Sarah Bekessy

From frog saunas to butterfly puddles: 8 ways to turn your homes into a wildlife refuge Urban sprawl has forced native animals and humans to live close together. Here are eight ways to make your home a refuge for wildlife.

How can we intentionally design our homes to co-inhabit with wildlife? That’s the question we explored in an a new work at the NGV - www.whenwildlifemovesin.com

From frog saunas to butterfly puddles: 8 ways to turn your homes into a wildlife refuge
theconversation.com/from-frog-sa...

To anyone who thinks (indoor) cats can’t do tricks x

A massive congratulations to ICON Science Lab Head, Prof. @sbekessy.bsky.social, who has been successful in securing an ARC Industry Laureate Fellowship for 2025!! Congratulations Sarah!! 👏🏼🎉🥂

Read more about Sarah's project here: www.arc.gov.au/2025-industr...

A photo of eight white people at a conference poster session in a large hall. Each person is wearing a blue and white name badge on a long white string, and is smiling at the camera.

The ICON Science Research Group, including both current and recent alumni, was well represented at the #ICCB2025 poster session last night! You can catch our lab head, Prof. Sarah Bekessy (@sbekessy.bsky.social), speaking in 'The future of designing with urban wildlife' session at 3.15pm in M4.

Designing cities for everyday nature The motivations for incorporating nature into the design of cities have never been more compelling. Creating experiences with nature that occur every day (everyday nature) in cities could help revers...

4/n Consequently, there are many efforts to make urban gardens more hospitable for native biodiversity, e.g.:

conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

@sbekessy.bsky.social
‪@drkyliesoanes.bsky.social‬ @jacintahumphrey.bsky.social @euanritchie.bsky.social will be able to add more examples

Just boosting this fresh new work from colleagues @jacintahumphrey.bsky.social @sbekessy.bsky.social!
🌏🧪
#conservationScienc
#urban

A photo of a muddy construction site. On the left there is a large orange piece of machinery. On the right, there is a huge up-ended tree stump and a large portion of a eucalyptus tree trunk that has recently been clear felled (cut down).

These trees likely date back to European colonisation, and now they've been destroyed to make way for a car park. Yes, you read that right. A car park.

We can do better than this. We have to do better than this.

"Big tree adds between 3% to 15% of the value of a property, so even if the owners don’t care about health benefits, cooling, aesthetic appeal and privacy, it’s financially better to rebuild their fence rather than cutting down the tree.”
@sbekessy.bsky.social
au.news.yahoo.com/aussie-neigh...

NSW public schools to be fully funded by 2034, leaving Queensland as only state outside deal Commonwealth will pay for a quarter of public school funding, up from a fifth, replicating an agreement reached with South Australia and Victoria last month

It’s hard to celebrate public schools gaining full funding. Its hard because kids now in kindergarten must wait till Year 10 before their education is fully supported. Its also hard when most private schools remain overfunded. Its hard to celebrate inequality. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

ok everyone - just a few more days (closes 5th march) to apply for this sensational role -Bush Heritage Australia is one of the most extraordinary organisations I have had the pleasure to be involved with.

applynow.net.au/jobs/EMSC202...

Melbourne left poorer by the destruction of a Critically Endangered grassland | Biodiversity Council Australia The people of western Melbourne have been short-changed by the actions of a developer who destroyed 40 hectares of a Critically Endangered ecosystem that was earmarked for a future conservation and re...

Despite the supposed protection of Environmental Significance and Public Acquisition Overlays and national & state enviro protection laws, a Melb developer bulldozed 40 ha of Critically Endangered grassland earmarked for a recreation & conservation reserve.
biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/melbour...

The ripping up of critically-endangered (<1% of original extent remaining!) Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plains occurred on the watch of Fed & Vic Env Ministers Tanya Plibersek & Steve Dimopoulos

Write them👉 vnpa.org.au/action-prote...

(h/t @lyndallterrier.bsky.social)

The “silent majority” of Australians support having more national parks, no matter who they vote for. Listen to the full interview and learn more about the study from @monashuniversity.bsky.social via our website: biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/austral...
🌱 🐨 🦘 🐸 ⛺ 🥾 🌳

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Labor hasn’t delivered on more effective nature laws. It’s not just embarrassing, it’s calamitous | Tim Winton As Ningaloo reef bleaches and an election looms, we must look to those who stand in the way of our safety – the small cohort of people profiting from fossil fuels, and the politicians who protect them

Want change? Want to protect Australia’s wildlife and environments?

*Use preferential voting to your advantage.*

No. Vote. Is. Ever. Wasted!

Simply order your votes from most environmentally progressive to least (ecocidal).

It’s literally that simple.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Labor hasn’t delivered on more effective nature laws. It’s not just embarrassing, it’s calamitous | Tim Winton As Ningaloo reef bleaches and an election looms, we must look to those who stand in the way of our safety – the small cohort of people profiting from fossil fuels, and the politicians who protect them

Tim Winton: Labor hasn’t delivered on more effective nature laws. It’s not just embarrassing, it’s calamitous

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Do curfews prevent cats from ending up in pounds? - ABC listen Animal rescuers claim that new Victorian government cat management policies will result in an increase in the number of cats that are euthanized in pounds, in this edition of The Conversation we ask h...

Cats can be wonderful companion animals.
Cats should be contained to their homes/catios/cat-runs, 24/7.
Contained cats are healthier and safer.
Containing cats protects wildlife (pet and feral cats kill) and human health.

My chat with Richelle Hunt on ABC Melbourne www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

A field covered in solar panels. An image of a pdf document is overlayed with the caption: our statement on the renewable energy transition.

A field covered in solar panels. Text overlaying the image says: The continued rollout of renewable energy projects is the only viable solution available to cut climate-harming carbon emissions from electricity production in the rapid time frames required.

A field covered in solar panels. Text overlaying the image says: Renewable energy projects can harm the environment and heritage values, but their impacts can be reduced to acceptable levels through appropriate site selection and operation.

A field covered in solar panels. Text overlaying the image says: Currently, conflicts are arising between renewable energy project proposals and other stakeholders due to insufficient strategic planning and regulatory leadership from state, territory, and federal governments.

Australia's renewable energy transition is being shaped by politics when it should be guided by evidence. We've prepared a public statement on the transition we need to have.

Read the full 1-page statement:
biodiversitycouncil.org.au/resources/st...

#renewables #cleanenergy #climateaction

Three-quarters of Australians want more national parks, study finds | Biodiversity Council Australia New research shows that three-quarters of Australians support the establishment of new national parks to protect natural and cultural values, and only 5% are opposed to establishing new parks.

Three-quarters of Australians want more national parks, study finds

biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/austral...

Survey finds 75% of Australians support the establishment of new national parks, and only 5% are opposed.

The results come amid an angry backlash on social media against a pro-national parks campaign by Great Northern Brewing Co and highlights that there’s a “silent majority” of supporters.

A crowd of protesters have gathered in a street. Text over the image says: 3. Strategically choose your tactics. Choose whether to work with the target agency, challenge them publicly or both; both approaches have their merit in the right context. Environmental advocates can work alongside government to design solutions together. E.g. a community group might work with their council to design & implement management of a local reserve. The opposite strategy is an “outsider” approach. E.g. seeking to get your issue into the media to build public interest to get something on the political agenda."

A crowd of protesters have gathered in a street. Text over the image says: 4. Seize the moment. Identify the political window when your advocacy might be most effective. It might be an upcoming election or budget, or when a policy is being reviewed. Or it might be something less predictable, such as a bushfire, flood or other environmental disaster. In those cases, nature conservation issues are suddenly all over the media. It might be a chance for real change. Be prepared with solutions for when these happen.

A crowd of protesters have gathered in a street. Text over the image says: If not us, who? These are well-tested, effective actions you can use to achieve positive policy change for nature. Governments stand to benefit politically by engaging with community and advocacy groups. So there is enormous potential for everyday people to genuinely make a difference. Environmental crises can seem overwhelming, but we can – and must – try to make a difference. Because, as the old adage goes: if not us, who? And if not now, when?

Read more: biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/4-ways-...

@icon-science.bsky.social @sbekessy.bsky.social @monashuniversity.bsky.social

A close up image of a Banksia cone or seed pod. The cone is covered in small openings that would have once held seeds. Surrounding the cone, are a series of long, light green leaves. In the background, you can see another cone and more Banksia foliage.

This week, the annual LIV Golf tournament returns to the Grange Golf Club in South Australia. Grange is known for its commitment to natural habitats and wildlife. But can a golf course really be good for biodiversity? ⛳

@aunz.theconversation.com

theconversation.com/golf-courses...

Golf courses can be safe havens for wildlife and beacons of biodiversity Managed well, golf courses can bring nature back to our cities. Here’s how to balance the good and bad for urban biodiversity.

Check out this new article from @jacintahumphrey.bsky.social @icon-science.bsky.social

theconversation.com/golf-courses...
reflecting on the important role that golf courses can play for #urbanNature!
🌏

ICON has officially moved over to Bluesky!

“Years of warnings...ignored or kept secret. Promises made, but not delivered...Laws that don’t work to protect the environment, or smooth the way for sensible development. All against the backdrop of...environmental destruction..It’s time to change that.”

- @tanyaplibersekmp.bsky.social 2022

A koala lays dead on the ground in cleared rural bushland. Text overlay read "Anthony Albanese has walked back from a government promise to prioritise improving protection of Australia’s wildlife - again!" A quote from Adam Morton, The Guardian author, says “It’s pretty hard to get a deal when you’ve given up negotiation.”

Labor just abandoned a 2022 election commitment to reform our ineffective environmental protection laws.

Albanese says he abandoned new nature laws due to a lack of support in the senate, but as @adammorton.bsky.social writes, ”It’s pretty hard to get a deal when you’ve given up negotiation.”

Epic fail, again today on environmental policies from Australia’s PM:

“It’s a matter of working to, in a practical way, a commonsense reform that delivers something that supports industry.”

The fossil fuel industry of course.

While Townsville goes underwater

theconversation.com/politics-wit...

Make a noise or work with the system? New research reveals 4 ways to create real change for nature Researchers mined the knowledge of politicians, public servants and environmental advocates to understand how everyday people can achieve real change for nature.

Right on time!
Just when I was really starting to feel overwhelmed by, well, everything... Here's some handy new research from colleagues @sbekessy.bsky.social @lilyvaneeden.bsky.social on best ways to make positive changes for nature!
#conservation🌏
theconversation.com/make-a-noise...

Make a noise or work with the system? New research reveals 4 ways to create real change for nature Researchers mined the knowledge of politicians, public servants and environmental advocates to understand how everyday people can achieve real change for nature.

Now more than ever we all need tips for best ways to advocate for nature - our new research identifies what works
theconversation.com/make-a-noise... @biodivcouncil.bsky.social @lilyvaneeden.bsky.social @fernhames.bsky.social @liamsmeeth1.bsky.social

So according to Trump people in the U.S. will only be able to identify as men or women?

Fuck off, Trump. And likewise, to all that support this vile, dangerous human.