Webinars

Beneath our feet lies the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth: the soil. The soil supports the majority of life on the planet and with advances in technology, it may no longer be the ‘black box’ it once was. But below ground ecosystems are complex and our understanding of underground ecology is still in its infancy. Soil processes underpin all terrestrial ecosystems, thus if we are to conserve ecosystem function and biodiversity while sustainably managing landscapes, we need to advance our knowledge of the underground. From microbial ecology to biogeochemistry, agroecology to restoration, many facets of plant-soil ecology research remain siloed. To meaningfully advance fundamental ecology and applied outcomes there is a need for greater interdisciplinary cross-talk and collaboration.

Watch this online forum as Professor Jeff Powell, Dr Anna Hopkins, Dr Christina Birnbaum and Giancarlo Chiarenza discuss this fascinating field of ecology.

Recorded 26 June 2023.

In this comprehensive workshop, learn tips and ideas to effectively communicate your science with different audiences. This includes:

• Presenting complex issues clearly and succinctly
• Content creation – how to package your expertise for different audiences
• The need to engage not just inform – communication is not a one-way transaction
• Writing for non-scientific audiences
• Options for building an online profile
• Effective use of social media
• Venturing into new platforms (going where target audiences are)
• TikTok 101

Presenters include:

Associate Professor Jen Martin, founder and leader of the University of Melbourne’s Science Communication Teaching Program.

Professor Euan Ritchie, leader of the Applied Ecology and Conservation Research group in the Centre for Integrative Ecology and School of Life and Environmental Sciences at Deakin University.

Dr Kylie Soanes, conservation biologist at the University of Melbourne.

Recorded 2 November 2022.

Science suppression is widely documented as occurring throughout Australia. A survey conducted by the ESA in 2018, and again in 2019, revealed evidence of extensive suppression of research results and professional advice in government, environmental consultancies and universities.

In this webinar, listen to Professors Don Driscoll (Deakin University), Robyn Bartel (University of New England) and Adrienne Stone (University of Melbourne) discuss the issue of science suppression in Australia, particularly within the university sector, and the real and urgent need for more research on infringements of academic freedom.

More information about the ESA's surveys on science suppression in Australia can be found here: www.ecolsoc.org.au/news/science-suppression/

To get in touch with any of the panelists, please direct your enquiries to .

Recorded 14 September 2022.

The transition from undergraduate and postgraduate studies to being fully-fledged researchers and professionals can leave a gap of uncertainty for a lot of people. This webinar seeks to address that uncertainty and answer the questions that many early career ecologists struggle with. Listen as four early career ecologists discuss:

• What actually is an Early Career Ecologist/Early Career Researcher (ECE/ECR)?
• How long are you typically considered an ECE/ECR?
• What are some non-academic options after your honours or postgraduate studies? How do you best set yourself up during your studies for both?
• How do you secure consistent funding as an ECE/ECR?
• Can having a mentor be useful as an ECE/ECR in academia or industry?
• Conducting quality research in a ‘publish or perish’ environment.
• Creating a work-life balance in a highly competitive, insecure work environment.

Panelists included Dr Olly Dove (Chair), Dr Adam Frew, Dr Holly Bradley and Dr Heather Neilly.

Recorded 6 November 2024.