Industrial Ecology in Australia: A Stocktake and a Way Forward (03:15 UTC)
Session Organiser: Alessio Miatto
Institution:Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)
Location/Local Time: Sydney (2:15 PM - 3:15 PM)
Registration : Registration will occur via the CSIRO invitation system: https://events.csiro.au/Events/2025/November/6/Industrial-Ecology-Day-Webinars-2025
Abstract: Australian researchers have made globally significant contributions to the field of Industrial Ecology, advancing core methods such as input-output analysis, material flow accounting, life cycle assessment, and industrial symbiosis, and applying these methods in international policy and sustainability science contexts. However, despite this impact, Industrial Ecology as a distinct discipline remains under-recognised within Australia’s academic and policy landscapes.Much research conducted across Australian universities and research institutes applies the tools, concepts, and systems perspective of Industrial Ecology, often without explicitly identifying them as such. This fragmentation has limited the visibility, coherence, and institutional support for Industrial Ecology domestically, even as its relevance to sustainability challenges continues to grow.
This session offers a timely stocktake of Industrial Ecology in Australia. In this panel discussion, it will:
• Highlight key research contributions and areas of international leadership;
• Explore the national and regional impact of Industrial Ecology-informed work;
• Map the current institutional, disciplinary, and educational landscape; and
• Identify opportunities to strengthen Industrial Ecology as a recognised and coordinated field in Australia across research, teaching, and policy engagement.
Join us for a reflective and forward-looking discussion on how to support better and connect Australia’s Industrial Ecology community and maximise its contribution to urgent sustainability transitions.
Speakers for panel discussion:
Dr Richard Wood, Newcastle University, NSW and chief editor of the Journal of Industrial Ecology
Prof Lynette Cheah, University of the Sunshine Coast, QLD
Prof Xuemei Bai, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, ACT
Dr Simran Talwar, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, NSW
Dr Atiq Zaman, Curtin University, Perth, WA
Session registration
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