ANU Travel Lab
Image: Flickr ANU
The Travel Lab is an interdisciplinary group of researchers from across ANU supporting bold and urgent action towards reducing travel-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at ANU.
Through its research activities, the Travel Lab supports ANU to incorporate robust evidence-based recommendations into plans and actions, and to evaluate and measure their effectiveness, contributing to existing body of knowledge related to reducing travel-related emissions in Academia, notably in geographically distant institutions.
The ANU Travel Lab welcomes new participants. Please contact the ANU Green team if you are interested in joining the group.
| Project name | Project description | Project status |
|---|---|---|
| Cybernetic analysis of conference travel alternatives for carbon emissions reduction
| Using the lens of viable system theory, students in the Master of Applied Cybernetics program identified limitations to information transmission and the need for greater variety in control mechanisms. This analysis reveals opportunities to improve system viability, coordination, and feedback loops within the university system. They also investigated the user experience of online and hybrid events over in-person events. Read the full report (PDF, 2, 436 KB). | Complete |
| Travel in transition report: Exploring ANU travel practices in an era of emissions reduction
| This report provides findings from interviews with staff at the ANU identified as representing key stakeholder groups because of their high impact on travel emissions, the kind of work they perform or position at the university, or due to equity considerations that may make them more vulnerable to changes in travel policy. On the basis of these findings, we make eleven recommendations aimed to guide ANU towards less carbon-intensive ways of travelling and working. A summary of the findings (PDF, 666.11 KB) and full report (PDF, 871.42 KB) are available. | Complete |
| Action research to support development and implementation of local strategies for travel emissions reduction at ANU
| In this research project (PDF, 200 KB) we will work with cohorts of staff from local academic and service organisational units at ANU to explore local understandings of the role of air travel and attitudes to the emissions reduction challenge, facilitate workshops for staff to co-design activities to reduce carbon emissions from flying, observe and where possible, support the roll out of these activities and evaluate outcomes. | In progress |
| Q&A with Dr Zena Assaad - Unpacking sustainability in the aviation domain
| On 27 March 2024, we invited Dr Zena Assaad, Senior Research Fellow in the ANU School of Engineering and a fellow with the Australian Army Research Centre (AARC) to help unpack questions about sustainability in the aviation domain. A Frequently Asked Questions summary is available from this session. | Complete |
| Landscape mapping – what are other Universities doing and saying?
| The Travel Lab group collated publicly available information from universities outside of Australia and New Zealand working to reduce emissions from University travel to inform stakeholder engagement, change management, research design, and communications. This is an internal document used to inform Travel Lab discussions. | Complete |
| Reducing emissions from university air travel: An introduction to the literature
| This report provides an overview of the existing literature about the international imperative to reduce emissions from flying, particularly within the context of universities. Key findings about the current state of emissions, the motivations for reducing flying, and the strategies being employed to tackle this challenge. A summary of the main findings (PDF, 582 KB), and the full report (PDF, 397 KB) are available. | Complete |
| University approaches to reduce business sector travel emissions
| This report provides findings from interviews with 15 universities to understand how other universities were approaching their goals of reducing academic travel emissions, as well as outcomes of their efforts. A summary of the learnings (PDF, 563 KB)and full report (PDF, 1,206 KB) are available. | Complete |
Membership
The Travel Lab is a whole of ANU transdisciplinary research group with membership open to staff with relevant and complementary expertise to the achievement of the University's travel-related emissions reduction program.
Active members
- Alessandra Capezio, Associate Professor and MBA Director – Research School of Management, ANU College of Business and Economics
- Brenda Martin, Researcher – Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program
- Bridget Vincent – Lecturer – School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics, College of Arts and Social Sciences
- Carla Alzamora, Change Manager – Below Zero
- Claire Lambert, Program Officer – Below Zero
- Clare de Castella, Associate Director – Below Zero
- Eom Kimin, Senior Lecturer – Research School of Management, ANU College of Business and Economics (from Jan 2024)
- Jess Moore, Chief Operating Officer – Software Innovation Institute
- Juliet Meyer, Engagement Manager – Below Zero
- Kim Blackmore, Senior Fellow – Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program
- Lauren Bartsch, Project Manager – Below Zero
- Maureen Boyle, Research Fellow – Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program
- Paul Peace, PhD Student – National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, ANU College of Science
- Rex Martin - Social Research Fellow, Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program
- Susan Hansen, Human Centred Design Practice Lead – Information Technology Services Portfolio, and Senior Lecturer – School of Computing, ANU College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics
- Tim Johnston, Delivery Lead (Below Zero) – Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program
- Will Grant, Associate Professor – National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, ANU College of Science
Observers
- Ruth O’Connor, Research Fellow – Crawford School of Public Policy
- Sarah Boddington, PhD Candidate – Crawford School of Public Policy