ecoFuturists

Gardens come in many different shapes and sizes. From formal gardens that favor symmetry and straight lines, to edible herb gardens that provide fresh produce for the dining table, gardening is a vast and varied pastime for many around the world. 

Yet, despite their differences, many gardens grow amongst an undertone of cleanliness and control. 

Jon Davies and Steve Williams are two self-described ‘punk urban gardeners’ whose approach to our natural world challenges the confines of both traditional and modern gardening. Together, they run Wild City Studio, a platform for creating places, sharing ideas and building connections that strengthen the connection between people and the urban environment.

In this episode, Jon and Steve join Professor Andy Lowe in the ecoFuturists studio for a virtual conversation from their home in North London. Together, they dig deep into what it means to be a punk urban gardener, unpack Jon and Steve’s new book “Wild City” and explore how true appreciation of our environment sometimes requires working with nature, rather than against it. 

Want to read the full book by Wild City Studio? Visit their website: https://wildcitystudio.com

Join the discussion! Like, comment and subscribe to our podcast and unlock your inner ‘ecoFuturist’. 

Have a question or would like more information? Connect with us at [email protected]

In March of 2025, dead marine creatures began to wash up on the shores of South Australia, sparking concern amongst communities, governments and scientists alike. 

The cause? A harmful algal bloom. 

In the months that followed, the bloom spread across much of South Australia’s coast, decimating shellfish reefs, impacting iconic populations like the Giant Australian Cuttlefish, and leaving lasting effects on community mental wellbeing. 

But despite the undeniable devastation that it wreaked on our marine environment, the bloom has largely disappeared from everyday discussion, leaving an important question unanswered: 

What happens next? 

In this episode of ecoFuturists, Professor Andy Lowe is joined by eminent marine scientists Zoe Doubleday and Dominic McAfee as they dive beneath the surface of the HAB to uncover what happened and how we can help our marine ecosystems recover. 

Citizen science has been an important piece in this environmental puzzle. Using programs like iNaturalist, communities can record potentially HAB-related incidents and contribute to the recovery of our shorelines.

Visit iNaturalist.com.au to learn more: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/sa-marine-mortality-events-2025-2026

Get the latest updates on the Harmful Algal Bloom at: https://www.algalbloom.sa.gov.au

Join the discussion! Leave us a comment or question and subscribe to our podcast to ensure you don’t miss a thing.

H5N1 bird flu is now on mainland Australia. With a deadly track record around the globe, we know the dangers that this virus poses to our wildlife and precious ecosystems. 

But what can we do about it? 

In the first ecoFuturists episode of 2026, host Professor Andy Lowe chats with wildlife veterinarian Wayne Boardman and Chair of Green Adelaide and science communicator extraordinaire Chris Daniels to explore what bird flu is, what we can expect to see in the future, and how communities can help to protect our iconic wildlife during this panzootic. 

With H5 bird flu cases increasing in Australia, it is important to follow current advice to help communities and wildlife stay safe.

Visit https://www.agriculture.gov.au/campaigns/birdflu for the latest advice and updates;

Avoid contact with sick wildlife, Record the location, type and number of animals, and Report any potential signs of bird flu to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888

ecoFuturists is produced by the Environment Institute at Adelaide University

If you’ve ever wondered how you can make an impact in the rapidly worsening biodiversity crisis, then this episode is a must-watch.

In this episode of eco Futurists, host Prof Andy Lowe is joined by John Scanlon, a global conservation leader who’s dedicated his career to protecting wildlife and ecosystems. From combating the illegal ivory trade to influencing international conservation policies, John’s work shows that one person truly can make a difference.

But to turn the tide, we need more people like him. In many ways this is a ‘how to’ episode on a life devoted to biodiversity conservation.

* video cast available on Spotify 

https://tinyurl.com/45ft9epy 

YouTube 

https://www.youtube.com/@EcoFuturists

Eco Futurists is supported by the Environment Institute at Adelaide University.

Learn More

John Scanlon 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E._Scanlon

Elephant Protection Initiative 

https://www.elephantprotectioninitiative.org/

ADM Capital Foundation 

https://www.admcf.org/

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 

https://cites.org/eng

International Council of Environmental Law 

https://icelinternational.org/

International Unions for conservation of Nature (IUCN) 

https://iucn.org/

You can contact Eco Futurists podcast ⁠[email protected]⁠

Enjoying the show? Rate, review, and share it with your friends to help listeners like yourself explore their inner Eco Futurist.

The ABC TV series Eat The Invaders has sparked curiosity—and controversy—by asking a bold question: Can we eat our way out of Australia’s invasive species crisis?

Who better to answer this question than some of the creators of this wild and thought-provoking show, Matthew Bate and Poppy Fitzpatrick? In this episode, host Prof Andy Lowe celebrates their bold vision, of turning a complex environmental issue into a conversation-starter (or perhaps tasty appetiser) for everyone. 

From cane toads to cats, they took a fun, fresh approach to a topic that’s often met with frustration and fatigue. But here’s the catch though: while eating invasive species might make for great TV, science tells us it’s not going to be the miracle cure. So what is? Andy unpacks the hard reality of tackling this environmental crisis—where suppression strategies like targeted viruses and ecosystem restoration come into play.

One thing’s for sure: this series has people talking again, and we’re here to keep the conversation going. So, what do you think—would you put cane toad on your plate?

Andy and his colleague, Professor Phill Cassey, served as scientific advisors for the show, ensuring that the balance between entertainment and ecological accuracy was spot-on.

* video cast available on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/45ft9epy and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@EcoFuturists

Eco Futurists is supported by the Environment Institute at Adelaide University.

Learn More:

Book: Eat the Problem by Kirsha Kaechele of Monahttps://shop.mona.net.au/products/eat-the-problem?srsltid=AfmBOoqRQnzTe6kOsR_LR7_nxOYzB0jt67rVuEPVJy7s-aV4gVJnhOPf

Eat The Invaders on ABC iviewhttps://iview.abc.net.au/show/eat-the-invaders

Closer Productionshttps://closerproductions.com.au/episodic/eat-the-invaders

Adelaide University press release, Eat The Invaders https://www.adelaide.edu.au/newsroom/news/list/2025/01/03/university-academics-help-abc-host-eat-the-invaders

Professor Phill Casseyhttps://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/phill.cassey

You can contact Eco Futurists podcast at [email protected]⁠

Enjoying the show? Rate, review, and share it with your friends to help listeners like yourself explore their inner Eco Futurist.

We live in a time when algorithms track our every click through the media scape and keep feeding us similar information. So how do we know when we’re being duped? How do we ensure that the scientific ‘fact’ we’re consuming is, in fact, truthful, and how do we get science fact out there?

In this episode host Prof Andy Lowe and guest science communicator and ex-The Conversation editor Sarah Keenihan get real about cutting through the noise and identifying trustworthy science in a post truth world.

Eco Futurists is supported by the Environment Institute at Adelaide University.

Learn More:

Sarah Keenihan https://www.sarahkeenihan.com

Australian Science Media Centre https://www.smc.org.au

The Conversation https://theconversation.com/au

You can contact Eco Futurists podcast at [email protected]

Enjoying the show? Rate, review, and share it with your friends to help listeners like yourself explore their inner Eco Futurist.

When the continent of Australia was settled by Europeans they came with their cats, foxes, rabbits and any number of foreign animals.

It didn’t take long for these ‘invaders’ to destabilise delicate ecosystems and lead to a wave of the extinction amongst native animals. In this episode host Prof Andy Lowe is joined by Katherine Tuft https://tinyurl.com/mrxf6sy3 and Nathan Manders https://tinyurl.com/33hwtjv8 of Arid Recovery https://aridrecovery.org.au, an independent not-for-profit advancing conservation science for Australian threatened species in Roxby Downs South Australia.

Together, they explore the challenges and wins of the 25 years of Arid Recovery’s existence, and explore ideas for the future of conservation in the world’s arid lands. 

Learn More:

Arid Recovery https://aridrecovery.org.au 

Arid Recovery Sunset Tour https://www.roxbydowns.sa.gov.au/lifestyleandsport/visitor-information/attractions/arsunsettour 

Arid Recovery Education and School Visits https://aridrecovery.org.au/visit/education-and-group-visits  

You can contact Eco Futurists podcast at [email protected]

Enjoying the show? Rate, review, and share it with your friends to help listeners like yourself explore their inner Eco Futurist.

Whether they be nature parks in cities or urban areas in nature, what’s the process for navigating how cities and nature come together? How do people use and move through these spaces?

Host Prof Andy Lowe is joined by Matthew Skjonsberg, Director of the Praxis Institute in Switzerland, and author of Living Cities: Three Centuries of Years of Park Systems https://www.park-books.com/en/product/living-cities/1477?preorder=1  to explore the rich cultural history of park systems, as well as the challenges facing people in their stewardship of both cities and parks moving forward.

Eco Futurists is supported by the Environment Institute at Adelaide University.

Learn More: 

Book - Living Cities: Three Centuries of Years of Park Systems https://www.park-books.com/en/product/living-cities/1477?preorder=1

Governor’s Island Projecthttps://www.west8.com/projects/governors-island/ 

Madrid/Rio Riverfront Projecthttps://www.west8.com/projects/madrid-rio/ 

Exhibition - Water Designs: l’eau dessine la villehttps://www.epfl.ch/campus/art-culture/museum-exhibitions/archizoom/water-designs-leau-dessine-la-ville/ 

You can contact Eco Futurists podcast at [email protected]

Enjoying the show? Rate, review, and share it with your friends to help listeners like yourself explore their inner Eco Futurist.

They may not have research degrees or formal qualifications,but there are millions of people globally putting their hands up to and participating in Citizen Science projects.

Community science puts ordinary citizens front and center in often groundbreaking research, with amazing results.  In this episode host Prof Andy Lowe has a delightful conversation with Dr Erinn Fagen-Jeffries and Prof Frank Grützner about the lessons learned in the evolution of Citizen Science projects, echidna poo, and a new insect named ‘Oreo’. 

Eco Futurists is supported by the Environment Institute at Adelaide University.

Learn More:

Echidna CSI https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/research/citizen-science/echidna-csi/echidna-csi-mobile-app

Insect Investigators https://insectinvestigators.com.au

Sci Starter https://scistarter.org

Australian Citizen Science Association https://citizenscience.org.au

Dr Erinn Fagan-Fagan Jeffries https://www.erinnfagan-jeffries.com

You can contact Eco Futurists podcast at [email protected]

Enjoying the show? Rate, review, and share it with your friends to help listeners like yourself explore their inner Eco Futurist.

What is the Law's role, locally and internationally, in implementing good practises and emerging technologies to remedy declining biodiversity and a changing climate? Are legal systems too cumbersome to act with the urgency demanded by academia, community and industry?

In this stimulating episode we speak with Dr Phillipa McCormack and Dr Kerryn Brent.

Eco Futurists is supported by the Environment Institute at Adelaide University.

Previous episodes dealing with law:

Exotic plants and animals: the illegal wildlife trade happening right under your nose

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ecofuturists/episodes/Exotic-plants-and-animals-the-illegal-wildlife-trade-happening-right-under-your-nose-e28vvrp/a-aaarn51

What’s the currency of biodiversity?

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ecofuturists/episodes/Markets-for-nature--Whats-the-currency-of-biodiversity-e21peum/a-a9k9g49

Water: too much, too little, too dirty

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ecofuturists/episodes/Water-too-much--too-little--too-dirty-e23doak/a-a9p5t2u

Get In Touch:

You can contact Eco Futurists podcast at [email protected]

Enjoying the show? Rate, review, and share it with your friends to help listeners like yourself explore their inner Eco Futurist.