Practical Solutions for Regenerating Natural Systems in our Cities

Recently, myself and another PhD Student in the ICON Science lab attended an event at the MPavillion initiative. The MPavillion is an annual celebration of architecture and design in Melbourne, coordinated by the Urban Design Forum. Specifically, it focuses on creative collaboration for community art and wellbeing. Each year since its inception in 2014, the […]
How Alone Australia can help us understand and appreciate our place in nature

More than a million Australians have tuned in to Alone Australia, SBS’s highest-rating series for 2023 to date. What is it about this program that’s got us so hooked? And what can it tell us about our own relationships with nature? The series started with ten contestants dropped off in a remote area of lutruwita/Tasmania. The aim is […]
If the budget ditched the Stage 3 tax cuts, Australia could save every threatened species – and lots more

The Albanese government has made bold environmental promises over the last year. Given the parlous state of nature in Australia, these commitments are important. The promises include ending new extinctions, fixing national nature laws and protecting 30% of our land and waters. Achieving these goals requires a lot of money. So how does last night’s federal budget stack up? […]
Factsheet: The top 10 actions you can take to make a difference for biodiversity

In the news: Aussies urged to take conservation seriously

Catch our own Sarah Bekessy on ABC News. Sarah discusses a list of ten things that everyone can do to make a difference for biodiversity. Click here
Outreach: Nature is in crisis. Here are 10 easy ways you can make a difference

Australia’s rarest butterfly, the Australian fritillary. Garry Sankowsky, Author provided Last month, Sir David Attenborough called on United Kingdom residents to “go wild once per week”. By this, he meant taking actions which help rather than harm the natural world, such as planting wildflowers for bees and eating more plant-based foods. Australia should follow suit. We love our […]
Outreach: Why we should shatter Melbourne’s concrete creeks

Cities like Melbourne are increasingly looking to tear up their concrete drains and restore natural waterways. Why is this and how can it best be done to create more natural, healthy and biodiverse cities? Click here
ICON team members head across the Pacific

For a while it seemed as if travel was a thing of the past – workshops, conferences and meetings all pivoted online. Whilst this was great for our collective carbon footprint, it perhaps stymied creativity. Meeting virtually doesn’t fulfill the same functions as a face-to-face chat at a conference, where the informal gatherings are often […]
PhD Opportunity: Beyond green facades – integrating natural ecologies and the built environment

PhD Advertisement Title: Beyond green facades – integrating natural ecologies and the built environment Description: This PhD challenges the status quo of ‘green’ architecture by addressing critical research gaps in the fields of natural ecology and the built environment to develop ecologically-driven architectural/landscape/urban design. By integrating ecological knowledge and understanding, designers can produce urban environments […]
PhD Opportunity: Nature as medicine: can a dose of the outdoors cure loneliness?

PhD Advertisement: Nature as medicine: can a dose of the outdoors cure loneliness? Description: This PhD is part of an NHMRC/European Commission funded project exploring the benefits of prescribing nature-based social activities to reduce loneliness and improve mental health. The project aims to better understand the effects of green space and biodiversity on loneliness and […]