It can be easy to get overwhelmed by all the information we have around the effects of changing climate. How do young adults in particular combat ‘eco anxiety’ while at the same time maintaining motivation to be part of the solution amidst a rapidly escalating sense of urgency around environmental conservation efforts? In this episode we speak with Kirsty Bevan CEO of Nature Conservation Society of South Australia https://www.ncssa.asn.au  and Acting CEO of Conservation Council of South...

Have you ever had a memory from childhood that took you back to nature? Maybe it was the smell after the rain, freshly cut grass, or the warmth from of the sun on your skin. How do our experiences of the natural world as children affect us as adults? Are these effects lasting or do we need to ‘top up’ our nature reserves to reap the full benefits that nature has to give? How can we fill our ‘nature cup’ when the demands of day-to-day modern existence can often pull us away from the natural...

Bruce Pascoe is an acclaimed author, speaker, researcher, and farmer. He’s passionate about sharing knowledge of traditional indigenous land management and food production practices, caring for country and people across cultural and political divides. In our conversation we look to find common ground, to find a path forward together to regenerate the earth for us all. Eco Futurists is supported by the Environment Institute https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/ at the University of...

There is increasing interest in owning wild and exotic animals and the internet is able to serve up whatever your heart desires, even if importing these animals is illegal. In this episode we speak with Prof Phill Cassey https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/phill.cassey and PhD student Charlotte Lassaline both from the School of Biological Sciences https://set.adelaide.edu.au/biological-sciences/ as well as from the Invasion Science and Wildlife Ecology Group...

Are you getting the best microbes on offer? What are microbes anyway and why should we care? If you’ve ever heard of the term “microbiome” you probably relate it to gut health, but there’s so much more to it! It’s all around us, and in us, and affects our brains, immune systems, stress levels, and psychological state. Join us for this episode where we speak with Dr Jess Stanhope and Prof Phil Weinstein about how public health is effected by urban environments and the promising future for...

What happened when the head of Engineering for Google Australia and the Professor and author behind Australia’s first ever textbook on Marine Ecology came together? Nothing short of the miraculous bringing back to life of an extinct ecosystem in the waters of Australia's biodiverse southern coastline. And what’s next on the sparkly horizon? In this podcast episode find out how the founders of AusOcean, Alan Noble and Prof Sean Connell, are stretching traditional models of marine...

Water is finally back on the global table after 46 years of not being discussed at a global scale conference. Conservation, salinity, pricing, agriculture, cultural use - the list goes on. Is the subject of 'water rights' at risk of getting lost in an endless talk fest? Where do we start when trying to come up with solutions to the many water issues we face on a local and global scale? What even are ‘water rights’? In this podcast episode host Prof Andy Lowe Interim Director of...

Markets for nature. What’s the currency of biodiversity? Nature is threatened, but it is also messy and complex. Ecologist try to untangle the mess of conservation, governments and industry. Small landowners are trying to help too. How do we work to save life on Earth? How do we get the scale of investment required to restore our degraded land? Can we create markets for nature? Where does the money come from? And who are the buyers? In this episode host Prof Andy Lowe Interim Director of...

Can music, the arts and humanities help us work together across traditional science and industry boundary lines to come up with a solution to climate change? In this episode host Prof Andy Lowe Interim Director of the Environment Institute University of Adelaide, speaks with Airan Berg, Artistic Director of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s Floods of Fire Citizens’ Orchestra event , and Professor Anna Goldsworthy, Director of The Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of...

Hear from professor of sustainability science at the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science and coordinating lead author of the IPBES Values Assessment, Christopher Raymond, on monetary and non-monetary values, biocentric and anthropocentric views, the importance of nature based solutions, co-benefits, indigenous perspectives and moving away from a neoliberalisation of nature. IPES Values Assessment Video https://vimeo.com/735690263 We would like to acknowledge the University of...

Felix Riebl, The Cat Empire and creative force behind Spinifex Gum, on how music connects with people, describes the stories and experiences of cultures and can be used to motivate environmental action. Recorded last year at WOMADelaide, before the global pandemic really hit.

Ian Scobie, event and theatre producer, on developing the highly successful formula for WOMAD, a heady mix of world music, artistic staging, and cultural immersion to support sustainability demonstration and discussion. Recorded last year, before the global pandemic really hit.

With COP 26 ending in political stalemate, hear from Nigel Jamieson, theatre and outdoor installation producer, on his use of physical theatre to communicate the problems and inaction around climate change, and how art can help tackle one of the greatest moral challenges of our time. Recorded last year at WOMADelaide, before the global pandemic really hit.

Damon Gameau, director of the film 2040, on looking into the future to develop paths to sustainability, making that journey simple and easy to adopt, and providing motivation through hope messaging. Recorded last year at WOMADelaide, before the global pandemic really hit.

Chris Daniels, conservation scientist and urban nature futurist, on the importance of making room for biodiversity in our cityscapes and harnessing people power to connect with nature and promote species survival on our planet.

In this convivial chat, hear from Matthew Wright-Simon, leadership and sustainability facilitator, about how fun and creative collaboration bring new energy to all-too-familiar problems - like plastics waste and climate change.

Hear from installation artist Craig Walsh, about using the projection of images, or projection mapping, to animate the natural world, provide an engaging interactive experience and bring a forest to life with living faces.

In a very human and engaging interview, hear from filmmaker Paul Ryan on communicating people’s passion and essence in film and documentary, from indigenous rights and polar explorers to environmentalists and footy players.

Hear from marine conservationist Heidi Alleway about the problem with shifting baselines, using music to attract oyster larvae, and designing and delivering an award-winning oyster habitat restoration global partnership. Here is a short video of the Eureka Awards, highlighting some of the key partners associated with the work: https://youtu.be/Drkl61DGqcM

Hear from leading ecosystem scientist, Jean-Francois Bastin, on using satellites to find millions of hectares of unrecognised forest, modeling a zero impact earth to find the best places to replant forest and achieve planetary healing.

Hear from bee scientist, Katja Hogendoorn, on the natural wonder of bees, their importance to our diet, and designing plantings that everyone can use, from gardeners to farmers, to encourage bees back into our landscapes.

Hear from conservation scientist and eco-adventurer, Julian Bayliss, on using Google Earth to find lost forests, discovering and describing new species, and protecting the world’s most valuable forest blocks through community support.

Hear from Trees for Life Chief Executive, Natasha Davis, on the importance of maintaining focus, engaging with people, building effective partnerships, and being adaptable.

Hear from Tim Jarvis, conservation scientist, and explorer, on adventuring in the natural world, capturing these moments to deliver conservation by stealth and realising the difference we can all make in our own backyard.