March 11, 2024

UOW expert commentary (11 March)

UOW academics provide expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing and breaking news stories

Mass coral bleaching on Great Barrier Reef

Associate Professor Sarah Hamylton can discuss the mass coral bleaching event that is occurring across the Great Barrier Reef, the fifth such event in eight years. The coastal scientist has been mapping, monitoring and modelling the effects of climate change on reefs for almost two decades. Associate Professor Hamylton says the root cause of coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef is climate change, driven by anthropogenic carbon emissions. She is an Associate Professor in the School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences.

World Kidney Day – Thursday 14 March

Associate Professor Ria Arnold can talk about World Kidney Day (Thursday 14 March). The accredited exercise physiologist’s research focuses on using exercise to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for people with advanced chronic disease, primarily kidney disease and diabetes. Associate Professor Arnold is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences.

Growing size of Australian homes

Kate Wingrove is available to talk about how the growing size of Australian homes is wiping out gains in energy efficiency. In an article she co-authored for The Conversation she writes:

New Australian homes are being designed bigger and so require more energy for heating and cooling, wiping out potential gains in energy efficiency, according to our new research. The increasing energy demand is inconsistent with global efforts to tackle climate change and suggests Australia’s housing energy policy requires a radical rethink.

Kate Wingrove is a PhD candidate at the Sustainable Building Research Centre. Her research investigates the design processes which lead to enhanced sustainable outcomes for new build housing, to identify pathways for increased design of sustainable housing in Australia.

UOW academics exercise academic freedom by providing expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing social issues and current affairs. This expert commentary reflects the views of those individual academics and does not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the University of Wollongong.