Informit

To celebrate International Coffee Day, we delve into the livelihoods of coffee farmers to cutting-edge brewing innovation and coffee's journey is more complex than what ends up in your cup.

In 'How much of your $6 coffee actually reaches the farmer?', Sonja Needs explores the economics of the global coffee supply chain, revealing how little of the final retail price often makes its way back to the people growing the beans. The article highlights the challenges facing coffee producers amid rising costs, climate pressures and volatile markets, while asking important questions about fairness and sustainability in the industry.

Meanwhile, in 'I used sound waves to make espresso. It could cut coffee-brewing energy use by 75%', Francisco Trujillo examines a novel brewing technique that uses ultrasonic sound waves to extract coffee more efficiently. The research points to a potential future where espresso can be brewed using significantly less energy, offering exciting possibilities for making coffee production more sustainable.

This International Coffee Day, take a moment to look beyond the cup and explore the people, science and innovation shaping the future of coffee. ☕🌱⚡

Read the full articles on Informit.



Needs, S. (2026). How much of your $6 coffee actually reaches the farmer? Pursuit. Informit.T2026081900000690415347191. https://hubs.ly/Q04yRyTj0
Trujillo, F. (2026). I used sound waves to make espresso. It could cut coffee-brewing energy use by 75%. The Conversation. Informit.T2026061100001200716629350. https://hubs.ly/Q04yRyPZ0

Kummargii Yulendji Symposium 2026 attendees were privileged to witness three outstanding keynote presentations from leading First Nations experts in distinct fields. Scroll through the images to read about each of the keynote speakers

Dr Bianca Beetson AM (Kabi Kabi, Wiradjuri) shared her generous and holistic vision for decolonising museums and archives in the challenging period following the Voice referendum, towards museums becoming places of return, repair, healing and living knowledge. Drawing upon her work as Executive Director, First Nations at Queensland Museum, Dr Beetson advocated to move beyond abstract ideas of ‘acknowledgement’ towards practical First Nations-led systems change and accountable practice, giving visibility to shared stories and centring community voices.   

Professor Michael-Shawn Fletcher (Wiradjuri) presented ‘Healthy Country: re-writing the Book on Australia’, challenging the colonial notion of Australian landscapes prior to invasion as ‘wilderness’. As a paleoecologist and Associate Dean of Science (Indigenous) at University of Melbourne, Professor Fletcher reads the ‘archives’ of Country, such as sediment, pollen and charcoal, which reveal that Indigenous cultural burning made and maintained these landscapes for over 60,000 years, in particular maintaining vegetation far sparser than much Australian bush now. Professor Fletcher further infers that excluding Aboriginal people from caring for Country since the colonial era has contributed to the fire and biodiversity crises - exacerbated by climate change - that we are facing today.

To conclude a brilliant day, we were treated to an engaging finale by our international keynote Peter-Lucas Jones (Te Aupōuri, Ngai Takoto, Ngāti Kahu) whose presentation began with a rousing song in Māori, then outlined the value of Indigenous languages’ intrinsic connection with philosophical worldview, cultural memory and relationships with place. Jones shared how Te Hiku Media, the tribal broadcaster of which he is CEO, developed Indigenous-owned speech recognition technology for te reo Māori, in effect ‘teaching the computer to speak Maori’.  His presentation delved some of the issues of us

🎶 International Country Music Day Content Spotlight 🎶

Celebrating the stories, voices and cultural legacies that continue to reshape what country music can be. We’re highlighting three powerful pieces of scholarship that explore how country music becomes a home; for culture, for creativity, and for community.

Calling me home: how a Matariki anthem wrote a new chapter in the story of Māori country music by Kirsten Zemke for The Conversation.
A look at how Māori artists are reclaiming and reshaping country music, weaving whakapapa, language and cultural pride into a genre long associated with American traditions.

How the ‘backwoods Barbie’ Dolly Parton turned self‑aware artifice into authentic artistry by Rosemary Overell for The Conversation.
A sharp, joyful exploration of Dolly Parton’s iconic persona; how her glittering, exaggerated “Barbie” aesthetic becomes a vehicle for sincerity, craft and feminist self‑determination.

Dolly Parton’s mythologised persona, collective life writing, and building a home for LGBTQ+ listeners in country music by James Barker for Persona Studies
An examination of how Dolly’s mythology, storytelling and generosity have created space for LGBTQ+ fans within a genre that hasn’t always welcomed them.

Explore these articles on Informit and dive deeper into the stories shaping country music today.

Zemke, K. (2025). Calling me home: how a Matariki anthem wrote a new chapter in the story of Māori country music. The Conversation. Informit.T2025082100003090142015778. https://hubs.la/Q04x612b0

Overell, R. (2026). How the “backwoods Barbie” Dolly Parton turned self-aware artifice into authentic artistry. The Conversation. Informit.T2026082600001491641157665. https://hubs.la/Q04x618g0

Barker, J. (2022). Dolly Parton’s mythologised persona, collective life writing, and building a home for LGBTQ+ listeners in country music. Persona Studies, 8(1), 143–155. https://hubs.la/Q04x61410

On Tuesday, Informit and CAVAL hosted another successful Kummargii Yulendji Symposium, with over 220 attendees joining in person and online to participate in this incredible event.

Since 2023, Kummargii Yulendji Symposium has grown as a forum for the critical movement that is transforming Australia’s knowledge ecosystem.

Co-convened by Informit and CAVAL as part of Social Sciences Week, the symposium offered an important gathering for the communities that are working to re-frame and reckon with colonial systems and embed First Peoples' Knowledges within our institutions.

Building on the powerful insights of past symposiums, this year’s program promised engaging presentations and panel discussions by First Nations leaders and allies who are Indigenising the research, GLAM and publishing sectors.

Thank you to all of the speakers; Dr Bianca Beetson, Professor Michael-Shawn Fletcher, Peter-Lucas Jones, Professor Kirsten Thorpe, Dr Narissa Timbery, Georgia Ensor, Claire Kearns, Pat Hannah, Sara Boyle, Stephanie Cusworth, Lauren Castino, Gari Tudor-Smith & Felicity Meakins.

We would also like to thank RMIT Storey Hall for the Symposium venue and excellent venue staff, as well as The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund for their support, Social Sciences Week for including the Symposium in their program and the RMIT Enabling Impact: Social Change Platform for their support.

A big thank you to the convening team; Jaime McCowan, Malcolm Neil, Sae Ra Germaine, Laki Sideris, Sara Davidsson, Liam Ryan, Dr Gretel Taylor, Olivia Triglavcanin, Kate Moschetti and Eleanor Frank.

We are excited to share the finalised program for Kummargii Yulendji Symposium 2026.

Find all program here: https://hubs.ly/Q04tY4J40

Featuring leading First Nations speakers on themes including:

- Indigenisation processes transforming academic and public libraries and the broader GLAM sector
- Reading (and re-writing) Country as archive
- First Nations languages, AI and Indigenous Knowledge sovereignty

Register here to attend: https://hubs.ly/Q04tXRMw0

Space exploration doesn’t end when rockets leave Earth; sometimes, the story continues when pieces of them come crashing back down. For National Science Week, we’re spotlighting two fascinating reads on space junk, available in full on Informit.

Alice Gorman’s article, “How does a flaming piece of space junk end up on Earth? A space archaeologist explains,” unpacks how debris survives re‑entry, why it lands where it does, and what these fiery fragments can tell us about the history of human space activity. It’s a rare look at the intersection of archaeology, engineering and orbital dynamics.

Gregory Radisic’s piece, “An abandoned SpaceX rocket is about to crash into the Moon. The real problem comes next,” zooms out to the bigger issue: the growing volume of human‑made debris in space. He explores what happens when derelict rockets drift into unstable orbits, how they threaten future missions, and why long‑term solutions are becoming urgent.

Together, these articles reveal the hidden life of space junk; from dramatic landfalls on Earth to silent collisions in deep space and why scientists are calling for smarter, safer orbital management.

Read both articles on Informit and dive deeper into the science behind space debris. Start with Informit or explore more space science content.

Gorman, A. (2025). How does a flaming piece of space junk end up on Earth? A space archaeologist explains. The Conversation. Informit.T2025102100000890076524764. https://hubs.la/Q04tPs7K0

Radisic, G. (2026). An abandoned SpaceX rocket is about to crash into the Moon. The real problem comes next. The Conversation. Informit.T2026072700000490006157387. https://hubs.la/Q04tPy320

Book Week is here, and Explore Media is celebrating the stories that shape readers of all ages. Dive into a rich mix of Australian literature that captures the heart of our national storytelling, alongside beloved children’s classics that continue to spark imagination across generations. For teens, Explore Media’s young adult features explore identity, resilience and creativity; perfect for engaging readers who are discovering their own voices.

Educators will also find curriculum favourites brought to life through interviews, analysis and behind‑the‑scenes insights that deepen classroom learning. And for those who love understanding the minds behind the words, Explore Media’s collection of author biopics offers an inspiring look at the creative journeys of some of Australia’s most influential writers.

Whether you’re building displays, planning activities or simply celebrating the joy of reading, Explore Media has something for every corner of Book Week.

Discover more on Explore Media or ask our support team to start a free Explore Media trial for your school.

From stadium tours to scholarly journals; Taylor Swift is shaping conversations far beyond pop culture. An article titled 'Taylor Swift is filling a ‘blank space’ in academic research' by Hannah McCann, Emma Whatman, Eloise Faichney and Rebecca Trelease for The Pursuit explores how Swift’s work is opening up a “blank space” in academic research, inspiring fresh thinking across gender studies, fandom, media, identity and cultural analysis.

The authors unpack why Swift’s influence matters in universities right now, how her storytelling invites deeper critical engagement, and what it means when pop icons become sites of serious scholarship. It’s smart, timely and full of insights that go well beyond the headlines.

✨ If you’re curious about the intersection of pop culture and research, or you just love seeing how everyday cultural moments shape academic conversations, this one’s worth the read.

📚 Head to Informit to explore the full article and dive deeper into the research. Start with Informit or explore more Taylor Swift scholarship.

McCann, H., Whatman, E., Faichney, E., & Trelease, R. (2025). Taylor Swift is filling a “blank space” in academic research. Pursuit. Informit.T2025080400002490832558968. https://hubs.la/Q04slZ1f0

The Informit team is lighting up the CAVAL SPARK Conference in Perth this week! Great conversations, curious minds and plenty of excitement about Australian research and content. If you’re here, come say hi and grab some goodies. We love a conference chat!