Women have long been active participants in the Royal Society of Victoria and Professor Lynne Selwood has been elected its first female president. Zoe Nikakis reports.

At a time when farmers in the drought-ravaged Campaspe district have voted to abandon irrigation and some have made the decision to leave the land altogether, the University of Melbourne has gone back to the farm to find out the best ways to do more with less water. By Gabrielle Murphy.

South-eastern Australia is in the grip of one of the worst droughts in recorded history. A project to improve our understanding of the historical impacts of climate extremes will assist with planning for a hotter and drier future. Gabrielle Murphy reports.

The United Nations has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. Yoriko Otomo reports on Australia’s recent review of its biodiversity conservation strategy, and the significance of a developing area of research called “animal law” for thinking about how we relate to, and regulate, biodiversity.

David Scott talks to Professor Peter Bardsley about how game theory, auctions and a little financial incentive are helping to restore tiger habitat in the Western Ghats in India.

As conservation biologists endeavour to minimise threats to biodiversity, other scientists work in the complementary field of animal welfare research to ensure animals under human care are treated appropriately. Sally Sherwen reports.