Dr Mark Diesendorf
BSc (Hons) in physics, University of Sydney; PhD in applied mathematics, UNSW
Dr Mark Diesendorf has a BSc with first class honours in physics from the University of Sydney and a PhD in applied mathematics from UNSW. He is currently Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Humanities & Languages, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, UNSW Sydney. HeÌýteaches, researches and consults in the interdisciplinary fields of sustainable energy, energy policy, theory of sustainability, ecological economics, and practical processes by which government, business and other organisations can achieve ecologically sustainable and socially just development.
From 2004 to 2016Ìýhe was Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Institute of Environmental Studies, UNSW Sydney. His earlier positions include Principal Research Scientist in CSIRO in the 1980s, senior lecturer in Human Ecology at the Australian National University (1994-1996), Professor of Environmental Science and Foundation Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney (1996-2001), Director of the private consultancy Sustainability Centre Pty Ltd (2001-2007) and Education Program Leader of the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living from 2017 until it closed in June 2019.
Based on his belief that science, technology and economics should serve the community at large, he has been at various times secretary of the Society for Social Responsibility in Science (Canberra), co-founder and vice-president of the Sustainable Energy Industries Council of Australia, co-founder and president of the original Australasian Wind Energy Association, president of the Australia New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics (ANZSEE) and vice-president of Appropriate Technology for Community and Environment (APACE).
He is co-editor of the interdisciplinary book Human Ecology, Human Economy: Ideas for an Ecologically Sustainable Future (1997) and author of (UNSW Press, 2007), Ìý(UNSW Press, 2009),Ìý (Routledge & UNSW Press, 2014) and lead author of (Palgrave Macmillan, 2023).
- Publications
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Media
Recent popular articles, videos, presentations & media include:
"Refuting myths about nuclear and renewable energy&±ç³Ü´Ç³Ù;.ÌýRenew Magazine, issue 169, pp. 42–45, 15 October 2024.
"&±ç³Ü´Ç³Ù;.ÌýPearls & Irritations, 27 September 2024.
UNSW Media Release, 26 September 2024: "Driving environmental destruction and social inequality: current economic system fails examination by sustainability experts".
Podcast, UNSW Centre for Ideas, "Episode 2: ", 33 min., with speakers Richard Kingsford, Tommy Wiedmann, Mark Diesendorf & Jem Bendell, August 2024.
"&±ç³Ü´Ç³Ù;ÌýCleanTechnica, 21 August 2024.
"&±ç³Ü´Ç³Ù;.ÌýPearls & Irritations, 12 August 2024.
"&±ç³Ü´Ç³Ù;.ÌýPearls & Irritations, 3 July 2024. Reprinted by RenewEconomy and Solar Citizens.
Video presentation: "", Economics of Sustainability series, Lecture 5, 29 January 2024.
"Is nuclear power a credible option for Australia?'. Canberra Times, 21 January 2024.
"". Pearls & Irritations, 12 January 2024.
"&±ç³Ü´Ç³Ù;.ÌýPearls & Irritations, 5 October 2023.
Presentation: "", AELA-NENA Earth Economics webinar, 14 September 2023.Ìý
Video: "", 6 minutes 38 sec., Melbourne Town Hall meeting on climate action. 9 September 2023.
Presentation: "". Renew Illawarra symposium, 7 September 2023.
Podcast: ", Mark Diesendorf interviewed by Mik Aidt, 69 minutes, 18 August 2023. A slightly shortened version of this interview was on community radio 3CR on 9 October.
Presentation: "", Green Institute Conference, Brisbane/Meanjin, 18-19 August 2023.
Presentation: "", UNSW Public Symposium, 14 August 2023.
Video: "", 2 minutes, EcoSummit 2023, Gold Coast, Australia, 13-17 June 2023."
&±ç³Ü´Ç³Ù;.ÌýThe Conversation, 19/5/2023. Republished as "" byÌýPearls & Irritations, 20/5/2023. Republished in on 30/5/2023.
"&±ç³Ü´Ç³Ù;.ÌýPearls & Irritations, 2/2/2023.
"&±ç³Ü´Ç³Ù;.ÌýPearls & Irritations, 11/1/2023.
"" Pearls & Irritations, 27/12/2022.
"". The Guardian, 20/12/2022. A similar letter was published in The Canberra Times.
"". The Conversation, 25/8/2022; reprinted the same day by
"&±ç³Ü´Ç³Ù;.ÌýThe Canberra Times, 9 July 2022
'". illuminen, 1 June 2022.ÌýÌý
'' The Conversation, 28/4/2022.Ìý
I,Ìý(40 minutes).ÌýModern Money Doughnuts, 20/4/2022
''.ÌýThe Canberra Times, 20/2/2022.
'What are sustainability and sustainable development?'.ÌýThe Canberra Times, 16/1/2022.
''. RenewEconomy, 29/10/2021. This is a revised and expanded version of the article published by Pearls and Irritations on 21/10/2021.
'. Pearls and Irritations, 21/10/2021.
'', webinar hosted by Energy Democracy and ITP Development, 12/10/2021.
', webinar organised by Sustainable Prosperity Action Group, 21/6/2021.
Pearls & Irritations, 7/6/2021
''.ÌýPearls & Irritations,Ìý15/2/2021.
''.ÌýPearls & Irritations, 10/12/2020.
''.ÌýPearls & Irritations, 6/10/2020.
'. The Conversation, 23/9/2020.
'.ÌýPearls & Irritations,Ìý20/9/2020.
''.ÌýThe Fifth Estate, 16 September 2020.
''.ÌýNew Economy Journal, Vol. 2, No. 4, August 2020.
''. Pearls & Irritations, 16 July 2020.
'', videoÌýpresentation to Citizens Climate Lobby Australia, June 2020, 24 minutes.
'', video presentation to Citizens Climate Lobby Australia, June 2020, 32 minutes.
''. RenewEconomy, 11 May 2020.
''. New Economy Journal, Vol. 2, No. 2, May 2020.
'', Pearls & Irritations, 6 May 2020.
''. RenewEconomy, 4 May 2020.
Mark Diesendorf & Dennys Angove, '' RenewEconomy, 21 February 2020.
Mark Diesendorf & Richard Broinowski, '' Australian Outlook, 26 August 2019; reprinted in Ìýand also byÌýÌý
'', New Economy Journal, vol. 1, no. 4, July 2019.
'' New Economy Journal, vol. 1, no. 3, June 2019.
'',ÌýCanberra Times, 1 May 2019.
'', The Conversation, 3/5/2019.
(15 min.), March 2019.
'', Radio Adelaide 101.5, Barometer program, 15/3/2019
'', The Conversation, 29/3/2019.
'', UNSW Sydney Newsroom, 12/3/2019.
'', 100% Renewables Workshop, ANU, 15/2/2019.
'Busting myths about renewable energy', Renew Magazine, issue 146, Jan. 2019
'', The Australia Institute, Nov. 2018.
'', RenewEconomy, 18/11/2018.
'', RenewEconomy, 22 August 2018.
Video of seminar, '', 52 min., School of Photovoltaic & Renewable Energy Engineering, 13 Sept. 2018.
'', The Conversation, 16/4/2018.
'', RenewEconomy, 21/6/2018.
'', The Conversation, 22/2/2017.
'', The Conversation, 9/5/2016.
'', Atlas of Science,Ìý10/4/2016.
'', The Conversation, 16/2/2016.
''. The Ecologist 2016.
''. The Ecologist, 2016.
'', The Conversation, 30/11/2015.
My Teaching
IEST6911: Managing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
IEST7300: Environmental Management: Physical Science
Guest lectures on sustainability, renewable energy, energy policy