PhD Opportunity – Social value of ‘everyday nature’ in urban streetscapes
We are currently seeking expressions of interest for the following PhD project. About the position Location: Parkville campus Employment Type: Full-time Duration: 3.5 years fixed-term appointment Remuneration: The successful applicant will receive a living allowance of $39,500 per year pro rata (2026 full-time study rate) with a top-up scholarship potentially available. See RTP stipend scholarship […]
Conservation community unites in Meanjin for ICCB 2025
Last month, the 32nd International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB 2025) took place in Brisbane/Meanjin, Australia. ICON Science was well-represented at the meeting with seven current lab members and three recent alumni in attendance. Current and former ICON Science lab members enjoy one of the poster sessions at ICCB 2025. Back row (left to right): […]
Future visioning for nature positive
The nature positive agenda requires transformative change and innovative approaches that move beyond business-as-usual. In an article recently published in npj Urban Sustainability, Dr Jacinta Humphrey and colleagues, demonstrate the use of visioning and target setting to create an actionable roadmap to a ‘nature positive’ future (Humphrey et al. 2025). An online workshop was held […]
ICON team members take on ESA 2024
From 9-13 December 2024, multiple ICON team members attended and presented research at the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA) conference held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). The ESA conference showcases the science of ecology in Australia and explores connections between science theory, research, policy and on-ground outcomes (ESA 2024). Photo credit: Dr […]
In the news: Ensuring equitable access to nature in cities
Catch our own Sarah Bekessy on the Inclusive Agenda podcast. Sarah discusses her recent work on ensuring equitable access to nature in the city for vulnerable communities. Click here
ICON @ ICCB
Every two years members of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) hold their scientific conference. The International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB) is one of the most important global gatherings for conservation scientists and practitioners. The meeting provides us all with an opportunity to share our work, hear about the latest developments in our field, […]
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 […]
Outreach: Fail: our report card on the government’s handling of Australia’s extinction crisis
Sarah Bekessy, RMIT University and Brendan Wintle, The University of Melbourne Australia is losing more biodiversity than any other developed nation. Already this year the charismatic and once abundant gang gang cockatoo has been added to our national threatened species list, the koala has been listed as endangered and the Great Barrier Reef suffered another […]
Our favourite conservation journal articles of 2021
By Matthew Selinske As in 2020, some of us from ICON Science wanted to share journal papers that we found particularly exciting, insightful, or pertinent to our research. A synopsis of each paper is provided below, and as you would expect from an interdisciplinary team, they cover a diverse range of topics and disciplines. That’s […]
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 […]