Disappearing islands, sniffer dogs for conservation and sustainable surfboards will be among the topics discussed by eight University of the Sunshine Coast researchers at the Sunshine Coast World Environment Day Festival on Sunday 5 June.

The USC experts in areas as diverse as geography, engineering and law will give short, engaging presentations in a one-hour blitz at the festival, which will be held at Cotton Tree Park, Maroochydore.

USC is a long-term supporter of the free, family-friendly event, which has been organised by the Sunshine Coast Environmental Council every year since 1979 to encourage positive environmental action.

At the 2016 festival, Lecturer in Physical Geography Dr Javier Leon will give a presentation on climate change and coastal flooding, focussing on his recent research which discovered that five Pacific islands had been completely lost to sea level rise.

Renowned surfboard shaper and USC PhD candidate Tom Wegener will share the latest developments on his research into producing environmentally sustainable surfboards.

Festival-goers will have the chance to ask questions of USC’s researchers following each talk.

The presenters include Dr Marcus Bussey (environmental history), Dr Wendy Spinks (social marketing to help our natural world), Dr Romane Cristescu and Dr Celine Frere (using detection dogs for conservation), Dr Steven Boyd (sustainability in business) and PhD candidate Andrew Venning (law and climate change vulnerability).

The USC presentations will be held from midday to 1pm in the Presenters’ Tent, with each talk running for five minutes.

The World Environment Day Festival will be held from 10am to 5pm at Cotton Tree Park on The Esplanade, Maroochydore. For more information, visit www.wed.org.au.

— Gen Kennedy