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Natural and Built Environments

Our research leverages Western Australia's distinctive geography to understand, harness, build and protect environments for sustaining people, place and planet.

World-Class Research updates

ECU has a vibrant research community, actively supporting our student and staff researchers. We continually seek opportunities to collaborate with other universities and to work with organisations and businesses to commercialise research outcomes.

Lupins growing in field
New protein sources

From stockfeed to superfood

New research from ECU is pushing lupins toward the mainstream as a sustainable, plant-based, gluten-free protein source.

Models of molecule hydrogen floating against blue background - H2 scientific element
Green hydrogen quest

The holy grail of renewables

Professor Hongqi Sun and his team are developing photocatalysts that can accelerate the process of producing green hydrogen whilst improving energy efficiency.

Pink sunrise over a river surrounded by mangroves
Fighting climate change

Blue carbon economy

In world-first research, ECU's Dr Oscar Serrano and his team have accurately quantified the amount of greenhouse gases –or 'blue carbon' –being absorbed and emitted by Australian marine ecosystems.

Turtle swimming across seagrass meadow
Global impact

Seagrass

ECU's ground-breaking marine science research will inform global climate change policy for years to come.

Child drinking glass of water
Drinking clean water

Microplastics

ECU's Professor Hongqi Sun is developing a treatment to filter microplastics and break down pharmaceutical contaminants in water.

Close-up of liquid being poured in flask
Clean the world

Metal filtration

It may look like a simple piece of aluminium foil, but when added to wastewater this high-tech strip of iron can remove impurities in just minutes.

Greenhouse powered by nanotechnology
Greening the future

Solar glass

Researchers at ECU have developed a high-tech type of glass that uses nanotechnology to harvest solar energy from the sun.