Lumen Winter 2023 - Flipbook - Page 8
Meeting the challenge
By Anton Middelberg
Climate change presents one of the most
significant global challenges facing society,
necessitating a collective and comprehensive
response. As part of the global community,
universities have a critical role in helping
the world through leadership in research,
teaching and engagement with the
community.
As a research-intensive institution, the
University of Adelaide and its innovative
researchers continue to use our skills,
knowledge, and expertise to explore
and develop possible answers to
pressing questions on how to ensure
a sustainable future.
As part of this approach, we have recently
finalised a new research plan - the
FAME Sustainability Strategy - which is
aimed at accelerating solutions to deliver
sustainability, equity and prosperity for
the planet and its people, underpinned by
breakthrough research.
FAME stands for ‘Foci and Magnets for
Excellence’ and comprises a series of
strategies which prioritise our research at
scale and to deliver positive and lasting
impacts for our State, nation and beyond
through research excellence and its
translation.
As the global population has grown,
our demands on natural systems have
multiplied. Our natural ecosystems are
under great pressure and the world is
experiencing a rapid loss of biodiversity,
global land degradation, increased waste and
pollution, and food and water insecurity, all
exacerbated by a rapidly changing climate.
This in turn has obvious effects on our
human systems, exacerbating poverty and
inequality, and fuelling disruption to global
peace and justice.
Deep and lasting transformation of our
social, ecological, industrial, and cultural
systems is required to address these
challenges and improve the sustainability
of life on Earth. This is an enormous
challenge that requires changes in practices,
values, education and governance across
communities, industries and government.
In this context, the University of Adelaide
is a champion of the United Nations’
Sustainable Development Goals, as a call
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THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
for action. Our new FAME Sustainability
Strategy links to these important goals, and
prioritises our world-class research across
many disciplines, from public policy to
improving food production to creating new
renewable energy sources to influencing
behavioural change.
Discovery and development of
breakthrough sustainability solutions
are core to the University’s strategy –
as is educating the next generation of
research and industry leaders with the
skills to navigate the complex decisions
and governance challenges to deliver true
sustainability.
We believe that our research across the
University’s faculties and research institutes
has the capability to drive this agenda. The
FAME Sustainability Strategy outlines five
research missions focussing on urgent and
important cross-cutting thematic areas:
Research Mission 1: Resilient, healthy and
equitable communities
Seeks to reduce global inequality and
cultivate an inclusive transformation to a
sustainable future. This includes exploring
human rights-based approaches, improving
access to justice, promoting inclusivity and
participation, championing indigenous
voice and traditional knowledge, resilient
infrastructure and planning, disaster risk
reduction, and enhancing the wellbeing of
vulnerable populations through improved
health systems.
Research Mission 2: Responsible resource
production and consumption
Explores innovative systems and solutions
required to improve production and
consumption – from the extraction of
critical minerals through to the systems
required to optimise food production and
water use. Investigates how we can do
more with less to ensure the sustainable and
efficient use of a natural resource.
Research Mission 3: Planetary health and
biodiversity restoration
Focuses on planetary health, including the
restoration and resilience of biodiversity
and ecosystems. This includes pioneering
new knowledge into planetary health,
biodiversity restoration solutions, nature-
based climate adaptation, and the true
valuation of ecosystem services. It will
also champion indigenous and traditional
knowledge to strengthen ecological research.
“This is an enormous
challenge that requires
changes in practices,
values, education and
governance across
communities, industries
and government.”
Research Mission 4: Accelerated access to
clean and green technologies
Accelerates the technology, innovation and
skills required to transform to a sustainable
economy. This includes developing future
fuels (including hydrogen) and low
emissions technology, as well as reducing
inequality through transferable, affordable
and accessible technology.
