In 2010, the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the International Social Science Council (ISSC) published their Grand Challenges in Global Sustainability Research, seeking to mobilise researchers in a 10-year scientific effort to address what they call the “grand challenges in global sustainability”. In this paper, we ask whether these Grand Challenges are relevant to Australian environmental management. We examine this from two angles, insights from public perception surveys, and our own survey data. Public attitudes surveys indicate public ambiguity on the knowledge base, a finding that implies an immediate need for improved public communication of scientific knowledge. Our on-line survey, attached to a conference, Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges, targeted Australian environmental managers and scientists’ views on critical issues. The results mirrored global scientists’ views on the need to find ways for the scientific, social and political communities to work together to develop innovative approaches to solving future environmental concerns. Importantly, we found that the specific responses were context and scale dependent, while highlighting the inherent tensions between maintaining production and consumption, and protection of resources and ecosystem services.
Based on recent molecular phylogenetic studies, the Old World bat family Miniopteridae, composed of species in the genus Miniopterus , has been shown to contain complex paraphyletic species, many of which are cryptic based on convergent morphological characters. Herein we resolve the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of the species complex M . manavi on Madagascar and in the Comoro Archipelago, where these animals occur in different bioclimatic zones. First using mitochondrial cytochrome‐ b sequence data to define clades and then morphology to corroborate the molecular data, including comparisons to type specimens, we demonstrate that animals identified as this taxon are a minimum of three species: M . manavi sensu stricto occurs in at least the central portion of the Central Highlands; M . griveaudi has a broad distribution in lowland northern and central western Madagascar and the Comoros (Anjouan and Grande Comore), and M . aelleni sp. n. has been found in northern and western Madagascar and the Comoros (Anjouan). In each case, these three clades were genetically divergent and monophyletic and the taxa are diagnosable based on different external and craniodental characters. One aspect that helped to define the systematics of this group was isolation of DNA from one of the paratypes of M. manavi collected in 1896 and new topotypic material. Miniopterus manavi is most closely allied to a recently described species, M. petersoni . At several localities, M . griveaudi and M . aelleni have been found in strict sympatry, and together with M. manavi sensu stricto show considerable convergence in morphological characters, but are not immediate sister taxa. In defining and resolving the systematics of cryptic species, such as miniopterid bats, the process of defining clades with molecular tools, segregating the specimens accordingly, and identifying corroborative morphological characters has been notably efficient.
There is no citizen science without an engaged public. Yet little, if any, research has been done to determine how much public interest there is to participate. With increasing resources and effort going into citizen science projects, it is important to first understand if, why and under what circumstances or conditions the public want to become involved. This paper reports on an Australia-wide survey of 1145 marine users about their interest in marine citizen science. Using theories from social psychology and science communication, the online survey explored the interests, drivers and barriers for public participation in marine research. The results reveal very high interest, although differences between groups exist, and over 80% willing to volunteer several days (or more) a year to assist research. The type of research activities people were most interested in helping were collecting data, communicating findings, and analysing findings although between-group differences were found. Some of the perceived benefits were increasing my own knowledge, and increasing scientific knowledge. Other important considerations for project leaders include the ease of use of websites and apps, feedback from scientists, and which organisation the data is being collected by. Audience research such as this is usually overlooked but is an essential first step for the deliberate design of projects to enhance their effectiveness and engage broader audiences. By better understanding the interests of the target audience, along with their communication needs and preferences, citizen science planners will be able to tailor projects which result in greater impact for their investment.
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