ARIES: News and Events

News and Events

In addition to all our current projects, ARIES has been busy with these other events.

November 2014

Styx Valley, Tasmania 2-5 November: Jessica represented ARIES at the national conference for the Australian Association for Environmental Education in Hobart, Tasmania. What an inspiring few days! Speakers included David Orr, Bob Brown, Paul Gilding, Costa Geogiadis, Christine Milne and Kirsty Albion. Three days of packed events were followed by sublime field trips - in Jessica's case to the Valley of the Giants (the Styx Valley) to see the largest flowering trees in the world.

July 2014

Our Place article in "Eingana" 1 July: The Victorian Association for Environmental Education published an article titled "Our Place" by Jessica North in their members journal, Eingana. Jessica reviewed the three inspiring and moving Indigenous films that were created as part of the ARIES Our Place project, funded by the Australian Government.

June 2014

Habitat Stepping Stones article in "Conversations" 1 June: The Australian Association for Environmental Education (NSW) published an article by Jessica North about the encouraging success of the ARIES Habitat Stepping Stones project in their Conversations magazine. Jessica outlined three major barriers to community action and explained how the engaging and educational Habitat Stepping Stones project overcomes those barriers.

About ARIES Video Collection 1 June: The Australian Association for Environmental Education (NSW) contributed an article about how the ARIES Collection of sustainability videos from around the world is a useful resource for secondary school teachers. There are currently 43 videos in the collection spanning environmental, social and economic sustainability issues, and more are being added all the time - all freely available online. Five videos they chose to showcase are:

Shining a Light on Sustainability (18:54 mins). Produced by the ARIES team to introduce the concept of sustainability to a general audience. A great starting point for discussion! And useful for Science, Geography, TAS and Economics students as well as general interest.

The Other Inconvenient Truth (17:47 mins). A TedX talk about agriculture being the largest driver of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental destruction, including powerful aerial photos over time. Very useful for Senior Geography and Eath and Environmental Science students.

Build a Strategy for Sustainability (10:27 mins). The global CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi discusses how to make business more sustainable. Great for Business Studies, Economics and for anyone wanting to make their own business more sustainable.

Pitch for Nature (2:23 mins). Gives a neat definition of "natural capital" and is useful for students of Geography and Business Studies.

Abundance is Our Future (16:15 mins). This video presents an engaging talk which puts the case for optimism: that we'll invent and innovate our way past our current challenges. Useful for English students to evaluate the arguments, and for Science and IT students to think about.

May 2014

28 May: Corinne Fagueret gave a presentation on the successful ARIES Habitat Stepping Stones project to the Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment.

27 May: ARIES Manager, Jessica North, was interviewed on ABC radio's Statewide afternoon program about the success of the ARIES Habitat Stepping Stones project.

1 May: ARIES launched the Our Place project! Three short films that celebrate the Aboriginal heritage of the Hornsby Shire. The films are now freely available on the Hornsby Shire Council website so that everyone who lives in the Hornsby Shire can learn about and appreciate the stories that relate to where they live.

The launch was held at Event Cinemas Hornsby, with a private screening of the films followed by fabulous Indigenous catering by Indigiearth.

Adam Cryer (Aboriginal Child, Youth & Family Community Facilitator at Hornsby Shire Council) began with an inspiring speech, and then managed the evening as MC with aplomb. Aunty Edna Watson gave a personal talk before her granddaughter, Krystal Mervin, performed a Welcome to Country in traditional language - which gave everyone goosebumps.

Matt Keane MP represented the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Hon. Victor Dominello, and gave a keynote speech on his behalf. The Deputy Mayor, Nathan Tilbury, ended the formal part of the evening by presenting framed photos to the Aboriginal Elders who had contributed to the project.

March 2014

18 March: ARIES started tweeting!

10 March: ARIES Manager, Jessica North, participated in a regional discussion forum organised by the Australian Association for Environmental Education, to provide feedback on the draft framework document being compiled by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage titled: Make the Change: a framework for education and engagement for environmental sustainability 2014-2021.

February 2014

17 February: Dr Kirsty Davies from ARIES was invited to give a presentation to students from Tsinghua University in China who are participating in the International Leaders Program of the University of Sydney. Her talk EcoSystem, a new framework for behavioural change towards sustainable communities and environments formed part of a two-week intensive program on Environment and Sustainable Development.

January 2014

30 January: ARIES got the year off to a flying start by adding six new videos to the ARIES Collection of sustainability videos from around the world.

Profit's not always the point (7:50 mins)
How to move from a global suicide pact to a thriving economy? (17:53 mins)
A drone's-eye view of conservation (13:31 mins)
B the change (1:56 mins)
How plastic bottles can lighten up the darkness (3:15 mins)
Let's go all-in on selling sustainability (13:18 mins)

December 2013

10 December: Jessica North received a generous grant from Jennifer Anderson, the Mayor of Ku-ring-gai, as a contribution from Ku-ring-gai Council's Environmental Levy to the ARIES Habitat Stepping Stones project.

November 2013

19 November: At the Water for Life Showcase 2013 Dr Louise Metcalf and Robert Perey conducted a workshop on Sustainability Leadership: Why it's more relevant and necessary than ever before.

September 2013

16 September: Robert Perey gave another of his informative ARIES workshops on Sustainability Leadership to members of the NSW Department of Corrective Services.

August 2013

25 August: Gardening guru Angus Stewart launched the ARIES Habitat Stepping Stones project at the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower and Garden Festival.

May 2013

31 May: Corinne Fagueret represented ARIES at the Hornsby Children's Voices for Reconcilation event as part of the ARIES Our Place project.

February 2013

28 February: ARIES launched an introductory video to explain the concept of sustainability!

11 February: Robert Perey gave another of his fabulous ARIES workshops on Sustainability Leadership to members of the NSW Department of Corrective Services.

7-9 February: Jessica North had an inspiring three days at Australia's first national Education for Sustainability Conference. EfS: Transorming VET through Education for Sustainability was held at the Northern Sydney Institute's, Ryde campus. The conference was supported by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE) with participants from the broad EfS community, including education, community, industry and government.

Speakers included:

Jason Van Ballegooyen Acting Manager, Workforce Innovation & Sustainability (DIIRSTE)
Prof Stephen Sterling, Centre for Sustainable Futures, Plymouth University, UK
ARIES Founding Director, Prof Daniella Tilbury, University of Gloucestershire, UK
ARIES past Director, Prof Suzanne Benn, University of Technology, Sydney

ARIES Team member, Patrick Crittenden, Director, Sustainable Business was a panellist on the Industry Panel discussing "Partnering with industry to lead the green skills agenda".

The Australian Research Institute for Environment and Sustainability