We continued our commitment to producing high-quality, globally-respected research that transcends disciplinary and professional boundaries.
High quality research
Our researchers collaborate locally and around the world with clients and partners to publish widely in high impact academic books and journals, as well as in more innovative, accessible and real-world formats tailored to make significant economic, environmental, cultural and social impact.
Here's a selection of publication highlights from 2018, you can view all publications here
Sustainable Supply Chain Relationships
ISF research team: Alison Atherton, Dr Suzanne Grob, Dr Scott Kelly, Isabel Sebastian.
ISF was commissioned by Stewart Investors to develop an understanding of how companies are implementing sustainable supply chain relationships (SSCR) and to ascertain important issues affecting sustainable supply chain relationships.
We performed a sustainability assessment of nine organisations against a performance framework developed for the project. Findings showed that publicly available information may not represent reality, and regional regulatory context can have a strong influence on sustainable supply chain relationships.
Healthy Higher Density Living: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Irena L. C. Connon (UTS), Jason H. Prior (UTS), Jennifer L. Kent (USyd), Leena Thomas (UTS), Susan M. Thompson (UNSW), Erica McIntyre (UTS), Jon Adams (UTS), Anthony Capon (USyd), Chris Rissel (USyd), Harriet Westcott (USyd).
This literature review was undertaken as part of the Healthy Higher Density project which will provide new knowledge and tools to address gaps in the planning of healthy higher density precincts. The project is conducted by Landcom in partnership with UTS, the University of Sydney and the University of NSW.
The bathroom of the future - prospects for information and control
ISF research team: Dr Rachel Watson, Jay Falletta, Associate Professor Pierre Mukheibir, Associate Professor Simon Fane.
We developed this discussion paper to demonstrate the value and potential applications of smart water management technologies specifically focused on commercial bathroom products. The paper, commissioned by the GWA Bathrooms and Kitchens Group, was developed using available knowledge, with a literature scan of fixture driven innovations, innovations in collecting and using data from fixtures and other monitoring devices. Preliminary data provided by GWA from digital fixtures installed in a commercial application were reviewed by ISF to reveal trends and insights, and to envisage the way future bathrooms could leverage data and thereby control functions to create efficiencies well beyond that of water savings.
Supercharging Australia’s clean energy transitioN
ISF research team: Dr Yohan Kim, Dr Scott Dwyer, Dr Sven Teske, Dr Scott Kelly
Lead Author: Simon Corbell.
The transition to a 100 per cent renewable Energy future by 2050 presents a clear and increasingly low-cost pathway for Australia to meet its Paris Climate Agreement commitments, particularly when compared to the decarbonisation challenges in other sectors of the Australian economy. 350.org and Future Super commissioned ISF to assess how Australia’s transition to a 100 per cent renewable energy system by can be funded by a proportion of the nation’s retirement savings.
We found that Australia could achieve a 100 per cent renewable electricity sector (stationary power) by 2030 with investment of just 7.7 per cent of total superannuation holdings.
Gender Transformative Climate Change Action in the Pacific
ISF research team: Dr Keren Winterford, Tamara Megaw, Associate Professor Joanne Chong, Anna Gero.
Plan International Australia (PIA) commissioned ISF to undertake research to define what gender transformative climate change action looks like, in order to inform future programme design of Plan’s climate resilience projects. The research sought to inform the development of a framework or model for PIA’s gender transformative climate change programming, as well as userfriendly tools to inform this programming.
Transdisciplinary Theory, Practice and Education: The Art of Collaborative Research and Collective Learning
Springer, 2018
Editors: Associate Professor Dena Fam (UTS), Professor Linda Neuhauser (University of California), Professor Paul Gibbs (Middlesex University).
This state-of-the art book reviews, explores and advocates ways in which collaborative research endeavours can, through a transdisciplinary lens, enhance student, academic and social experiences. Drawing from a wide range of knowledges, contexts, geographical locations and internationally renowned expertise, the book provides a unique look into the world of transdisciplinary thinking, collaborative learning and action.
Journal article: Local network credits and local electricity
Energy Policy Volume 120, September 2018, Pages 324-334
Authors: Jay Rutovitz (UTS), Sebastian Oliva (University of Chile), Lawrence McIntosh (UTS)
Dr Sven Teske (UTS), Alison Atherton (UTS), Dr Scott Kelly (UTS), Ed Langham (UTS) Current charging methods for network infrastructure and recompense for distributed energy may not result in optimum system solutions. This paper examines the effects of Local Electricity Trading (LET) and Local Network Credits (LNCs) on different stakeholders in four virtual trials of medium
scale distributed generation projects around Australia, and the implications for policy. They found the large value gap between behind the meter systems and grid exports may lead to duplication of network assets, inefficient sizing and operation of distributed generators, and a lack of incentive for dispatchable generators to operate at peak times. The trials indicated that in most circumstances, the combination of LNC and LET addresses all four problems identified to some degree.
Journal article: Risk factors associated with rural water supply failure
A 30-year retrospective study of handpumps on the south coast of Kenya Science of the Total Environment
Authors: Tim Foster (UTS), Professor Juliet Willetts (UTS), M Lane (Rural Focus Ltd, Kenya), P Thomson (Oxford University), J Katuva (Oxford University), R Hope (Oxford University).
An improved understanding of failure risks for water supplies in rural sub-Saharan Africa will be critical to achieving the global goal of safe water for all by 2030. This retrospective cohort study applies survival analysis to identify factors that predict failure risks for handpumps installed on boreholes along the south coast of Kenya from the 1980s. The analysis is based on a unique dataset linking attributes of hundreds of water points at the time of installation with their operational lifespan over the following decades.
