Developing an evidence base for fundamental and well-planned change to inform adaptation action and supporting policy.
Communicating climate change information effectively through knowledge networks is key for successful dissemination and uptake of climate change policy. However, the informal networks through which knowledge flows in a community – such as word-of-mouth or social media – and their integration with traditional channels of policy dissemination are largely invisible to central policy-makers.
ISF uses novel approaches, including social network analysis (SNA), that allow the networks governing information flow to be visualised. This approach enables opportunities to tailor messages for local communication channels and bridge fractured networks.
Graduate studies in this expertise area
- The politics of place identity in peri-urban environments. What role for the productive landscapes? A case study of the Wollondilly Shire, NSW, Australia – PhD Laure-Elise Ruoso
- Child participation beyond the adult realm: participatory design in nature play contexts – PhD Bronwyn Cumbo
- Assessing the impact of coevolution of strategy, innovation and social networks in a climate knowledge innovation community – PhD Melanie Lewis (in progress)
- Pathways towards coexistence between humans and large carnivores in production landscapes – PhD Louise Boronyak (in progress)
- The governance of climate commons in Waverley, Local Government Area NSW – Master Suzanne Dunford (in progress)
- Reimagining soils’ sustainable futures: A critical inquiry at the science/policy interface for soils re-politicisation – PhD Mariana Gonzalez Lago (in progress)
- Sporting mega-events, and their influence on the social and physical capital of communities in the host city: The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Experience Masters Michael Falla (in progress)
PROJECT | 2022
Building utility resilience to climate shocks
Demonstrating how diverse actors are increasing resilience by adapting their assets to climate induced shocks.
PROJECT | 2021-2023
Climate resilient urban sanitation
Equipping the urban sanitation sector with tools and knowledge for building climate resilience
PROJECT | 2015-
Uncovering community engagement networks for adaptation
Our analysis of the way people within communities receive and share knowledge sought to inform better community engagement with climate change adaptation policy.
PROJECT | 2015-2019
Innovation in the governance of climate change adaptation
A collaborative investigation sought to identify the role of governance in effectively engaging community uptake of climate change adaptation.
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PROJECT | 2019-2020
Small business information needs
Extreme weather events such as floods, storms, droughts and bushfires can have devastating and disruptive impacts to economic activity. For small- and medium-sized businesses, the results can include business closures, loss of skilled employees and decline and delay in investment in business assets and innovative activities.
This project investigated how small- and medium-sized businesses have experienced extreme weather events, asking:
1. What is the experience and preparedness in the small business community for extreme weather events?
2. How is climate information currently being used by NSW small businesses – including identifying characteristics of current awareness of climate-related risks, direct and indirect impacts, current information sources, formats and types, and related processes where climate information may impact decision-making (e.g. insurance policies)?
3. What are the barriers and gaps in identifying, obtaining, or using climate information? How can these gaps be addressed?
Client: Office of the NSW Small Business Commissioner
Researchers: Samantha Sharpe, Rebecca Cunningham, Brent Jacobs
PROJECT
Node 2: insights from outcomes – adaptive communities synthesis
This project aimed to synthesise key findings from a range of individual projects' outputs including case study reports, technical briefs, journal papers and conference papers, presentations to stakeholders, policy briefings and workshop reports. The aim was to synthesise the findings into a cohesive set of insights developed through workshops and writing retreats, in order to distil the bigger picture implications.
ISF worked with OEH, UTS and CSIRO staff and communications advisors to present a consistent set of insights to different audiences including: policy stakeholders, ‘pracademics’ (practioner academics), the general public, regional coordinators and engagement professionals.
Client: NSW OEH
Researchers: Brent Jacobs, Rebecca Cunningham
NEWS | FEB 2021
Connecting children to nature through digital intervention
Bronwyn Cumbo, an alumna of ISF’s Graduate Research Program, has received the prestigious honour of being included on the UTS Chancellor’s List for 2020.
PROJECT | 2019-2020
Mapping climate services in Australia
In 2019, CSIRO engaged ISF to conduct an analysis of the Australian Climate Services sector, and the interaction between service providers and users. The results were captured in a quantitative map (including with spatial overlays) of the sector across Australia.
Client: CSIRO
Researcher: Rebecca Cunningham
PROJECT | 2019-
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage social network analysis
ISF was commissioned by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage to conduct a social network analysis to explore knowledge flow in their Estuaries and Water Catchment team.
Client: NSW OEH
Researcher: Rebecca Cunningham
PROJECT | 2019
Industry transformation in response to climate change
Extreme weather events can have devastating and disruptive impacts for small- and medium-sized businesses.
PROJECT | 2018-2020
Community perceptions of hybrid solar biomass: the potential for social license and social acceptance
Finding out communities' attitudes towards biomass will help to plan renewable energy innovations in the Riverina and Hunter Valley regions.
PROJECT | 2017-2019
Alpine research network social network analysis
ISF conducted longitudinal analysis of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage teams working in the Alpine region, to understand the way in which government agency staff working across the state and across agencies connect with each other over time.
Client: NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
Researchers: Samantha Sharpe, Rebecca Cunningham, Candice Delaney
PROJECT | 2016-2020
Engaging communities and government in biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation in Papua New Guinea
Two projects funded by USAID sought to empower communities in Papua New Guinea to lead their adaptation responses to climate change.
PROJECT | 2016-2019
Towards a climate change adaptation strategy for national parks
A series of intensive workshops with National Parks and Wildlife Services staff informed the organisation’s strategy for adapting to the impacts of climate change, and mapped out an approach to encouraging a range stakeholders to engage with it.
PROJECT | 2016-2017
Water scarcity risk for Australian farms and the implications for the financial sector
ISF partnered with AgTech company The Yield to come up with a new method for calculating the water risk exposure for farms.
PROJECT | 2015-2017
Creating demand for recycled organic compost: social research on the Sydney compost value chain
For this NSW Environment Protection Authority-funded project, ISF worked in partnership with the NSW Department of Primary Industries' Greater Sydney Local Land Services and NSW Farmers. Our aim was to investigate and unlock the demand potential for recycled organic compost in Sydney’s vegetable production.
PROJECT | 2015-2019
Climate Adapted People Shelters
Designing bus shelters that will protect our most vulnerable citizens during extreme weather conditions.
PROJECT | 2014-2018
The politics of place identity in peri-urban environments
What role for productive farming landscapes? A case study of Wollondilly Shire, NSW, Australia.
PROJECT | 2014-2016
Mapping Sydney’s foodsheds
Capturing the flow of food to ensure Sydney's food production is resilient and secure into the future.
PROJECT | 2014
Adapting to urban heat
Researchers from the Institute for Sustainable Futures have produced the first national data on urban tree cover, helping us understand why certain urban areas are much hotter than others, and more importantly, what we can do about it.
IMPACT STORY
Saving the systems: enabling regional adaptation to climate change
ISF researchers use systems thinking to help guide regional New South Wales to identify and plan for the flow-on effects of climate change.
PROJECT | 2013-2017
OEH Adaptation Hub: Understanding and improving the community-policy-science interface in New South Wales to promote the uptake of climate adaptation options
The aim of this project was to provide a platform to better reconcile the supply of and demand for adaptation science. A central aspect of this project was to work with target communities and decision-makers to frame climate change adaptation as a public policy challenge rather than a science challenge.
Client: NSW OEH
Researchers: Brent Jacobs, Rebecca Cunningham
PROJECT | 2013-2016
202020 Vision: monitoring and evaluating the Goods Line
ISF was commissioned by Hort Innovation to conduct a monitoring and evaluation study to feed into their feed into the 202020 Vision and act as a case study to showcase the changes that can result from urban greening initiatives. The primary aim of this research was to measure the social and biophysical changes occurring on the Goods Line in Sydney as a result of improvements in green infrastructure.
ISF evaluated the breadth of changes (social, cultural and physical) that are often unaccounted for in place-based evaluations. The range of variables for evaluation cover themes including health and wellbeing, social interaction, safety, sense of community, aesthetic appeal, air quality and peak storm water runoff.
The initial phase of the research involved establishing a baseline of use of and attitudes towards the space. The primary research methods were direct observation and surveys/interviews. The direct observation research comprised two days of site visits involving a combination of observation sheets completed by researchers and time-lapse photography to capture the activities of Goods Line users across an entire day. Surveys were also conducted with Goods Line users to understand their perception of the space. The second phase of our work aimed to gain a holistic understanding of the changes attributable to urban regeneration.
Client: Hort Innovation
PROJECT | 2013-
Adaptive Communities Nodes: preparing for a future in flux
A multi-faceted project impacts policy and empowers communities, businesses and government to meet the effects of climate change head-on.
PROJECT | 2012-2013
Teeing off on carbon connections biodiversity
ISF's research for the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Authorityaimed to determine the factors that support and constrain the adoption of improved practices on golf courses in the greater Sydney region with particular reference to biodiversity, habitat and carbon storage.
The research team designed and conducted a participatory self-assessment workshop and an online survey of golf course superintendents, staff and club managers from across the Sydney metropolitan region. Additional data was generated from interviews with key stakeholders.
The research found that more than half the golf clubs surveyed contain endangered ecological communities or threatened species. Most of the golf course personnel who took part in the survey believed that managing biodiversity on golf courses is important, agreed that biodiversity enhances the experience of playing on a golf course, and had taken some action towards improving the management of biodiversity on their course. The project will assist the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Authority and Golf NSW to formulate effective investment and support programs for building the capacity of golf course personnel to improve biodiversity practices.
Client: Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Authority
