Can we save marine sponges and their vital microbial communities from extinction?
Words by Emmanuelle Botté, UNSW Sydney; Heidi M. Luter, Australian Institute of Marine Science, and James Bell, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash Marine sponges have started dying in vast numbers in...
Can prehistoric droppings help uncover a new world of conservation?
By Jack Marshall Photo: Stella the kākāpō on Codfish Island/Whenua Hou Image: Sabine Bernert | DOC The nocturnal flightless kākāpō is something of a difficult bird. They were once rife in New Zealand, found throughout the North Island and the South. Today, the species...
How shall we reform our hump-shaped tax system?
We should be unapologetic about getting upper-income New Zealanders to pay their fair share of tax, writes Tim Hazledine. “Only the little people pay taxes!” That was the view of Leona Helmsley, the billionaire New York City hotelier, who was charged with tax...
Are we doing enough? Ngā Ara Whetū’s reaction to the 6th IPCC report
Photo by NOAA on Unsplash Climate change is the “bread and butter” issue of our times, as spelled out in the latest synthesis of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s sixth assessment report. If we do not urgently address climate change, there will be much...
Plastic action or distraction? As climate change bears down, calls to reduce plastic pollution are not wasted
Ocean Image Bank / Naja Bertolt Jensen, CC BY-NC Yolanda Lee Waters, The University of Queensland and Angela Dean, The University of Queensland Climate change, pollution and overfishing are just a few problems that need addressing to maintain a healthy blue planet....
Can NZ step up and address Earth system decline?
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash The Government of Aotearoa New Zealand has a unique opportunity to demonstrate leadership and action by changing its laws to conform with the laws of nature, writes Klaus Bosselmann. Rather than relying on International Panel...
Indigenous knowledge offers solutions but is there enough meaningful collaboration?
Photo by Sophie Turner on Unsplash Tara McAllister, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Cate Macinnis-Ng, University of Auckland, and Dan C H Hikuroa, University of Auckland As global environmental challenges grow, people and societies are...
What cultural values belong in science?
By Julie Rowland The University of Auckland’s Julie Rowland examines the notion that education should be secular and devoid of any form of spirituality. Commentators, here and overseas, have depicted the practice and learning of science as facing an existential...
The atom splitter: What is Ernest Rutherford’s legacy?
By Richard Easther It’s the 150th anniversary of the birth of New Zealand’s most celebrated scientist, Ernest Rutherford. Richard Easther acknowledges the man who brought us the insight that our world is made of atoms. If there is an afterlife for physicists it will...Subscribe by Email
Completely spam free, opt out any time.
This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
