As a research institution of international renown, the University of Melbourne seeks to open new paths to scientific understanding through knowledge transfer partnerships, and to support critical and creative endeavour in fields beyond conventional research paradigms.
In this context, the university and its academic associates are involved in numerous research projects which focus, directly and indirectly, on the pressing issue of climate change and its myriad cultural ramifications.
The following links provide access to information on some of these projects, including details on their objectives, progress and insights into issues relating to climate and cultural change.
The University of Melbourne has many centres and initiatives involved in sustainability research, incorporating researchers with international reputations in biodiversity, engineering, social policy and governance, agriculture and food, water and health.
http://www.sustainable.unimelb.edu.au/research/centres_and_initiatives
The Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute (MSSI) provides an access point to the university's considerable research capabilities in all sustainability-related fields.
http://www.sustainable.unimelb.edu.au/research
MSSI also hosts sustainability related projects, including a key project of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF).
http://www.sustainable.unimelb.edu.au/research/current_project
The National Adaptation Research Plan for Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions analyses issues including the effect of socio-economic trends on climate change vulnerability.
http://www.nccarf.edu.au/?q=node/36
The Centre for Resources, Energy and Environmental Law (CREEL) promotes research into legal, regulatory and policy frameworks. Research strengths include environmental law, natural resource law, indigenous land rights and the integration of law and science.
http://creel.law.unimelb.edu.au/
The Melbourne School of Graduate Research is at the forefront of international research in numerous areas, including drought resistance in wine grape varieties, and the implications of deficit water irrigation.
http://www.gradresearch.unimelb.edu.au/future/profiles/collins.html
The Graduate Environmental Program (GEP) is an innovative postgraduate course offered in response to environmental issues as the dominant concern of the early 21st century.
http://www.environment.unimelb.edu.au/
The university's Postgraduate Environment Network (PEN) supports postgraduate environment students, provides a forum for students and alumni, organises events and promotes sustainability through a range of initiatives.
The Melbourne School of Land and Environment is one of Australia's largest providers of research that supports sustainable primary industry. It advances policy and innovation in building sustainable urban and rural environments.
http://www.landfood.unimelb.edu.au/
GAMUT (Governance and Management of Urban Transport) is a collaborative research centre dedicated to promoting and supporting sustainable urban transport in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
http://www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/gamut/
Southern Perspectives profiles individuals scholars and organisations in a lateral dialogue of ideas which explore a southern perspective across the creative arts, humanities, social and physical sciences.
http://www.southernperspectives.net/
The Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development is the university's primary point of contact for indigenous Australian students, indigenous community and people interested in indigenous arts and cultural development.
http://www.vca.unimelb.edu.au/wilin/
An outcome of the new Melbourne Model's focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative thinking across departments and faculties is the new Bachelor of Environments. This innovative degree provides students with a thorough understanding of the factors that shape our environments.
http://www.benvs.unimelb.edu.au/
The Australian Centre in the School of Historical Studies is internationally recognised for its interdisciplinary research on Australian society in its global context.
http://www.australian.unimelb.edu.au/
The Australian Centre administers a series of prizes for outstanding endeavour in the visual arts, creative writing and biographical studies.
http://www.australian.unimelb.edu.au/public/awards/
The University of Melbourne's Cultural Collections embody the history of many of the academic disciplines taught at the university. Object types range from rare books to mineral, plant and animal specimens. Students, staff and the wider community are encouraged to use the collections.
http://www.unimelb.edu.au/culturalcollections/
The University of Melbourne Collections magazine is published twice a year and covers all 33 of the university's collections.
http://www.unimelb.edu.au/culturalcollections/research/magazine.html
Recent publications accessible via the Cultural Collections include the Documentary accounts of the impacts of past climate variability on the early colony of New South Wales, 1788–1791: a preliminary analysis by Joëlle Gergis of the university's School of Earth Sciences.
http://www.unimelb.edu.au/culturalcollections/research/Gergis_BAMOS_Oct2008.pdf
Fascinating article on Fritz Loewe (co-discoverer of the Southern Tropical Jet Stream, founder of the university's formal study of meteorology) and his substantial collection held within the university's cultural collections. By Michael Piggott, former Manager of the Cultural Collections Group and University Archivist.
http://www.unimelb.edu.au/culturalcollections/research/collections3/
Established in 1887, the Tiegs Museum of the University of Melbourne is Australia's oldest university museum of zoology. It comprises a collection of zoological specimens dating from the late 19th century to the present, including a working set of all types of animals.
http://www.zoology.unimelb.edu.au/tiegs/
The university is committed to being carbon neutral by 2030. Targets have been set to achieve this goal, through dedicated staff, planning and innovative strategies. The University of Melbourne was the first mainland university to have three campuses declared 100 percent Green Energy certified.
http://sustainablecampus.unimelb.edu.au/
The university is currently enacting its Environmental Sustainability Strategic Plan 2007-2010 which includes an objective to improve environmental sustainability leadership and culture.
The Eureka Prizes are the largest Australian award scheme for research into critical environmental sustainability issues and climate change.
http://amonline.net.au/eureka/
The Banksia Environmental Foundation promotes environmental excellence and sustainability through its annual awards program, regarded as the most prestigious of its kind in Australia.
Part of the Banksia Environmental Awards, the Mercedes-Benz Australian Environmental Research Award funds specific research into sustainable and innovative solutions.
http://www.banksiafdn.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&catid=42&Itemid=79
Also part of the Banksia Awards, the Prime Minister's Environmentalist of the Year Award is presented to an individual demonstrating outstanding environmental achievement at a national or international level. The 2008 recipient was Professor Rob Adams, Festival of Ideas speaker and Director of Design and Culture at the City of Melbourne.
http://www.banksiafdn.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=42&id=63&Itemid=79
Net Impact is an international non-profit organisation which aims to make a positive impact on society by growing and strengthening a community of leaders who use business to improve the world.
The University of Melbourne's Melbourne Business School operates an active chapter of Net Impact which features an annual conference that is planned and run by its students.
Net Impact's Green Challenge recognises and rewards organisation members working on tangible projects which make a positive environmental impact on their company, campus or community.
http://www.netimpact.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=1913
