Dr Tania Leimbach

Dr Tania Leimbach

Lecturer
Arts, Design & Architecture (ADA)
School of Humanities & Languages

Tania Leimbach is an education-focused academic who bridges teaching, research and practice within the broad field of environmental studies. A member of the Environment & Society Group at UNSW, Tania is Program Convenor for the Master of Environmental Management (MEM), a program focused on preparing future change-makers to rethink the world through restorative approaches. Convening several courses in the program, her teaching is centred on developing critical, reflective and practical capacities in students seeking to contribute to environmental and social change. 

With a strong profile in climate change pedagogy, Tania has designed and led curriculum in climate change education that is now used across universities, secondary schools and local government settings. Both her teaching and research focus on inclusive, action-oriented approaches that support learners and educators to engage meaningfully with climate and environmental challenges.

Tania’s research sits at the intersection of ecocultural studies, environmental humanities and environmental education. She contributes to inter- and transdisciplinary scholarship exploring affect, agency, and creative practice in processes of social and ecological change. Her PhD thesis, Sustainability and the Material Imagination in Australian Cultural Organisations, examined how museums and contemporary cultural institutions enact environmental leadership amid the political and material complexities of the Anthropocene. 

Based at the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney, Tania completed her PhD in an environment focused on applied, project-based sustainability research. This strengthened her systems-based understanding of sustainability challenges across areas including renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, food security, circular economy and social justice. Alongside her academic work, Tania has collaborated on research and consultancy projects with local government, industry partners, the regenerative agriculture organisation Soils for Life, and the Indigenous-led social enterprise Old Ways, New. An experienced social researcher, she works with qualitative methods including ethnography, case studies, focus groups, program monitoring and evaluation, and social impact assessment.

Location
324 Morven Brown Building
  • Book Chapters | 2025
    Milstein T; Leimbach T; Carr J, 2025, 'Inside-Out Education: A transformative framing adaptable across ages and contexts', in Canady F; Panos A; Evans S; Beach R; Castek J (ed.), Transforming Schools and Communities to Address the Climate Crisis, Bloomsbury Academic, New York
    Book Chapters | 2022
    Leimbach T, 2022, 'Liturgy, devotion, extinction: human-nonhuman inter-being in Deborah Kelly’s CREATION', in Goddard A; McCarthy C (ed.), The Book of Creation, Griffith University Art Museum, pp. 68 - 71
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Fam D; Leimbach T; Kelly S; Hitchens L; Callen M, 2018, 'Meta-considerations for planning, introducing and standardising inter and transdisciplinary learning in higher degree institutions', in Transdisciplinary Theory Practice and Education the Art of Collaborative Research and Collective Learning, pp. 85 - 102, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93743-4_7
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Leimbach T; Armstrong K, 2018, 'Creative partnerships and cultural organisations: “enabling” and “situating” arts-science collaboration and collective learning', in Transdisciplinary Theory Practice and Education the Art of Collaborative Research and Collective Learning, pp. 241 - 256, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93743-4_16
  • Journal articles | 2025
    Friedlander J; Leimbach T, 2025, 'Raising the agenda of environmental issues within a complex hybrid media landscape: A communications framework for fostering public engagement', Australian Journalism Review, 47, pp. 55 - 76, http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/ajr_00174_1
    Journal articles | 2025
    Friedlander J; Leimbach T, 2025, 'Raising the agenda of environmental issues within a hybrid media landscape: A communication framework for public engagement and impact', Australian Journalism Review, 47, pp. 55 - 76, http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/ajr_00174_1
    Journal articles | 2025
    Leimbach T; Armstrong K; Palmer J; Ngadiijina DW; Turpin G, 2025, 'Plant-Human Futurisms in the Australian Tropics: Native Grasses and the Carbon_Dating Art Project', eTropic, 24, pp. 150 - 173, http://dx.doi.org/10.25120/etropic.24.2.2025.4097
    Journal articles | 2022
    Leimbach T; Kent J; Walker J, 2022, 'The affective dimension of crisis subjects: Teaching Environmental Communication through intersecting crises', Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 62, pp. 325 - 351, https://ajal.net.au/downloads/the-affective-dimension-of-crisis-subjects-teaching-environmental-communication-through-intersecting-crises/
    Journal articles | 2022
    Leimbach T; Milstein T, 2022, 'Learning to change: Climate action pedagogy', Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 62, pp. 414 - 423, https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1370386.pdf
    Journal articles | 2022
    Leimbach T; Palmer J, 2022, '#AustraliaOnFire: Hashtag Activism and Collective Affect in the Black Summer Fires', Journal of Australian Studies, 46, pp. 496 - 511, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14443058.2022.2121744
    Journal articles | 2021
    , 2021, 'Abstracts from the Spectra 2018 Symposium Part 6: Systems', LEONARDO, 54, pp. 684 - 687, http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/leon_a_02154
    Journal articles | 2020
    Helyer N; Potts J; Dyer K; Muller L; Leimbach T; Armstrong K; Grodecki A, 2020, 'Abstracts from the Spectra 2018 Symposium: Systems', Leonardo, pp. 1 - 5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/leon_a_01973
    Journal articles | 2019
    Leimbach T; Armstrong K, 2019, 'Art-eco-science. Field collaborations', Antennae: the journal of nature in visual culture, Summer 2019, pp. 108 - 127, http://embodiedmedia.com/writingtheory/papers-peer-reviewed/art-eco-science-field-collaborations
    Journal articles | 2013
    Leimbach T, 2013, 'Innovative programming and social engagement in art institutions: An australian case study', International Journal of the Inclusive Museum, 6, pp. 171 - 184, http://dx.doi.org/10.18848/1835-2014/CGP/v06i01/44432
  • Conference Presentations | 2025
    Leimbach T; Milstein T, 2025, 'Remaking Worlds: Imagining, narrating and visualising futures using Inside-Out pedagogy', presented at Climate Aware Creative Practioners (CACP) Symposium, RMIT, 20 February 2025
    Conference Presentations | 2025
    Leimbach T; Palmer J; Armstrong K; Jackson B; Driessens J-A, 2025, 'Carbon_Dating: curating communities of care through creative practice', presented at International Australian Studies Association (InASA), Macquarie University, 05 February 2025 - 07 February 2025
    Conference Papers | 2025
    Leimbach T; Ramp D; Yanco E; Anil Samel A, 2025, 'Farming with Kangaroos: More-than-human co-existence, biodiverse landscapes and regenerative agriculture in Eastern Australia', University of Southern Queensland, presented at Australasian Animal Studies Association Conference, University of Southern Queensland, 05 November 2025 - 07 November 2025
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Leimbach T; Dunford S; Torres A, 2022, 'Tackling difficult knowledge and empowering climate action through hyperlocal intergenerational networks', Sydney Environment Institute, University of Sydney, presented at Nature Feelz Symposium, Sydney Environment Institute, University of Sydney, 05 December 2022 - 08 February 2022, https://www.sydney.edu.au/sydney-environment-institute/events/past-events/2022/december/nature-feelz%E2%80%93perspectives-and-reflections-on-ecological-emotion.html
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Leimbach T; Palmer J, 2022, 'Curating climate change in a museum of Australian industrial heritage', Australian National University, Canberra, presented at International Australian Studies Association, Australian National University, Canberra, 30 November 2022 - 02 December 2022, https://ausi.anu.edu.au/events/inasa-biennial-conference-2022-it-s-time-again
    Conference Papers | 2021
    Friedlander J; Leimbach T, 2021, 'B&B Highway: biodiversity in the ’burbs', online, presented at Re-Mediating the Wild: The 16th Conference on Communication and Environment. International Environmental Communication Association., online, 21 June 2021 - 24 June 2021, https://theieca.org/coce2021
    Other | 2021
    Leimbach T; Kent J, 2021, Exploring the affective dimension of crisis subjects for tertiary students and educators: New resources, insights and approaches (webinar), Mandurah, Western Australia
    Other | 2021
    Leimbach T; Kent J, 2021, Futureproofing environmental pedagogy: emotional resilience, mental health and action in the climate emergency (webinar), online
    Conference Papers | 2021
    Leimbach T; Palmer J, 2021, 'Multispecies entanglements in the wake of an Australian catastrophic bushfire season', Australian Catholic University, presented at International Australian Studies Association (InASA) Biennial conference, Australian Catholic University, 08 February 2021 - 10 February 2021
    Recorded / Rendered Creative Works | 2020
    Leimbach T; Kent J; Walker J, 2020, Staying sane in the face of climate change and other dilemmas: A toolkit of emerging ideas to support emotional resilience, mental health and action, University of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Published: 12 December 2020, Recorded / Rendered Creative Works, https://indd.adobe.com/view/34a32f05-0182-4c63-838d-509b72b615c1
    Conference Presentations | 2018
    Fam DM; Kelly S; Leimbach T; Hitchens L; Callen M, 2018, 'Introducing Interdisciplinary postgraduate degrees? 7 meta-considerations', 07 August 2018, https://i2insights.org/2018/08/07/institutionalising-interdisciplinary-postgraduate-degrees/
    Conference Presentations | 2018
    Leimbach T; Armstrong K, 2018, 'Aerial Pitfalls: Harnessing the Power of the “Good” Drone', presented at SPECTRA Art+Science: Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT), University of Adelaide, Australia, -
    Conference Papers | 2017
    Fam DM; Leimbach T; Kelly S; Hitchens L; Callen M, 2017, 'Collaborative research and collective learning: institutionalizing interdisciplinary programs in higher education', Leuneburg, Germany, presented at International Transdisciplinary Conference, Transdisciplinary Research and Education — Intercultural Endeavours, Leuneburg, Germany, 11 September 2017 - 15 September 2017
    Creative Written Works | 2016
    Leimbach T, 2016, Navigating the Horizon, UTS Art, http://art.uts.edu.au/index.php/exhibitions/over-many-horizons/
    Other | 2016
    Leimbach T, 2016, Scents, sensibility and the smell of a city, The Conversation, The Conversation, , https://theconversation.com/scents-sensibility-and-the-smell-of-a-city-71271
    Theses / Dissertations | 2015
    Leimbach T, 2015, Sustainability and the Material Imagination in Australian Cultural Organisations, https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/37011/2/02whole.pdf
    Reports | 2015
    Wilmot K; White S; Leimbach T, 2015, SYDNEY MODERN GALLERY DEVELOPMENT: BENCHMARKING SUSTAINABILITY, NSW
    Other | 2014
    Leimbach T, 2014, Design goes wild: boundary crossing in feral experimental, Australia, , http://theconversation.com/design-goes-wild-boundary-crossing-in-feral-experimental-29974
    Other | 2014
    Leimbach T, 2014, Glory be! Inside Deborah Kelly’s No Human Being Is Illegal, http://theconversation.com/au,
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Leimbach T, 2013, 'Sustainability is a Cultural Change project: Innovative programming in Australian Art and Design Museums', Copenhagen, Denmark, presented at Sixth International Conference on the Inclusive Museum: Museums and Active Citizenship, Copenhagen, Denmark, 22 April 2013
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Lorber-Kasunic J; Leimbach T; Abram S, 2013, 'The politics of design: re-evaluating the role of speculative, critical and citizen-led design practice in Australia and the United Kingdom', Dublin, presented at Cumulus, Dublin, 07 November 2013 - 09 November 2013, http://www.cumulusassociation.org/images/stories/Working_papers/WP_Dublin.pdf
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2011
    Leimbach T; Zakaria R; Sargent N; Leimbach CJ; Gerada M, 2011, Concrete Jungle: A Green Wall for Growing Ideas, 01 April 2011, medium: Public art installation
    Conference Papers | 2011
    Leimbach T, 2011, 'Making it visual: Growing ideas for sustainability', in Proceedings of Animation of Public Space through the Arts, Centre for Social Studies (CES), Portugal, presented at Animation of Public Space through the Arts: Towards More Sustainable Communities Symposium, University of Coimbra, Portugal, 27 September 2011
    Conference Presentations |
    Helyer N; Potts J; Dyer K; Muller L; Leimbach T; Armstrong K; Grodecki A, 'Abstracts from the Spectra 2018 Symposium: Systems', http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/leon_a_01973
    Creative Written Works |
    Leimbach T, The Challenged Landscape
    Creative Written Works |
    Leimbach T, Wild Sydney: Diego Bonetto

Tania's current research areas and activities

  1. Environmental and climate communication
  2. Regenerative agriculture, diverse farming systems and multispecies relations
  3. Climate Change Education (CCE)
  4. Arts-Science research and practice
  5. Transdisciplinary research methods and transition theory

My Teaching

I am interested in learning in all its forms and have 15 years teaching experience in higher education. Committed to the design and delivery of high quality and innovative learning experiences, I continue to hone my skills in facilitating student engagement to enhance learning outcomes and retention, support full-bodied learning communities, extend creative problem-solving, engage with complexity, and incorporate relevant assessments with meaningful feedback processes.

In UNSW’s Masters of Environmental Management program, I convene:

IEST6911 Climate Crisis and Action

IEST5005 Environmental Communication

IEST7200 Demystifying Environmental Law: From Regulation to Rights of Nature

IEST5021 Corporations, Capitalism and Transforming Environments