Centre-funded projects

Full title: Flexible gas sensing technologies for ethylene detection: Advancing plant health and growth monitoring

Monitoring plant stress is a key component of an integrated urban forest management system that will ensure healthy and resilient urban forests.

Our researchers intend to design a system that:

• uses biocompatible and flexible materials
• is both low power and lightweight
• is widely deployable and autonomous.

The system features tiny nanosensors that can:

• intimately integrate into the soft surface of any plant
• measure temperature, humidity and the concentration of ethylene gas
• remotely evaluate optimal growth settings on a continuous basis.

Research team

• Noushin Nasiri
• Professor Michelle Leishman
• Michael Sheng
• Dr Anthony Manea
• Jayden Chen
• Reza Behboodian

Contact: noushin.nasiri@mq.edu.au

For cities to be smart, green and sustainable, they must adopt multi-disciplinary approaches, identifying and partner with a range of sectors involved in decision making at multiple scales.

The insurance sector plays a critical and overlooked element in sustainability transitions. The post-emergency spotlight on the sector calls into question the adequacy of current models, policies and approaches.

Our researchers intend to:

• identify emerging risks facing the sector
• develop new models and approaches drawing on data sciences and sustainability theory and practice.

Research team

• Peter Davies
• Zhuo Jin
• Yan Li
• Sara Deilami
• Stefan Trück

Contact: peter.davies@mq.edu.au

Full title: Are business decisions informed by their surroundings – study of small medium business (SMB) managerial perception and approach to sustainable practices and technologies

The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) framework provides understanding of consumers’ behaviour towards engagement with green activities or products in individual or household domains.

Our researchers aim to use TPB with key business decision makers to:

• examine factors associated with intentions to engage with sustainable practices and technologies
• examine green identity, past behaviour, business type, location and whether they are associated with the surrounding local environment
• better our understanding of SMB and factors associated with managerial decision processes specific to environmental protection and sustainability in Ryde, and
• understand whether this changes with the environmental context of the business.

Research team

• Andrea Chareunsy
• Philippe Gilchrist
• Clara Zhou
• Peter Davies
• Rohan Best
• Caragh Threlfall

Contact: andrea.chareunsy@mq.edu.au

Full title: Flood-risk literacy and preparedness of new residents of flood prone developments in northwest Sydney

We intend to understand if sustainable urban design and planning is linked with health and wellbeing, as reflected in the psychological health of residents living in northwest Sydney flood risk areas.

Our researchers aim to:

• initiate relationships with community members and key stakeholders
• inform future interventions by identifying flood-risk literacy levels and preparedness of new residents, including related psychological, social and financial factors
• co-design online accessible flood risk resources targeting flood-related anxiety and associated barriers to effective flood risk mitigation behaviours.

Rapid housing growth and increasing flood risks demand innovative solutions to:

• ensure community health
• spread understanding of inherent risks
• foster self-efficacy to manage and mitigate risks.

Research team

• Kerry Sherman
• Philippe Gilchrist
• Andrea Chareunsy
• Melanie Bishop
• Mel Taylor
• Josephine Chau

Contact: kerry.sherman@mq.edu.au

Full title: Blue and green with warming stripes: Experiences of sustainable child friendly cities (CFC) in the greater Sydney area

We intend to investigate greater Sydney CFC initiatives, with an emphasis on nature spaces, climate change and wellbeing impacts.

Our researchers aim to:

• engage local councils to evaluate how initiatives were developed/actioned
• identify the aspects of CFC principles councils focus on, and what role (if any) considerations of nature spaces and climate change play
• evaluate perceptions/behaviour of local residents to understand user experience, needs, climate-oriented behaviours and wellbeing impact. (Young people sub-sample includes Macquarie students).

The data provides a solid CFC foundation to build on when researching:

• cities and climate change
• similar frameworks, such as age-friendly cities.

Research team

• Esther Erlings
• Maria Kangas
• Paul Beggs

Contact: esther.erlings@mq.edu.au