The aim of the day will be to build knowledge sharing connections and to develop new projects in the Wimmera that will enhance the region’s sustainability.
Defence behemoth Lockheed Martin’s recent announcement of a venture into deep sea mining reflects growing interest in exploiting virgin mining territory. In what is being described by some as a “deep sea mining bonanza”, the British arm of the US defence firm hopes to exploit rare earth minerals from the seabeds between Mexico and Hawaii.
The University of Melbourne is leading research that is shedding new light on adolescents, and in particular, the health of future generations.
In terms of human history, adolesence is a relatively new concept. Though written about by authors in the ancient world, it really only emerged in common usage during the 20th century.
The aim of the CRC is to provide government and industry with social, technological and policy tools to overcome identified market barriers preventing adoption of cost effective low carbon products and services, while maintaining industry competitiveness and improving quality of life.
The Research Unit in Public Cultures (RUPC) was established in 2012 and is housed in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne.
Theme Leader: A/Prof Angela Paladino
In today's world, many of us enjoy a lifestyle that people could only dream of a quarter of a century ago – we find out about political, economic and ecological events on the other side of the globe as they happen, we can buy and sell goods and services and meet and talk with people online, all from the comfort of our living room. At the same time, the globalised world presents unprecedented challenges that often seem intractable – climate change adaptation, global economic crises, widening gaps in living standards and well-being – which no single individual, community, or country seems capable of solving. Nonetheless, the opportunities and challenges of today's world are triggered by our everyday activities.
People and Values, and more broadly culture, are key to sustainable living. Given the same amount of natural and financial resources, some communities are more vibrant, resilient, and creative in meeting these challenges than others. Some people thrive and maintain their well-being in the face of adversity. They are able to transform their culture to sustain their lifestyle, or to rebound resiliently from unexpected challenges that threaten the way of life that they have enjoyed and hope to pass down to future generations.
• Are we living sustainably?
• Is our society set up for a sustainable lifestyle?
• How should we live sustainably?
These are the questions we try to answer. What social, cultural, and psychological resources do we need to make our society sustainable and resilient, and how can they be best combined and coordinated to make our community socially and ecologically sustainable? What institutional support should government agencies and non-government organisations provide to optimise the outcome?
This research empirically examines the effect that socialisation and value co-creation have on the recycling behaviours of consumers. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour as its foundation, the study explored the effects of a number of influences of attitudinal and behavioural formation pertaining to recycling. These included price consciousness, involvement, convenience, risk aversion, subjective knowledge, environmental concern and interpersonal influence.
Results indicated that both consumer socialisation and value co-creation act as significant influencers upon consumer behaviours. Furthermore, the results showed a significant relationship between involvement, convenience, risk aversion, subjective knowledge, environmental concern and interpersonal influence upon attitudes and behaviours.
The study found that value co-creation significantly moderates the relationship between attitudes and intentions. Youth socialisation also strengthened the relationship between environmental concern and attitudes. This was comparable to the role of adult socialisation. Organisations should therefore gain an understanding of the role of these two variables and employ value co-creation and socialisation tactics in order to assist with the increased adoption of recycling behaviours in diverse contexts.
For more information about this study, please contact Bianca Shah (biancashah90@gmail.com ) or A/Prof. Angela Paladino (a.paladino@unimelb.edu.au)
The idea that we have some long-term obligation to future generations has not resonated in the human discourse and is rarely enshrined in any substantial body of behaviour, practice or law. Despite the fact that most thinking people understand this, it seems that taking any meaningful action is extraordinarily difficult.
Professor Peter Doherty, Laureate Professor, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, attempts to answer this key question in his paper, attached below, published in Future Justice (2010), edited by Dr Helen Sykes of the Future Leaders initiative.
Resilience Alliance
http://www.resalliance.org/1.php
Arizona State University, Global Institute of Sustainability
http://sustainability.asu.edu/
University of East Anglia, Tyndall Centre
http://www.tyndall.ac.uk/index.shtml
Indiana University, Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis
http://www.indiana.edu/~workshop/
