Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute
MSSI facilitates interdisciplinary sustainability research across faculties and centres at the University of Melbourne, and promotes research in a way that maximises engagement and impact. MSSI emphasises the contribution of the social sciences and humanities to understanding and addressing sustainability and resilience challenges.
Research and Engagement
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Future Cities
The Future Cities Research Cluster is a whole-of-university research group seeking to investigate and respond to the challenges facing urban environments.
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The Climate Reality Project
The Climate Reality Project’s mission is to catalyse a global solution to the climate crisis.
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Gippsland Smart Specialisation Strategy
Taking a place based approach to innovation and sustainable regional development working with and for the local community.
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Australian Bushfire Prevention
This project has three broad integrated objectives that aim to reduce the occurrence of bushfire arson.
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Seed Funded Projects 2020
Four diverse projects that bring together interdisciplinary teams with a wide range of external partners were successful in securing MSSI seed funding in 2020.
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Sustainable Food Systems
Promoting environmentally sustainable, healthy and socially equitable food systems at the University of Melbourne.
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Implementing the Paris Climate Agreement
This strategic engagement program has strengthened public discussion and applied research translation on international climate negotiations issues.
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Suburban Futures
How can the suburbs be transformed to increase resilience in challenging times? Do we need radical new urban imaginaries to guide this transition?
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Sustainable Consumption beyond the Growth Economy
This innovative research program explores the problematic issues of our current growth-orientated economy.
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Environmental Arts and Humanities Network
A post-disciplinary space for stories and conversations about art-activist-academic thinking-making-being to support living systems and multispecies justice.
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Seed Funded Projects 2018/19
Five diverse projects were successful in securing Climate Transformations seed funding for 2018/19.
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Collaborative Governance under Austerity: an eight city comparative case study
The Melbourne case study focused on the revitalisation process of Central Dandenong.
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Social Sustainability
Exploring the policy and planning links between land use, transport, environmental sustainability, social inclusion and wellbeing.
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The Disability Inclusive City
Investigating the impacts of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) on Australia’s cities and urban regions.
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Indigenous Land and Culture
Ensuring the protection of iconic natural areas and cultural values.
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Seed Funded Projects 2019/20
Three projects were successful in securing Climate Transformations seed funding for 2019/20.
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New Urban Levers to Address Homelessness
What new urban levers can the Victorian state rapidly deploy to address Melbourne's homelessness crisis?
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Regional Arts Collaboration
Artists connect with regional communities to explore resilience in the face of social and environmental change.
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Australian Coal Transitions: Research and Dialogue on the Future of Coal
Strong global climate change mitigation will require a significant decline in coal use.
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Seed Funded Projects 2021
Four diverse projects that bring together interdisciplinary teams were successful in securing MSSI seed funding in 2021.
Research Impact
At MSSI we want our research to make a difference. We want our work to have an impact beyond the University, and we want to capture that impact in a strategic way. We’ve started generating Impact Case Studies for some of our research projects, to show how we go about translating research into action.
It is important to us that our research is readily accessible to both the public and the broader research community. All MSSI publications are available for download without charge.
Recent publications
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Strategic Planning for Melbourne's Green Wedges
RESEARCH PAPER
This paper highlights some critical trade-offs between competing land uses in the Green Wedges, particularly where areas with high biodiversity values are involved. -
Growing a Clean Economy: Opportunities for Australian States and Territories
This Discussion Paper presents opportunities for state and territory-level governments to work towards fostering strong economies that facilitate deep emissions reductions by 2050.
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Hope and Courage in the Climate Crisis
BOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS
Explores how we can remain hopeful and courageous in the face of the climate emergency. -
MSSI Annual Report 2020
MSSI ANNUAL REPORT
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Urban Awakenings: Disturbance and Enchantment in the Industrial City
BOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS
Based on walks around their home city, the authors find new ways of seeing and understanding urban life in the 21st century. -
Developing and Implementing an Approach to Regional Innovation and Development in Gippsland
BOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS
This report outlines the achievements of the first phase of the Gippsland Smart Specialisation Strategy (GS3). -
Benchmarking Urban Exchanges: Lessons for Melbourne
RESEARCH PAPER
This benchmarking report outlines the potential future themes and activities to foster Melbourne’s transition toward a more sustainable and healthier city. -
Feeling the Heat
BOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS
This book connects international stories on bushfires to provide a unified strategic perspective on the prevention of wildfire ignition. -
MSSI Annual Report 2019
MSSI ANNUAL REPORT
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Land-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal Options for Victoria
This paper finds that there is potential for Victoria's land sector to make a contribution to climate change mitigation through carbon dioxide removal, with significant...
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EU Study Mission: Innovation Systems in Action
BOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS
Place-based regional innovation in Netherlands and Germany... -
MSSI Oration 3: Renewing democracy in a time of environmental crisis
PUBLIC LECTURE PAPER
Delivered by Dr Rebecca Huntley, one of Australia's foremost researchers on social trends. -
Central Dandenong: Australia's comeback city? Lessons about revitalisation for diverse places
BOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS
This Research Briefing shares lessons learnt about the experience of revitalisation in Central Dandenong, Melbourne. -
Growing a Clean Economy: Opportunities for Australian States and Territories
BOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS
This Discussion Paper presents opportunities for state and territory-level governments to work towards fostering strong economies that facilitate deep emissions reductions by 2050. -
Rein-stating Power – Decarbonisation, Decentralisation and Digitalisation in Electricity
PUBLIC LECTURE PAPER
Edited transcript from the Fay Gale Memorial Lecture, presented by Sangeetha Chandrashekeran at the IAG Conference in Hobart, July 2019. -
Healthy and Sustainable Cities
BOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS
Issues and opportunities in Melbourne’s knowledge system to transition to a healthy and sustainable city... -
MSSI Oration 2: Resilience in the face of sustainability crises
PUBLIC LECTURE PAPER
Prof Lars Coenen presented the second MSSI Oration titled, Resilience in the face of sustainability crises: Is innovation the problem or the answer? -
Australia's Clean Economy Future: Costs and Benefits
This cost-benefit analysis finds that developing clean economies, whilst tackling climate change will actually deliver economic benefits.
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Melbourne: How big, how fast and at what cost?
RESEARCH PAPER
Whilst Melbourne has previously been awarded the most ‘liveable city’, it is fast becoming an economically and socially polarised city. Cheaper housing may attract people... -
MSSI Annual Report 2018
MSSI ANNUAL REPORT
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Degrowth 'from below'? The role of urban social movements in a post-capitalist transition
RESEARCH PAPER
Capitalism’s limitless growth on a finite planet means the economic system we take for granted could end soon. If so, transformative and sustainable change must... -
Degrowth in the Suburbs: A Radical Urban Imaginary
BOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS
This book explores how to make the vast suburban landscapes that ring the globe safe and sustainable in the face of planetary ecological crisis. -
Melbourne Sustainability
ISSUES PAPER
Transforming research for a sustainable society. Patrick Troy contributes to a debate about the future of urban life in a situation where the capacities of... -
Transforming economy, church and society
PUBLIC LECTURE PAPER
Edited transcripts by Prof Ross Garnaut, Prof John Langmore, Dr Tim Thornton and Dr Ian Barns, from the Eco-transitions workshop.
Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute (MSSI) acknowledge the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung Peoples of the Kulin Nation as the traditional owners of the unceded land on which the University stands and respectfully recognise Elders past and present.
MSSI was established in 2009 as an Interdisciplinary Research Institute at the University of Melbourne. Our approach includes an emphasis on the contribution of the social sciences to understanding and addressing sustainability and resilience challenges. We are hosted by the Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning.
Our goals are to enable and support:
- University of Melbourne, Australian, and international research linkages and partnerships
- Development and implementation of interdisciplinary research projects
- Production and dissemination of high impact publications and research findings
- Post-graduate research and learning
- Public engagement and debate
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Institute staff
Our team of academic, research and professional staff members
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Advisory Board
MSSI enjoys the support of a diverse and vibrant Advisory Board of experts, leaders and champions of sustainability
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Executive Committee
The MSSI Executive Committee consists of academic faculty representatives who provide advice to the Director and act as a conduit for communications across the University
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Honoraries and Associates
MSSI benefits from the knowledge, influence and skills of our Honorary Fellows and Associates
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Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute
- Address
- Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute
Level 3, Melbourne School of Design (Bldg 133)
Masson Road, The University of Melbourne
Parkville Victoria 3010
Australia - mssi-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au
- Phone
- +61 (03) 9035 8235
- @MSSIMelb
Click here for a University of Melbourne Parkville Campus Map, Building No. 133
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All enquiries about admission to internships, exchanges or courses, including Masters and PhD, should be sent to the relevant faculty or school at the University.