New climate change law degree

Gone but not forgotten: the fight for anonymity in death

When we die we might hope to be remembered. Assistant Professor Eugenia Georgiades wants us to have the right to be forgotten. Dr Georgiades’ 2020 research paper Down the Rabbit Hole: Applying a Right to Be Forgotten to Personal Images Uploaded on Social Networks argues the case for the living. Now the Faculty of Law academic has turned her mind to the rights of those no longer with us.

“I’m currently working on how defamation law could be used to apply to images that have been misused on social media,” Dr Georgiades says. “There is a group of people not living that are not protected and their images can be misused.”

Dr Georgiades says there are continuous legal problems stemming from the everchanging technological landscape.

“I don’t think the general public understand the seriousness of what they are agreeing to (when they sign up to social media),” she says.

“My interest in this was piqued because engaging in social media allows people to take photos of people and post them online which results in those people losing control over their image.

“You are at the mercy of the person who has taken the photo and what they do with it.”

OAM recognition for research contributions

Professor Tammy Hoffmann has received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2021 Australia Day Honours for her services to clinical epidemiology and occupational therapy. Professor Hoffmann’s research helps medical professionals and patients make health decisions that are informed by evidence.

“Equipping health professionals, policymakers, patients and the public with the skills and tools to sort fact from fiction is critical,” she says.

Climate right to launch world-first law degree for next generation of Gretas

The Faculty of Law has launched the world’s first climate law degree for undergraduates, inspired by worldwide student protests demanding action on climate change.

The Faculty began developing the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in Climate Law after hundreds of thousands of students took to the streets in 2018 and 2019.

Executive Dean of the Faculty, Professor Nick James, says the pandemic temporarily took the focus off climate change in 2020 but “there are still many young people out there who are passionate about doing something to help heal the planet.”

“My sense is that concern among high school students and young people hasn’t gone away and that they are energised and keen to learn more about the issue and how to do something about it,” Professor James says.

“The problem at the moment isn’t the lack of science. We don’t need more climate scientists. We need people who understand the problem and how to work with our legal and political systems so that we can respond appropriately to climate change.

“A law degree supplemented by training in climate science and climate sociology will provide these students with the qualifications and the expertise they need to take effective action.”

Professor James says he expects two types of students will be drawn to the new program.

“One is the person who was already thinking about studying law and is attracted to the idea of becoming a specialist in this emerging area of legal practice,” he says.

“They will go into large firms and help clients deal with climate change-related legal issues. The other type of student is the person who has never considered studying law before. All they know is that they want to do something about climate change. We believe that a law degree will empower them to go out and make a difference.”

“A law degree supplemented by training in climate science and climate sociology will provide these students with the qualifications and the expertise they need to take effective action.”