Australian and Indian scientists, sociologists and economists are creating a strategic plan to ensure marine fisheries in both countries remain sustainable while facing climate change. [ + ]

MBD Energy Limited, which proposes to recycle waste CO₂ emissions from coal-fired power stations and other forms of heavy industry into commercial production of algae biomass, has appointed Australia’s former Chief Scientist, Robin Batterham AO, to its board as a non-executive director. [ + ]

First Solar has set a new world record for cadmium‐telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) solar module efficiency, achieving 14.4% total area efficiency. [ + ]

Siemens Australia has presented a fully electrified high-performance motorcycle, the eChopper, to Australia at the Pacific 2012 Maritime Exposition in Sydney. [ + ]

Arcadia Biosciences has been awarded a five-year, $4.5 million grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to develop salt-tolerant rice and measure greenhouse gas emissions from conventional rice fields in Bangladesh and nitrogen use efficient (NUE) crops in Indonesia. [ + ]

Rising human carbon dioxide emissions may be affecting the brains and central nervous systems of sea fishes with serious consequences for their survival, an international scientific team has found. [ + ]

Black & Veatch has appointed Cindy Wallis-Lage as President of its global water business. She will lead the company’s efforts to address billions of dollars in water infrastructure needs around the world. [ + ]

Research launched by the City of Melbourne and University of Melbourne will give building owners across Melbourne access to information that can help their buildings absorb less heat and stay cooler during hot days. The research assesses the benefits of white roofs. [ + ]

ABB, 4R Energy, Nissan North America (NNA) and Sumitomo Corporation of America have formed a partnership to evaluate the re-use of the battery packs that power the Nissan Leaf, the world’s first and only all-electric car designed for the mass market. The purpose is to evaluate and test the residential and commercial applications of energy storage systems or backup power sources using lithium-ion battery packs reclaimed from electric vehicles after use. [ + ]

Following more than three years of comprehensive research, planning and extensive consultation with the local community and the regulator, SITA Australia (SITA) has received the state government permits to develop a soil processing facility to treat and recover contaminated soil at its Taylors Road Landfill in Dandenong South. [ + ]

The national coalition of healthcare groups, the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA), has today released its Position Statement on wind turbines and human health, rejecting the claims of anti-wind groups that wind power poses a threat to health. [ + ]

The Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, today announced the latest schools to receive grants as part of the Gillard Government’s National Solar Schools Program. [ + ]

Superior Pak, a Transpacific Company, received AS4123 accreditation of the 240-litre bins in November 2011. This independent third-party product certification indicates the Superior Pak product meets the highest industry standard. [ + ]

The Steel Stewardship Forum has been established to bring together all of the participants in the Australian steel supply chain with a view to achieving sustainability improvements across the whole chain. The launch of the Forum’s website has been seen as an important step in communicating information on the Forum and the progress it is making.

Campbell Scientific has acquired the Sirco range of water-sampling systems that can be used to monitor water quality, including stormwater, wastewater, groundwater sampling and other water-quality monitoring applications. [ + ]