Globally, growing city populations are placing increasing pressure on the natural environment to provide space, energy, water, food, construction materials, pharmaceuticals, waste assimilation, fresh air, and places to recreate. As these resources are limited, cities must change to become sustainable. BioCity@UniSA is a research centre focused on the sustainability of cities underpinned by values of community education and participation, and the conservation of biodiversity and the natural processes that sustain life.
BioCity@UniSA is based within the School of Natural and Built Environments at the University of South Australia. Collaborative and multi-disciplinary research is a key to addressing complex environmental issues. Therefore, the centre includes researchers from universities, government institutions, and private organisations. Key areas of research have been identified in the six themes of BioCity@UniSA:
South Australian cities, and Adelaide in particular, provide useful models for BioCity@UniSA research as they have a well-known history of ecological and geological change since European settlement and before. The development pressures faced in Adelaide are similar to those in many cities around the world. Important issues include the management of scarce water resources, developing new technologies for energy production, reducing the spatial growth of urban areas, combating atmospheric pollution and soil contamination, increasing agricultural productivity, and adapting to climate change.
The South Australian government, like many others, is committed to addressing these issues. Success will require sound background knowledge and community commitment. Accordingly, BioCity@UniSA promotes sustainability, with research and education focussed on green development, community involvement, and the conservation of biodiversity and natural processes.
The BioCity@UniSA mission statement: to use a multi-disciplinary approach to understand and solve complex environmental issues in urban and peri-urban communities.
BioCity@UniSA
now has a regular spot on 891 ABC radio and Chris Daniels can be heard between 10 and 10:30am Thursday mornings.
To hear archived radio shows on ABC 891 radio click here.
Copyright 2007 BioCITY@UniSA, The University of South Australia
