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Research projects

Research opportunities

ANU is unique in Australia in connecting researchers across all fields to work together on the big environmental challenges and opportunities facing contemporary society. Highly regarded internationally for connecting science and policy, ANU seeks to support sustainable use of Australia’s and the world’s resources.

The ANU Green program is working to operationalise environmental sustainability initiatives, policies and reporting at the University. Our approach integrates practical action to manage environmental impacts with our world-leading research and teaching. We aim to use our expertise to drive innovation, using the University as a living lab and demonstrator.

Areas of work include transitioning our energy systems away from fossil fuels, emission reduction programs across our operational (e.g. fleet vehicles) and non-operational (e.g. travel and waste) sources, creating a circular economy system on campus, monitoring and reporting our environmental impacts, community engagement in sustainability and climate action, climate change risk and adaptation approaches, landscape and biodiversity programs.

Student projects

Whether it is a special research project course, Honours or HDR project or larger research programs, there are many ways to incorporate these issues into your degree program. Ask your course convener about what works best for your program and whether working with ANU Green to facilitate a living lab approach to your project is possible. You can also contact us directly to discuss options for projects.

Past student projects have included:

Project nameProject descriptionProject status
Carbon Emissions Events Visualiser

Honours Student Isabella Federle developed an interactive visualiser for participants and organisers of OzCHI22. Read the full report (PDF, 2043 KB).

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Web App to Choose a Greener Transportation Method in Business Trips

Honours Student Zhiyuan Ning designed a mobile app that motivates ANU staff to choose a transportation method that reduces their carbon footprint on business trips. Read the full report (PDF, 73.2 KB).

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Aggregated Energy Use at the ANU

This report determines how energy use is aggregated from individuals, through subcommunities using the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (RSAA) as a case study to the whole of the Australian National University (ANU) campuses. This report is presented to the ANU Executive to inform short, medium and long term strategies that can be implemented to support behavioural change, reduce energy use and encourage long term campus sustainability. Read the full report (PDF, 813 KB). 

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Pathways towards ANU Below Zero: A review of behavioural change, waste management, and carbon sequestration

 A critical literature review was performed to evaluate behavioural change and waste management and carbon sequestration strategies in universities such as the University of Cambridge, and organisations of Blue Planet. This evaluation highlighted 11 principles contributing to universities’ success in behavioural change and waste management strategies to reduce carbon emissions which may be beneficial for consideration by ANU Below Zero. Four enabling environments were identified for effective carbon sequestration: long-term commitment, research funding, alignment with circular economy policies, and carbon accounting mechanisms. Read the full report. 

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Soft Plastic Audit at an ANU hall of residence

An ANU undergraduate decided to do an "at home exchange" after COVID-19 postponed her exchange to Canada. Laura moved into Fenner Hall on the ANU campus and decided to conduct an audit of the soft plastics her fellow residents were using and then disposing. Read how Laura went with collecting, storing and weighing the mountains of soft plastics as well as her conclusions around corporate responsibility to increase awareness of how to dispose of these refuse items. Read the full report.

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