Aviation may be economically and socially sustainable but faces real environmental challenges. Globally, emissions from air travel need to be addressed in line with climate change advice from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). There is a real need to decarbonise the aviation industry and to move towards Net Zero Emissions (NZE), particularly when demand for international and domestic travel is gaining momentum after COVID-19, moving towards pre-pandemic levels.

The PhD research could focus broadly on the relationship between aviation and climate change, whether mitigation or adaptation. It could alternatively focus on the characteristics of future sustainable air travel, the sustainability strategy of a particular airline or airport, the impact of new technologies (e.g. UAVS, eVTOL) on environmentally sustainable air travel, or the development alternative fuels such as SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel), hydrogen or electricity.

It is expected that the applicant would link closely with the aviation industry to gather data, perhaps using an airline or airport case study. The student could take a quantitative or qualitative approach to data collection and analysis, incorporating say a theoretical lens or modelling technique from a discipline across the natural and social sciences, as well as engineering disciplines.

The successful PhD candidate is expected to fulfill all of Griffith University’s PhD selection criteria. It is expected that the PhD candidate be based in-person on Griffith’s Nathan campus in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.