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We believe that environmental research - and teaching – should have an impact in and involve the community.

I hate the indifferent. I believe that living means taking sides. Those who really live cannot help being a citizen and a partisan. Indifference and apathy are parasitism, perversion, not life. That is why I hate the indifferent.Antonio Gramsci

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.Margaret Mead

These two quotes sum up the social change impetus that drives the research work ACE undertakes. We believe that environmental research - and teaching – should have an impact in and involve the community. We believe that key to understanding how to resolve today's overwhelming environmental problems is working with and understanding the diversity of communities and their responses to (and capacity to be part of) social and environmental decision making. The implementation of interdisciplinary projects and a commitment to learning how to build appropriate communications about adaptation, community and the environment is central to this endeavour.

The Adaptation, Community and Environment (ACE) Research Group is undertaking research projects that explore the dynamics between communities and environmental decision making. How do communities respond to and adapt to the challenges of climate change and urbanisation? Can the tensions between economic and environmental be resolved and in what way? How do drivers such as conflict, values, gender, culture and perception influence how different groups both adopt and participate in environmental decision making and programs? Our specific goal is to do research that will assist in current decision making, that it is translated back into the community and has genuine impact.

Our working principle is to work and conduct research ‘with’ and ‘for’ communities not ‘on’ communities.