Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions (ICEDS) - Understanding the Framing of Climate Adaptation in the Australian Media Landscape

This is an opportunity to improve understanding of climate adaptation discourses in the Australian media landscape.

label Opportunity type

Student opportunity type

College approved Internship
schedule Application date
Applications open/close
14 Mar 2024 | 9am - 2 Apr 2024 | 11:59pm
school Level

Degree level

Bachelor
Master

About

The Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions connects people with climate, energy, and disaster-risk research from The Australian National University. Our goal is to advance innovative solutions to address climate change, energy system transitions, and disasters. We facilitate integrated approaches to research, teaching, and policy engagement across disciplines.

ICEDS represents more than 600 climate, energy and disaster-risk related researchers across ANU, including academics, visiting fellows / honorary roles and PhD students. Our team comprises over 15 professional staff members, including three additional research roles supported by funding external to ANU.

Within ICEDS, the adaptation research stream aims to catalyse collaboration between research, industry and government agencies interested in creating pathways towards transformative adaptation action both locally and in the Asia-Pacific. The work stream includes collaborative and interdisciplinary partnerships and research on agricultural adaptation, livelihoods, and landscape transformations. The associated research design and methodologies are devised with ethical engagement, reciprocal learning, and reflexivity when undertaking adaptation research. Complementing locally engaged and community-based approaches, media and governance research is currently underway to examine different values, assumptions, and perspectives on how climate adaptation is represented and communicated to diverse audiences and adaptation responses.

Project: Understanding the Framing of Climate Adaptation in the Australian Media Landscape

Internship details

Internship Availability

Semester 2, 2024

Internship Discipline/s

Solid interest in climate change mitigation and adaptation

Internship Level

3rd yr undergraduate or postgraduate coursework only

Available to International Students

Yes

Preferred Project Skills:

  • Prior engagement, background or literacy with climate science or climate policy
  • Skills or strong interest in learning about how climate science and policy is represented in mainstream or non-mainstream media sources

Clearances Required

No

Host Supervisor

Kate Lawrence

Climate Program Manager

E: Kate.Lawrence@anu.edu.au 

T: 02 6125 9200

Location

ICEDS

HC Coombs Building, Room 2.173

ANU

Project Opportunities/Benefits for the Intern

The intern will receive the opportunity to be a part of the Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions (ICEDS). ICEDS initiates and supports the development of transdisciplinary research teams across ANU with the aim of ensuring broad societal impact, securing long-term, large-scale research funding as well as leading outreach, policy engagement, facilitation and coordination roles.

Summary:

Australia's 2022 State of the Climate report highlights the significant impact of accelerated weather and climate extremes on communities and ecosystems, including extreme heat, heavy rainfall, coastal inundation, and drought. These changes are evident in increased bushfire intensity, heatwave effects, and major events, placing increasing strain on Australian communities and pressure on all parts of society, including health, agriculture and food systems. Addressing these challenges requires informed decision-making, widespread public awareness of scientific evidence and ethical considerations, and collaboration across all levels of government and society.

This project aims to improve understanding of climate adaptation discourses in the Australian media landscape.  An intern will critically analyse how news media sources frame climate risks and impacts, and portray actors, institutions, and activities. This will identify what adaptation issues, agendas, and solutions are being championed, what might be missing or needed, and policy implications.

Project outputs will include a media dataset (with an option for AI analysis), a report or presentation of findings (exploring creative media options), and an article for the ICEDS website (developed collaboratively).