Department of Environment, Science and Innovation

It's National #BiodiversityMonth 🌏   Queensland is Australia's most biologically diverse state with 13 terrestrial and 14 marine bioregions. Our state also supports over 1,000 ecosystem types, including rainforests, savannas, rangelands, dry tropics, wetlands, and coastal areas 🤯   Biodiversity and the health of our ecosystems can affect the quality of water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breathe 🙌🍃 and our vision is that ‘Nature is actively supported to thrive in Queensland’.   A new Performance Framework is being proposed for Queensland’s Biodiversity Strategy with ambitious targets, actions and indicators to evaluate progress over time. You can have your say on the draft Framework: https://lnkd.in/gEhP5zcC   Consultation closes 5pm on 11 September 2024.   #QueenslandEnvironment

📢 Job Opportunity Alert 📢 1️⃣ Senior Ranger 2️⃣ Senior Environmental Officer   More info in the comments below 👇   #QueenslandEnvironment

Applications for the 2025 Engaging Science Grants are now open! 📢 Every year we offer grants of up to $20,000 designed to support teachers, scientists, organisations, citizen science groups and community groups to deliver STEM-based events or educational and engagement activities or projects to increase participation in science-based activities and engagement between scientists and the whole community ⚛🚀 This year we're looking for applications that strongly align with the community pillar goals: Increase public awareness and appreciation of science and innovation, including acknowledgement of First Nations cultural knowledge in local communities and its connections to western science. Promote the importance of science literacy and critical thinking skills. Grow opportunities for scientists to engage with the community. Promote STEM careers to increase the pipeline for the jobs of the future. Applications close at 4pm on Friday 27 September. To learn more and apply, visit 👉 https://lnkd.in/gQf9ymJy #QueenslandScience

Happy #NationalWattleDay 💛 The wattle (otherwise known as the Acacia species) is one of Australia's most recognisable plants with around 985 of the 1380 known species calling Australia home and almost 300 of those can be found in sunny Queensland 🌞 (as represented by each dot on the below image). You can learn more about the wattle and much more at the Queensland Herbarium, the centre for research and information on Queensland ecosystems, plants and fungi. A big shout out to our amazing DES scientists there who contribute to plant specimen collection, species discovery, and provide the essential information needed for conservation assessment and management. If you're a plant fanatic 🌿 you can find out more about the Queensland Herbarium here: https://lnkd.in/giArzSNH or you can take a virtual tour 👀🔎 here: https://lnkd.in/dNQkVcci #QueenslandEnvironment

This week is World Water Week! 💧 To celebrate, we're announcing this year's projects for the Queensland Water Modelling Network (QWMN). Every year, we invite submissions for innovative, collaborative solutions to one or more of the yearly QWMN water modelling challenges to improve the state’s capacity to model the quantity and quality of its surface water and groundwater resources. The successful projects are chosen on the basis that they will deliver critical solutions to some of Queensland’s most pressing water problems and roll out innovative ways to manage our waterways better in partnership with First Nations groups 🤝 This year's successful projects are: 🔹 Streambank erosion and floodplain deposition modelling 🔹 Facilitating Traditional Owner led catchment repair using the Scenario Tool 🔹 A review of the science and modelling tools for improved assessment of aquaculture discharge 🔹 Resilience of K’gari’s lake systems to climate variability 🔹 Developing a process to determine cultural flows in needs for Queensland water planning Congratulations to these successful projects for their clear benefits and strong alignment with our goals. We also acknowledge the hard work behind every submission not selected this time and we look forward to seeing these ideas developed further in the future. To find out more about these projects, visit: https://lnkd.in/gXnK29cm #QueenslandScience #WWWeek

Are you a confident Principal Lawyer with more than six years post admission experience who wants to head-up a small team responsible for managing high-profile and targeted litigation matters? 🐢   If your expertise is undertaking advice and litigation related to regulatory enforcement, criminal or administrative law and you have experience in leading and managing a team of lawyers we want to hear from you. 🔍 In this role, you will be: 👉 Leading pivotal legal proceedings across multiple jurisdictions. 👉 Contributing to high-profile environmental cases. 👉 Delivering expert legal advice and managing complex litigation. 👉 Mentoring the next generation of legal professionals. Interested in making meaningful impact within Queensland's legal and environmental landscape? Apply: https://lnkd.in/gaN65eSZ

Our Marine Park Regulations are there for a reason. A 50-year-old Brisbane man has been fined $2,500 for illegal fishing in a green zone. Green zones in marine parks are designated as ‘look but don’t take’ areas, where activities such as fishing and collecting are prohibited. 🚫 The man was found fishing in the Tripcony Bight-Long Island green zone on Bribie Island, Moreton Bay Marine Park, an area crucial for protecting marine species like dugongs, dolphins, and endangered sea turtles. He was charged with violating marine park regulations and required to pay an additional $301.40 in legal and court costs. 👮♂️ Our Principal Ranger Steve Hoseck stresses the importance of adhering to marine park regulations: “This court ruling underscores the necessity for fishers to be fully aware of restricted zones. Our Marine Parks Southern Qld app is a valuable tool for identifying green zones and ‘go slow’ zones in Great Sandy and Moreton Bay marine parks.” We strongly encourage the use of our free app, available on Apple and Android, to ensure compliance with marine park regulations. Rangers are actively monitoring these areas to enforce rules.

Queensland’s diverse landscapes, from rainforests to outback, are home to vital protected areas that safeguard our unique wildlife and ecosystems. 🦘🌍 Key reasons to value these areas: Protects nearly 1,000 at-risk species, crucial for their survival. 🌳 Acts as a carbon sink and aids in disaster risk reduction. 🌱 Supports First Nations peoples' connection to Country and traditional practices. 🛖 Offers recreational spaces that enhance well-being. 🌞 Boosts local economies through tourism and conservation jobs. 💼 Queensland’s protected areas cover over 14.5 million hectares, enriching our state’s natural and cultural heritage. Discover more about these vital spaces and their benefits! 📲 Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gSfNr-X4

🔬 Science & Innovation for Queensland’s future 🌟 Science and Innovation are key to Queensland’s prosperity, benefiting our environment, economy, and people. The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation is driving this with the Future Queensland Science Strategy 2024–2029, aiming to: 🔹 Grow our science sector by boost commercial opportunities, decarbonisation, and innovation in agriculture, health, and mining. 🔹 Attract talent by developing and retaining a skilled workforce, including First Nations talent. 🔹 Enhance infrastructure and build world-class scientific facilities and regional precincts. 🔹 Foster partnerships by collaborating with research, industry, and First Nations communities. 🔹 Support translation to turn scientific research into practical solutions and investments. 🔹 Engage the community by increasing science literacy and promote STEM careers. With investments like $89.7M for Quantum Technologies and $41M for research infrastructure, Queensland is set to lead in global science outcomes. 🌍 For more details, check out https://lnkd.in/gHjJzxcy

The conservation work happening across our state has always been vital. For science in Queensland, one piece of work included an impressive 10-year study led by Dr Ross Dwyer from the University of the Sunshine Coast and DES scientist, Dr Carley Kilpatrick, from our Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Services Team. 🦈 Over 10 years, the researchers tagged and tracked 34 grey nurse sharks migrating between the Great Barrier Reef and southern NSW. This enormous effort by the research team has resulted in valuable data that can inform decision-making for species recovery. 💪  🌊 The research showed that there were two key threats for this critically endangered species, which has only about 400 breeding animals left in the wild. 👉 1. Grey nurse sharks are at risk of being caught in commercial or recreational fishing equipment, or shark control nets outside of marine protected areas. 👉 2. Grey nurse sharks have a slower-than-expected reproductive rate, with females not breeding until they are at least nine years old. This results in a slow recovery rate for the population. 🦈 These findings from the research will inform the design of marine area networks to ensure these areas offer maximum protection benefits for this important species. This research received funding from the Department of Environment and Science, Australian Government, and more.