These are the five steps needed now to ensure the health of the river system and the people who depend on it.

A biogeochemist from the ANU Research School of Earth Sciences, Dr Laura Otter studies nacre, the beautiful, iridescent coating you find on the outside of pearls and the inside of shells like oysters and clams.

Like many of us Mallika Sinha wanted to become an astronaut when she grew up. Then, she realised there was something even more exciting: astrophysics.

A first-of-its-kind genetic study of the endangered Australian Pookila - formerly known as the New Holland Mouse - is contributing to saving the species from extinction.

“We don’t think much about trees, but there are all of these mysteries inside them. Unlocking those mysteries will kind of help us save the world.”

A major new study explains why you won’t find kangaroos, koalas and other Aussie marsupials in Indonesia, but you will find many groups of animals that originated in Asia, such as goannas, rodents and kookaburras in Australia.

Street art is more than just a pretty (sur)face.

Insect specimens are sitting in museum drawers all over the world waiting to be investigated. But entomologists like Dr Yun Hsiao are up to the task.

The course description begins: “Would you like to make a difference to the world, but are not sure how, or where to start?” It’s a bold opening gambit, but this particular course is prepared to be bold.