Catherine Baudains

While there has recently been clear acknowledgement in the public sphere that the way society deals with waste must change, there has not been a great deal of change in the way information or education about how to separate household waste is delivered. Current practice remains primarily entrenched in one-way communication strategies. This practice is driven by assumptions made by waste managers that if "the information is available" people will correctly separate waste unless they do not care. This research explored the accuracy of this assumption by examining how participants separate 19 common household waste items, why they make their choices, and what barriers and motivators they believe influence their decisions. Survey data was collected from 299 residents of the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council in Perth. Results showed that despite positive attitudes (x? 4/5) there was low level knowledge (x? 3.3/7) and a range of accuracy in separation of household waste items, with 6 items being separated correctly by more than 95% of residents, 8 items correctly separated by less than 53% of residents. The most consistently used information source was the Council Recycling calendar, while uptake of online information sources was poor. The most significant barriers identified by participants were limited knowledge and bin size/collection rates. Main motivators desired by participants were consistent with the barriers identified. Residents indicated a desire to correctly separate their waste and a need for change in the way information is provided. This has important implications for future education and engagement strategies, including the need for residents to more deeply understand waste management processes beyond a static list of "recycling rules", requiring educators to engage in ongoing dialogue about the constantly evolving state of waste management.

A greenhouse gas emissions reduction initiative, involving a progressive series of plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has been successfully implemented for over five years at a primary school in Western Australia. A ten tonne greenhouse gas emissions reduction target was achieved in 2011, a fifty tonne plan implemented in 2012, and a one hundred tonne plan in 2013-2014. A two hundred tonne target was reached in 2016. To achieve these targets the emissions reduction plans involved undertaking a variety of biodiversity, waste, water, energy, air quality and social actions, within a whole school, whole systems thinking perspective. The effectiveness of this initiative is illustrated by three whole systems thinking sustainability projects conducted at the school. These projects involve local bushland, wetland and international settings and actions. Evidence relating to the depth of participant involvement, together with commitment to whole systems thinking and the overarching emissions reduction initiative is highlighted. Links to biodiversity, waste, water, air quality and social interconnections were documented in relation to emissions reductions, which were achieved through actions such as tree planting, litter collection and the purchase of solar lanterns. Overall, the initiative provided a successful example of systems thinking in action and demonstrated deep interconnections between different aspects of sustainability, both within the local setting and global sustainability contexts.

Recent research in science communication has assumed a shift from the ‘public understanding of science’ to ‘public engagement with science’, or from ‘deficit’ to ‘democracy’ (Irwin 2006). Evidence of this shift is found, for example, in the European Union-commissioned report that had amongst its mandates (Felt et al, 2007, p.9): ‘How to further the stated EU commitment to improve the involvement of diverse elements of democratic civil society in European science and governance’. Given that many scientists work in science (more broadly, in science, mathematics, engineering and mathematics, STEM) research centres, it is appropriate to investigate how ‘engagement’ issues are understood in such centres. Neresini and Bucchi (2010) analysed 40 European research centres in terms of their ‘engagement activities’. Their analysis led them to conclude that “it is a culture of public engagement that still seems to be lacking among most research institutions in Europe” (p. 14). Is this the case beyond Europe? The research question this paper examines is: How do Australian STEM centres regard public engagement?

A longitudinal case study was conducted on the impact of the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AUSSI) at a primary school in Western Australia. The research utilised data related to education for sustainability at the school from 1990-2009. The year 2005 was a critical year for the school because it marked the beginning of participation in the sustainable schools initiative pilot in Western Australia (AUSSI-WA). The research investigated elements of education for sustainability in operation at the school pre- and post-AUSSI-WA, as well as student and teacher outcomes after involvement in the initiative. Results showed the school shifted along the sustainability continuum, to more or less sustainable positions, at different times over the twenty year period. Initially, the school's approach to education for sustainability was ad hoc and uncoordinated, and after 2005 it gradually changed to a planned, coordinated, integrated, evaluated, whole systems thinking approach. However, after three years in the initiative, it became evident that the school had begun to shift to a less sustainable position on the sustainability continuum. The findings emphasise the challenges in sustaining change in schools, as well as important implications for organisational change, school administration, curriculum and teacher support. Keywords: education for sustainability; longitudinal research; primary education

In Western Australia there are a number of substantial declines and deaths across a number of forest and woodland tree species. These include Eucalyptus marginata, E. gomphocephela (tuart), E. wandoo (wandoo), E. rudis (swamp gum), Agonis flexuosa (peppermint) and Corymbia calophylla (marri). There are many theories put forward as to the reasons for these declines including: (i) global climate change; (ii) habitat loss and fragmentation; (iii) changes in land management, e.g. the absence of planned fire, damage from wildfires, and past timber harvesting and grazing; (iv) weeds, pests and diseases; (v) salinity; (vi) changes in hydrology; (vii) poorly developed links between research and management; and (viii) sub‐optimal management policies and strategies at Local and State Government levels. The Centre is made up of three core research organisations, 27 collaborating industry partners and seven collaborating international and national institutions. An overview of these declines, the possible causes, their implications to ecosystem function and health and the different research and adaptive management approaches that are in place to understand and mitigate these declines will be discussed.

Light industrial Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) worldwide are an integral part of their local social and economic fabric, making essential contributions to national and global economies, but also representing significant risks to wetlands and waterways. These characteristics have made SMEs increasingly obvious targets for engagement in the sustainability process. How these initiatives are targeted has a significant bearing on their likelihood of success, and in their cost effectiveness. From the macro view considering the suitability of governments, representative bodies, companies or individuals to address specific SME environmental issues, to the micro perspectives on the relevance of conservation psychology in influencing the environmentally sustainable behaviours of individuals’ business practices; all have a place in the strategic targeting of initiatives to improve environmental outcomes for wetlands and waterways. This paper examines the use of the System-Individual Blame analysis and the Diffusions of Innovations model (Rogers, 2003) to improve the targeting of cost effective environmental management interventions with light industrial SMEs in Western Australia. The focus on Laggards and Late Adopters using cooperative, individualised and sitespecific environmental auditing is both challenging and intensive, but can invite considerable economic and environmental benefits, and provide pointers for strategic community behaviour change engagement.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) worldwide are an integral part of their local social and economic fabric, making essential contributions to national and global economies. However, they also represent significant environmental risks, and public costs, from the loss of Ecosystem Services. These characteristics have made SMEs increasingly obvious targets for engagement in the sustainability process. A multitude of factors influence the extent and degree of environmental management being practiced amongst SMEs. The factors are strongly interconnected and dynamic, presenting immense challenges to translating policy into meaningful sustainability outcomes. Regulation is important in setting minimum standards, ensuring a competitive playing field, establishing and maintaining social norms, and in conveying community expectations for acceptable practices. However, regulation tends to be a broad brush and may not induce behaviours beyond minimum standards. There is a significant role for the application of the social sciences in SME environmental management. However, designers of behaviour change programs often assume, and focus, on the ‘problem’ being the failure of the individual to adopt the advocated practices. Closer examination can reveal significant systemic impediments, and unreasonable expectations from educators and regulators regarding the capacity of individuals, and businesses, to adopt new innovations. This research focusses on facilitating cooperative and cost effective adoption of advanced environmental management amongst the poorest performers. Data and models are used to discuss the interaction of systemic influences, individual barriers, individual psychological factors, and regulatory and social influences contributing to the poor adoption of SME environmental management innovations in metropolitan Perth.

Forest, woodland and shrubland declines are widespread and in many cases severe in Western Australia and elsewhere in temperate Australia. The causes are often complex, poorly understood and include: declining rainfall, changes in groundwater levels and quality, pathogens and pests, excess nutrients, salinity, changing fire regimes, and weed competition to name a few. This presentation reviews current projects by members of the State Centre of Excellence on Climate Change Woodland and Forest Health and other researchers based at Murdoch University. The Centre, a co-operative venture with the University of Western Australia, the Department of Environment and Conservation and approximately 26 other partners, has four key Research Programs: Climate Change, forest and woodland declines; Decline Ecology; Restoring Biodiversity Values, and Education, Training, Communication and Policy. The aim of the Centre is to bring together multi-disciplinary teams of research scientists to (a) determine the factors that contribute to declines, (b) determine how they interact with climate change, (c) develop adaptive management strategies to mitigate the declines and to restore ecosystem function and health, and (d) work with agencies, industry and the wider community to ensure research findings are rapidly and effectively implemented through policy, legislation and community engagement. Keywords: Climate Change; Remote Sensing, Restoration, Fauna, Flora