ecoforum & SustRem 2023

Call for Abstracts now open
The conference topic for 2023 is ''Meeting the challenges for a sustainable future''.
Our ecoforum/SustRem 2023 committees and sub-committees have collaboratively developed a fantastic selection of innovative and varied themes, to be presented at the conference in Melbourne, 10 -13 October 2023.
To submit your abstract
- Review the abstract guidelines
- Download the template which you will need to upload during the process
- Describe your abstract which fits in with one of the themes listed below
- Submit your abstract though the button below

The call for abstracts is open from March 1st to May 15th
Theme 1: Emerging and Emerged Contaminants and Future Challenges
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Case studies
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Risk assessment and management
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Industry perspective (regulator, consultant, private and research). Note: there is potential for selected abstracts to be nominated for a panel session
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Examples may include: microplastics, Selenium, tyre wear, Boron, etc
Theme 2: Contaminated Land and Groundwater Breaking News: You heard it here first!
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Emerging remediation technology
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Laboratory advances (e.g. contaminant-specific isotope analysis (CSIA), etc.)
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New techniques to improve the understanding of contaminant behaviour
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Research examples: What have we done? Where are we headed?
Theme 3: Policy and Regulation: Getting ahead of the Problem
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Emerging technology vs. future contamination liability
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How do we consider, the rights of the environment?
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When background (natural or anthropogenic) conditions exceed guideline criteria: What options do we have?
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Lessons learnt to improve policy
Theme 4: Natural Disasters, Catastrophic Events and Post Conflict Contaminant Management
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Natural disasters case studies:
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Earthquakes
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Floods
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Bushfires
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Pandemic
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Cyclones
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Catastrophic events case studies:
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Explosions
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Spills
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Post Conflict Contaminant Management case studies:
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Examples: National Unexploded Ordnance Program (NUXOP), temporal variance like arsenic, mustard gas and navy ship fuels from WWII, Agent Orange from Vietnam, uranium and dioxins in Iraq, etc.
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Theme 5: Addressing Contamination in Consultation with Traditional Owners and Tangata Whenua
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Indigenous engagement
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Experience and expectations
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Policy and regulation
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Case studies
Theme 6: Groundwater Remediation and Management
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Quantifying natural source zone depletion (NSZD)
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Enhanced bioremediation
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Nutrient remediation
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Advanced groundwater data collection and aquifer testing
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Numerical modelling in remediation design
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Fractured rock aquifer management
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Protecting an increasingly scarce resource
Theme 7: SustRem – Net Zero, Climate Change and Adaptation
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Reducing carbon footprint for assessment and remediation
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Implementing site assessment and remediation in the face of climate change
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Dealing with an increase in extreme weather conditions from a contamination and remediation perspective
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Balancing net zero, risk, and time
Theme 8: SustRem – Circular Economy: Avoidance, Reduction and Reuse
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10 R’s of circular economy
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Regenerative land management
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Reuse of waste soil
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Reuse of wastewater/treated water
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Reduce consumables during assessment/remediation
Theme 9: SustRem –
Social Sustainability
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Stakeholder engagement wins/horror stories
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Social licence to operate (SLO)
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Ethics and imperatives of the industry
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Community considerations informing remedial solution.
Theme 10: SustRem – Green, Sustainable and Sustainable Resilient Remediation: What is the difference?
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Case studies demonstrating sustainable assessment and/or remediation
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Case studies demonstrating green assessment and/or remediation
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Global approaches to sustainable contaminated site management
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Green chemistry applications
Theme 11: SustRem – Quantifying Sustainability: Regulatory and Industry Imperatives
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Application of sustainable ratings on contaminated land and remediation projects
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Different economic models – natural resource capital, degrowth, stakeholder capitalism removing the environment as an externality to economic markets
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Accounting, metrics and green washing within contaminated sites management
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Application of UN SDGs
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Regulatory advances to support sustainable assessment/remediation
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Progress in adoption of Australian Standard AS ISO18504: 2022 - Sustainable remediation in design and implementation of remediation work
Theme 12 : Early Career Land and Groundwater Professionals
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To be eligible for this stream, you must have three years or fewer of industry experience. We also encourage career changers, and those transitioning from academia to industry to apply.
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Early career professionals are invited to submit an abstract for a five-minute platform presentation on any topic relating to contaminated land (please use the same template as per the 15 min presentation).
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Learn from your peers, and impress industry stalwarts. The sky is the limit in this fast-paced, eclectic, and exciting stream.
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Abstracts will be selected with consideration to the following:
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Topic – interest, uniqueness, vision and quality
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Diversity – ALGA’s membership base includes a range of genders, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds. Presentations will be selected to allow for diverse representation of our membership.
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Representation – ALGA is proud to include representatives from the whole of industry, academia, not-for-profit organisations, independents, and government. Presentations will be selected from the spectrum of these groups.
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A one-paragraph bio demonstrating your eligibility for inclusion in the stream is required.
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