Examining connection to nature at multiple scales provides insights for urban conservation
New research into Melburnians’ connection to nature is helping the City of Melbourne understand how to engage its community members in conservation efforts. The study, led by RMIT University in collaboration with the City of Melbourne and Queensland University of Technology, surveyed over 1,500 City of Melbourne residents and visitors on their connection to nature and found […]
The vast majority of Melburnians want more nature in their city, despite a puzzling north-south divide
When we were asked to survey people in Melbourne about their relationship with nature, little did we know our findings would reinforce a well-known cultural divide between those living north and south of the Yarra River. Residents of neighbourhoods to the south were overall less connected to nature. But perhaps a more important finding was that people in Melbourne […]
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 […]
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 […]
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: 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 […]
Factsheet: How we say stuff matters: Five lessons to guide more effective conservation message framing
Growing your cuppa joe
Agricultural production, covering an estimated 40% of the earth’s surface, is one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss globally. Our food system, largely driven by external inputs including fertilizers and agro-chemicals, has potentially surpassed the safe planetary boundary for biodiversity loss and pollution. Conversely, transforming food systems represents a major opportunity for meeting a […]
