Ambassador to Indonesia Siswo Pramono speaking at UNESCO Chair event "Just Energy Transitions"

Sample projects
If you are looking to do a research project with us on any level, here are examples of projects that fall under this theme.

ADVANCING AUSTRALIA’S SCIENCE-POLICY SYSTEM

Jasper Montana, Will Grant, Liz Killen, Sujatha Raman

  • A strong national science-policy system is one in which policymakers have easy access to the best scientific knowledge and expertise, and the capacity and resources to effectively interpret that knowledge to enable evidence-informed decision-making in government.
  • Ensuring that Australia’s science-policy system is maintained and enhanced is crucial to Australia’s prosperity in both the short and long term. Harnessing science for policy can help the Australian government understand and seize the potential of emerging technologies, deliver on international commitments (for example, environment or human rights), and respond to emergencies such as COVID-19.
  • But, in a time of social, economic and environmental challenges, technological change, and global political uncertainty, are we building the science-policy system we need? We identify six opportunities for 2025 and beyond to advance Australia’s science-policy system.

 

NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON GENE TECH FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IN NEW ZEALAND

Fabien Medvecky

  • In New Zealand, the use of genetic technologies for environmental and conservation purposes is a highly contested issue yet genetic technologies, including RNAi and gene drives may offer technological advances for protecting New Zealand’s vulnerable biodiversity.
  • This projects involved a large scale survey of over 8000 people and nation-wide deliberative process – involving 350 people spoken to in over 40 workshops – to assess the views, aspirations and concerns of the country in potentially introducing gene tech into New Zealand (currently GMO free).
  • The team found that New Zealanders are generally cautious, with complex outlooks on the issue, but are not so necessarily contentious. For respondents, the issue was not ‘for-or-against’, but a question of how and who –not about the tech itself, but about the social, environmental, and economic impacts the tech brings up, and about who can be trusted to oversee its implementation.
  • The outcome involves a national report that informs policy, consulting/ discussion with various ministries involved.