildlife trade threatening unprotected animals

New research from the University of Adelaide’s Invasion Science and Wildlife Ecology Group shows that three times as many unregulated species are being imported into the US compared to regulated species.

Ocean Warming Threatens Richest Marine Biodiversity

Creatures that make their homes in tropical waters have enjoyed mostly unchanged temperatures for the past twenty thousand years. Now, new research from the University of Adelaide suggests that these extremely biodiverse areas will be hit the hardest by climate change-induced oceanic warming – and the wildlife is not ready to adapt.

Stress less! Targeting the plant cargo hub to help them deal with environmental stress

Just like an international port in a big city, every individual plant cell contains its own cargo hub that responds to their import and export needs.

See all articles

Start your career

There is no planet B. Pave your way to a career in climate change, sustainability or environment.

Start your career

Progress your career

Accelerate your environmental career or change direction with a quality postgraduate qualification.

Progress your career