Catch up on our latest news and key events
Scroll below to find out the latest happenings in news and upcoming events in the Cities Research Institute.
2023 Newsletter
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A Changing of the Guard
Current and Past Events
News Highlights
2023
Professor Paul Burton takes part in a discussion on Tiny Houses becoming permanent dwellings on SBS The Feed. View here. April 2023
In this time of serious affordable housing shortages, Prof Paul Burton and Dr Heather Shearer share their research on Tiny Houses in The Conversation and Paul comments on Mamamia's podcast, The Quicky. March 2023
Dr Tony Matthews revisits an article he wrote with Dr Joanne Dolley on loneliness in Cities. Read here Sights on Cities.
Assoc Prof Cara Beal and Dr Melissa Jackson have been successful winning a $190k grant for Cape and Torres Strait Indigenous communities water conservation project in collaboration with Torres Cape Indigenous Council Alliance Inc. and 15 remote Indigenous community councils. April 2023
Congratulations to Dr Savindi Caldera on winning the 2023 Inspector-General of Emergency Management International Women's Day Award! May 2023
2022
ARC Linkage Grant Success
Project team:
Associate Professor Cara Beal (CRI and School PAM); Professor Rodney Stewart (CRI and School Engineereing and Built Environment); Associate Professor Kerry Bodle (Griffith Business School); Professor Brendan Mackey (Climate Action Beacon); Dr Martin Anda (Murdoch University); Mr Damien Postma (West Australian Water Corporation); Mr Mark David (Torres Strait Island Regional Council); Ms Cheryl Bailey (Indigenous Technology), Dr Melissa Jackson (CRI and Climate Action Beacon) will be the lead post doc.
Industry partners:
ERGON Energy Corporation Limited; Torres Strait Island Regional Council; Torres Strait Regional Authority; Power and Water Corporation; Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security; Centre for Appropriate Technology Limited; Water Corporation; Indigenous Technology Pty Ltd
Project Summary:
Co-designing a resilient water-energy toolbox with Indigenous communities. The aim is to collaboratively create a toolbox of innovative, community-based approaches for water and energy management in remote Australia. This project will combine digital and cultural approaches to create a novel set of tested and evaluated tools for engaging both community and service providers in transforming water and energy use practises in remote Indigenous communities. The key output will be an empirically-tested and user friendly water-energy toolbox tailored to reduce the currently extreme cost of supplying essential services to remote communities, as well as improving public health outcomes. Application of these outputs will significantly reduce demand on local water sources and diesel-generated energy use while creating a skill base for local employment opportunities. September 2022
Prof Matthew Burke has been continuing his long-standing advocacy to end the private Brisbane Airtrain concession. Matthew's position, now supported by Brisbane City Council, key business associations and much of the general public, continues to gather support and media coverage, such as in this Brisbane Times article. Prof Burke notes the Airtrain concession gives the operators exclusive public transport rights into and around the airport, prevents a lot of meaningful planning and system improvement, and has users pay a very steep fee for an average suburban train to the city. The concession times out after Brisbane hosts the Olympics and Paralympics in 2032.
NHRA Wicked Challenge - 2nd PLACE
A team of 6 PhD candidates from Griffith, Jane Toner, Sheridan Keegan, Ahmed Qasim, Lynn Lue-Kopman, Yunjin Wang, Manori Dissanayaka (Griffith University and CRI), and Cris Hernandez-Santin (RMIT) were recently awarded second place in the 2022 NHRA Wicked Challenge.
The proposal titled "Beacons of Hope", is a process to capture and contribute local knowledge and experience of disaster into Disaster Management Planning that is inclusive of the transient population. The Beacon of Hope is an artistic and interactive structure with both beauty and brains – a creative expression of place and a knowledge bank of local information to fill in the gaps for disaster preparedness. In times of disaster, the Beacon brings real time local information to and from the community by facilitating early warning systems, emergency messaging and feedback loop from community sensors. The Beacons of Hope proposal was informed by Regenerative design, Biomimicry, and creative place-making, while responding to the SENDAI framework for disaster risk reduction.
The team had a host of mentors: Dr Kimberley Reis, Professor Anne Roiko, Dr Nancy Spencer, A/Professor Jamie Ranse, Dr Allison Rifai, Dr Savindi Caldera, Adj Professor Iain MacKenzie, Professor Cheryl Desha. Details of the challenge here.
2022
Professor Hong Guan’s co-authored book has won the China New Development Awards, announced on 1 August 2022 at the awards ceremony at Springer Nature’s Beijing office. The shortlisted books showcase the most impactful sustainable development research from China published by Springer Nature in 2021. Lu XZ, Guan H (2021), Earthquake Disaster Simulation of Civil Infrastructures: From Tall Buildings to Urban Areas, Science Press Beijing, Springer, 934p. ISBN: 978-981-15-9531-8 (Print) 978-981-15-9532-5 (eBook). August 2022
Blog post- How public art can reinvigorate Australia’s landscape. Dr Tony Matthews and Sophie Gadaloff. August 2022
Building on Griffith's strategic partnership with APAC Network, Dr Tony Matthews is developing a new television series called Visionary Cities. In addition to editorial and production roles, Dr Matthews will host each episode. Weekly episodes are planned, broadcasting via terrestrial, digital and online platforms across the Asia Pacific. July 2022
This year saw 9 entries for the 3MT competition. As usual in our wonderfully diverse Institute, we had a breadth of speakers talking about research ranging from therapeutic hospital gardens to foot bridges, sustainable large stadiums to sustainable food systems. Congratulations go to:
- Madison Bland - Planning for Active Transport: The planning and funding of walking and cycling infrastructure
- Runner-up - Katharina Nieberler-Walker- Therapeutic hospital gardens.
- Highly Commended was Majed Abu Seif's presentation, Trees on Buildings, Investigating opportunities and challenges for implementation. Both Madison and Katharina competed in the Sciences Group finals. July 2022
2021
"Is it time to go regional?" Dr Tony Matthews speaks about the post covid world with Phil Tarrant of Smart Property Investment. Listen here. February 2021
"Why e-bikes can succeed where earlier bike schemes failed" CRI HDR student Madison Bland explains in this Conversation article with fellow student Ben Kaufman and Dr Abraham Leung. Read The Conversation article here. February 2021
Associate Professor Matthew Burke discusses the need for a light rail system on the Sunshine Coast, while the locals have differing views. Read The ABC News article here. Feb 2021
Associate Professor Cara Beal led the community water demand management component of the Sustainable Water and Wastewater Management Plan which won the Australian Water Association award for the Victorian Infrastructure Project Innovation Award (Regional). The project is now up for the National Infrastructure Project Innovation Award (Regional) to be announced at Ozwater next month. View more information on this project which was undertaken in the Torres Strait Islands here. March 2021
"Cities will get smarter but its citizens must too" Dr Tony Matthews discusses the rise of digitisation and AI with The Age. March 2021
2021 World Science Festival Brisbane and the Queensland Museum hosted a conversation on Cities 2060, why is it important to plan for 2060 now? Prof Paul Burton and Dr Tony Matthews joined the conversation which has been recorded for viewing here. May 2021
Professor Paul Burton speaks with ABC Radio Gold Coast's Matt Webber about what the future has in store for the City of Gold Coast. Listen here at 42:30. June 2021
Senior planner at ARUP, Nicole Bennetts, kicks off her Hustle and Bustle podcasts interviewing Prof Paul Burton on the Gold Coast; it's history, growth, and future planning. Listen here
A ‘third space’ is vital for our wellbeing. Here’s how to create one at home. Dr Tony Matthews explains in this Sydney Morning Herald article. August 2021
Assoc. Professor Cara Beal and colleagues have created a children's book, 'Aunty Mati, the water-saving super hero'. Kura’s adventures take place on one of the many islands in Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait). This book is aimed at Primary School children to start a fun conversation about the importance of being water-efficient in your community. November 2021. Read more here
Dr Abraham Leung won the $240,000 Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellow grant from the Queensland Government. The project titled Transforming Queensland Tourism with Micro-Transport also attracted additional cash and in-kind funding for a total project value of almost $815,000. He and the research team at CRI are looking into a new phenomenon that is gathering pace worldwide – Mobility as Service, which enables users to plan, book and pay for transport and other services using a single platform, in particular at its application for tourism. His plan is to trial and test the platform in Townsville and Brisbane, with industry partners from Department of Transport and Main Roads, Brisbane City Council, Townsville City Council, Neuron Mobility and Beam Mobility. November 2021
Professor Scott Baum is part of a national research project, the Healthy Environments and Lives network, recently awarded $10M by the Federal Health Minister to build resilience in environmental change. The project will run over 5 years and is led by ANU with 28 other institutions participating. November 2021
The first IAHR Queensland Young Professional Network conference was an opportunity for young researchers (such as PhD students in the early stages of their candidature) to present their research outputs and ideas to a network of like-minded academic and industry professionals, in a relaxed and constructive environment. 1st IAHR YPN Conference December 2021
2020
Why are tiny homes growing in popularity? Dr Heather Shearer joins the conversation on ABC Radio Perth. Listen here Jan 2020
Dr Heather Shearer speaks to the pros and cons of living in a 'Tiny House' in this Conversation article. Jan 2020
Paul Burton chats with Jonathan Green from ABC Radio National's Blueprint, about global supply chain interruption caused by panic buying and it's effects during covid-19. Listen here Aug 2020
Paul Burton speaks to Gold Coast Bulletin's Ann Wason-Moore on South East Queensland's future possibilities and hurdles post covid-19. Listen here Aug 2020
Crowded House or Uncrowded House? Paul Burton weighs up the pros and cons in the Sydney Morning Herald. Sept 2020
Dr Johanna Nalau celebrates her 2020 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award. View here
Professor Scott Baum writes about 'The gig economy – a shameful failure of the neoliberal project' on Bill Mitchell's Modern Monetary Theory blog. Read here December 2020
Beware new home buyers! Dr Tony Matthews explains how the portrayal of glamourous new housing estates is not all it's cracked up to be. Read more December 2020
Dr Tony Matthews recorded a feature on cities after Covid with ABC RN. It will be broadcast in late-Oct/early-Nov on 'Future Tense'. Listen here November 2020
Dr Johanna Nalau spoke to Canada's Vin Nelson on Multi-hazards: - The State of Adaptation Science in Australia and Beyond. Listen here October 2020
Professor Scott Baum has been busy in the media:
What the QLD Treasurer doesn't want to tell you on the jobless figures
One size fits all promises won't save electorates
Prosperity and Distress: The Socio-Economic Vitality of Queensland Electorates
Hi-vis haute couture impossible to miss, but not always the ideal fit
2018
Natural Connectors: Biophilic design takes room - Cheryl Desha et al discuss the importance of biophilic design in all aspects of our lives. Read the article in Modern Green Homes Sanctuary issue. - Dec 2018
Professor Paul Burton discusses the effects of a growing population and the need for expansion of public transport on the Gold Coast. Read ABC article here - Nov 2018
Spills and city deals: what Turnbull's urban policy has achieved, and where to from here - Professor Paul Burton comments on City Deals, how the concept worked and where is it heading. Read The Conversation article here - 27 August 2018
DFAT funding success - Dr Cara Beal is the Principal Investigator of a $1.2M collaborative project awarded by DFAT through the Water for Women Fund.- Aug 2018
Loneliness in cities - Dr Tony Matthews and Cities PhD student, Joanne Dolley, write about 'third places', what they are and how they may be able to help overcome the rising problem of loneliness in the city, something that is commonplace worldwide. See what they have to say in their article in The Conversation - March 2018
Vale Patrick Troy AO - Professor Paul Burton pays tribute to Patrick Troy. Read here - July 2018
2019
11TH Annual Australian Network of Structural Health Monitoring (ANSHM) Workshop. This Annual Workshop series has been organised by the Australian Network of Structural Health Monitoring (ANSHM). Griffith University hosted its 11th Workshop to mark the 10th Anniversary of ANSHM. More information here
Associate Professor Cara Beal has published findings from the Remote and Isolated Communities Essential Services Project (RICES). RICES is the first of it's kind in Australia with the project combining smart metering energy and water technology with community-based efficiency strategies to achieve reductions in the water and energy use in remote and isolated communities. More information and final report can be found here. Nov 2019
No congestion-busting benefit from Brisbane's $10 billion toll roads - Associate Professor Matt Burke explains in this Brisbane Times article. Oct 2019'Climigration': when communities must move because of climate change - Dr Tony Matthews discusses what happens when communities have to move due to extreme climate events. Read the full article in The Conversation Sept 2019
Associate Professor Sacha Reid has co-authored with Dr Nicole Johnston (Deakin University) the report 'An Examination of Building Defects in Residential Multi-owned Properties' which was referred to in the ABC four Corners story 'Cracking Up" . Read here. Aug 2019
Dr Tony Matthews talks on Ockhams' Razor, ABC Radio National, as part of the World Science Festival Brisbane 2019. Have a listen to 'Why aren't we living in sustainable cities?'
Dr Johanna Nalau and Maggie Muurmans were recently recognised during the 2019 International Womens Day celebrations for their remarkable work in climate change and nature conservation. Read We are Gold Coast article March 2019
Cities News
Griffith planners and students scoop up industry awards
30 Nov 2023
Clean sweep continues at the Minister’s Planning Awards.
New interactive report shows financial vulnerability hotspots across Australia
31 Oct 2023
The newly released CofFEE Financial Resilience Barometer reveals locations experiencing hardship...
‘Oystertecture’ builds a pathway to SWELL for architects
12 Sep 2023
Architects share stage amongst more than 70 artists at this year’s Gold Coast sculpture event.
Improving water access in remote and isolated communities
22 Mar 2023
Griffith University contributed to a global review highlighting the effects of racism, social...
Cost savings and consumer ease drives sustainable transport solutions at...
01 Mar 2023
Griffith University is trialing a suite of sustainable transport technologies to alleviate parking...
Half-century of cyclone data puts researchers on track to explore future risks
19 Jan 2023
Fifty years of BOM data reveals unusual characteristics and trends of tropical cyclones from Coral...
Griffith University welcomes new Professor of Practice — Disaster Management
19 Jan 2023
Griffith University’s disaster management credentials have been boosted following the appointment...
Long-running success continues for Griffith planning stars
15 Nov 2022
Griffith students and graduates dominate awards for third year running.