Paul Ehrlich to present special seminar in Canberra on 21st March

The Environment Institute & Fenner School of Environment & Society at the Australian National University present a special presentation by Professor Paul Ehrlich in Canberra on Thursday 21st March 2013.

The talk is titled ‘Avoiding a collapse of civilisation – our chances, prospects and pathways forward.’ Professor Ehrlich will then be joined by leading ecological scientists to participate in an in-depth panel discussion. The panel will extend and discuss Professor Ehrlich’s topics as they relate to sustainability politics in Australia. They will broach controversial topics from food and energy supply to the politics of greed. How much scientific evidence underlies our national decision-making?

Where: Manning Clarke Centre Lecture Theatre 1 Building 26A, ANU, Canberra, Australia
Time: 7:15pm
When: Thursday 21st March 2013
RSVP: This event is free, registration is essential. Register here

Prof. Paul R. Ehrlich

ABSTRACT

Environmental problems have contributed to numerous collapses of civilizations in the past. Now, for the first time, a global collapse appears possible and at the same time avoidable. Population growth supercharged by significantly increasing consumption interacting with our choices of technologies are major drivers. Dramatic cultural change provides the main hope of averting calamity.

Paul and Anne Ehrlich have written a paper on how humanity’s global civilisation is threatened with collapse by an array of environmental problems. In this special presentation, Professor Ehrlich will give a talk about his recent conclusions.

Professor Ehrlich will then be joined by leading ecological scientists to participate in an in-depth panel discussion. The panel will extend and discuss Professor Ehrlich’s topics as they relate to sustainability politics in Australia. They will broach controversial topics from food and energy supply to the politics of greed. How much scientific evidence underlies our national decision-making?

The panel includes Professor Corey Bradshaw from the Environment Institute, Professor David Lindenmayer from ANU, and Professor Graham Pyke from University of Technology Sydney. Professor Stephen Dovers, Director of the Fenner School of Environment will chair the panel session.

About the speaker

Paul Ehrlich is the Bing Professor of Population Studies in the department of Biological Sciences at Stanford University, president of Stanford’s Center for Conservation Biology and Adjunct Professor, University of Technology, Sydney. By training he is an entomologist specializing in Lepidoptera (butterflies), but he is also a prominent ecologist and demographer. Ehrlich is best known for his dire warnings about population growth and limited resources. He became well-known after publication of his controversial 1968 book The Population Bomb.

Download the pdf flyer for this event

Paul Ehrlich in Adelaide

While in Australia, Paul Ehrlich will headline ‘The Planet Talks’ series at WOMADelaide on Monday March 11th.

The Planet Talks is a series of environmentally-focused discussions and panels – a legacy of the WOMAD Earth Station event staged in 2011 and now a part of WOMADelaide. The Talks will focus on the core fundamentals of Food Security & Sustainability, Activism & Change and Population Growth.

Professor Ehrlich will participate in a ‘one on one’ discussion on Population & Consumption with the host of the ABC’s The Science Show, Robyn Williams.

Find out more about Paul Ehrlich at WOMADelaide

 

 

Read Full Post »

Paul Ehrlich to headline ‘The Planet Talks’ program at WOMADelaide

WOMADelaide has announced the full program for its innovative Planet Talks program. The festival is to be held in Adelaide 8-11 March 2013.

The Planet Talks is a series of environmentally-focused discussions and panels – a legacy of the WOMAD Earth Station event staged in 2011 and now a part of WOMADelaide. The Talks will focus on the core fundamentals of Food Security & Sustainability, Activism & Change and Population Growth.

The highlight of The Planet Talks will be a ‘one on one’ discussion on Population & Consumption between host of the ABC’s The Science Show, Robyn Williams and esteemed American author and biologist, Paul Ehrlich.

Biologist and Bing Professor of Population Studies at Stanford University, Paul Ehrlich’s 1968 book The Population Bomb, reignited the population debate and brought the issue into mainstream debates in the 1960s. Ehrlich is still considered to be one of the world’s most powerful voices warning about the impact of spiraling population growth on the limited resources of the planet, even 45 years after the book’s original publication.

WOMADelaide will hold seven Planet Talks sessions throughout the festival weekend.

From the Saturday until the Monday of the festival, each day will see two sessions held in Speakers Corner in Botanic Park. Saturday will cover ‘Taking Care of our Own Patch’ and ‘Food Security& Sustainability’, Sunday;‘Can Government Rise to the Challenge of Climate Change?’ and ‘Activism & Slacktivism’ and Monday ‘Population & Consumption’ and ‘The Elephant in the Room: The Limits to Growth.’

The Planet Talks speaker program also includes Environment Institute members Professor Corey Bradshaw and Professor Randy Stringer.

The full list of speakers and the program can be found on the WOMADelaide website – http://www.womadelaide.com.au/

WOMADelaide are  offering discounted tickets to Environment Institute members. These can be accessed online and by using the code planet talks.

While in Australia, Professor Ehrlich will also be giving a presentation in Canberra in late March. More details will be made available on the Environment Institute website soon.

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

Listen to Merinda Nash talk about her research into the effects of ocean acidification on tropical red algae and the discovery of dolomite.

Listen to the podcast from the recent seminar by Merinda Nash.

The Environment Institute’s Sprigg Geobiology Centre presented Merinda Nash from the Electronic Materials Engineering, Research School of Physics, Australian National University on Thursday 21st February 2013.

The talk was titled ‘Conditions constraining biomineralised dolomite in living tropical calcifying red algae offers insight into past environments’ (See Abstract Below)

Merinda Nash

Merinda Nash is a PhD candidate in the Electronic Materials Engineering group, Research School of Physics, at the Australian National University. Her research is into the physical properties of biogenic carbonates, particularly coral and coralline algae and how these may be impacted by ocean acidification.

 

 

ABSTRACT

Research into effects of ocean acidification on tropical calcifying red algae led to the surprising discovery that these algae precipitate substantial amounts (up to 30% of total carbonate) of dolomite contemporaneously with their living processes. Biomineralised dolomite is found within the cell spaces of living crustose coralline alga and has both rhomb and spheroidal morphologies. Alteration bands of dolomite and aragonite obliterate cell features leaving ghost outlines of original cells. There are many similarities between features of this modern dolomite paleo dolomite. It seems that this bio-dolomite is common in modern coral reefs and is constrained by light, temperature and water energy conditions. Our experiments showed that the presence of dolomite in the coralline algae reduces its rate of dissolution 6-10 times compared to only Mg-calcite coralline algae. This is due to a combination of reduced porosity and stability of the dolomite in-fill. Analysis of reef core coralline algae demonstrated that this bio-dolomite is stable over at least several thousand years and the original cell in-fill morphology is retained. The preferential preservation of dolomite rich red algae demonstrates a process for concentrating dolomite in shallow marine environments in elevated CO2 conditions. Biological ocean acidification experiments on calcifying algae have the potential to answer many questions about how dolomite forms, what is the isotope fractionation of this bio-dolomite and can this information be used to reconstruct past environments. This opens the door to new opportunities for biologists and geologists to collaborate to understand both the past and the future.

Read Merinda’s paper published in Nature that relates to this talk.

Download the podcast from this seminar.

Read Full Post »

‘Switch’ Energy Documentary – Exclusive Adelaide Screening

The University of Adelaide and Arcos Films would like to invite you to the exclusive Adelaide screening of Switch, a new award-winning documentary that moves past the politics to deliver the straight answers on energy.

Documentary screening followed by Q&A with Director Harry Lynch
Tuesday, 12th March 2013

Time: 6:00pm (6:30pm start) – 8:30pm

Where: Scott Theatre, North Terrace Campus, The University of Adelaide – click for map

Register for your complimentary tickets

(Seats are limited, register early to avoid disappointment)

About Switch

Is hydraulic fracturing polluting our water? How dangerous is nuclear? Will gasoline prices continue to rise? Can we clean up coal? Can renewables really power our future?

Switch delivers straight answers to today’s most controversial energy questions, as energy visionary Dr. Scott Tinker travels the world, exploring leading energy sites, from coal to solar, oil to biofuels, most of them highly restricted and never before seen on film. He seeks the truth from international leaders of government, industry and academia and then cuts through the confusion to discover a path to our energy future as surprising as it is practical.

Switch is part of the Switch Energy Project, a multi-pronged effort to build a global understanding of energy. This screening is part of over 250 universities across the globe participating in the GSA Switch Energy Awareness & Efficiency Program, which launched last fall at over 40 pilot schools with a student ambassador program, efficiency drive and screening of the film.

Audiences have called Switch “the first truly balanced energy film.” As no documentary before it, Switch has been embraced and supported by people across the energy spectrum: environmentalists and academics, fossil and renewable energy experts, scientists and economists.

“I took my students to a screening of Switch, and we spent most of the following class discussing it, a testament to its value as an educational tool. It was amazing…” — Amy Jaffe, Rice University Energy Program

If you drive a car, use a computer, or flick a light switch, you should see this film!” — Evan Hindman, Harvard University

“Switch really puts all the pieces together, and makes me optimistic for the future.” — Erin Geoffroy, Environmental Defense Fund

Visit the Switch Energy Project website to find out more.

 

Read Full Post »

Getting the Message Across, Talking Science – SARDI Seminar series

The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) presents a seminar by Dr Paul Willis on Thursday 21st February 2013.

The talk is titled ‘Getting the Message Across, Talking Science.’ Dr Paul Willis is the Director of the Royal Institute Australia (RiAus) and will be talking about his early career and how he became the current Director of RiAus. From crocodile fossil student to scientist, communicator, teacher to museum curator. Dr Paul Willis is a respected leader in the science community, and will also share his views on the role of RiAus and how it may evolve and possible collaboration opportunities with various research institutes.

When: Thursday 21 February 2013Where: SARDI Aquatic Sciences, 2 Hamra Avenue, West Beach
Time: 4pm
RSVP: RSVP to Louise Renfrey at louise.renfrey@sa.gov.au by Tuesday 19 February

Download the flyer to find out more.

Read Full Post »

Hear Merinda Nash talk about ocean acidification and opportunities for biologists and geologists to understand both the past and the future.

The Environment Institute’s Sprigg Geobiology Centre presents Merinda Nash from the Electronic Materials Engineering, Research School of Physics, Australian National University on Thursday 21st February 2013.

The talk is titled ‘Conditions constraining biomineralised dolomite in living tropical calcifying red algae offers insight into past environments’ (See Abstract Below)

Where: B18, Ingkarni Wardli Building, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide SA

Time: 12pm-1pm

When: Thursday 21st February 2013

REGISTER HERE

Merinda Nash

Merinda Nash is a PhD candidate in the Electronic Materials Engineering group, Research School of Physics, at the Australian National University. Her research is into the physical properties of biogenic carbonates, particularly coral and coralline algae and how these may be impacted by ocean acidification.

ABSTRACT

Research into effects of ocean acidification on tropical calcifying red algae led to the surprising discovery that these algae precipitate substantial amounts (up to 30% of total carbonate) of dolomite contemporaneously with their living processes. Biomineralised dolomite is found within the cell spaces of living crustose coralline alga and has both rhomb and spheroidal morphologies. Alteration bands of dolomite and aragonite obliterate cell features leaving ghost outlines of original cells. There are many similarities between features of this modern dolomite paleo dolomite. It seems that this bio-dolomite is common in modern coral reefs and is constrained by light, temperature and water energy conditions. Our experiments showed that the presence of dolomite in the coralline algae reduces its rate of dissolution 6-10 times compared to only Mg-calcite coralline algae. This is due to a combination of reduced porosity and stability of the dolomite in-fill. Analysis of reef core coralline algae demonstrated that this bio-dolomite is stable over at least several thousand years and the original cell in-fill morphology is retained. The preferential preservation of dolomite rich red algae demonstrates a process for concentrating dolomite in shallow marine environments in elevated CO2 conditions. Biological ocean acidification experiments on calcifying algae have the potential to answer many questions about how dolomite forms, what is the isotope fractionation of this bio-dolomite and can this information be used to reconstruct past environments. This opens the door to new opportunities for biologists and geologists to collaborate to understand both the past and the future.

Read Merinda’s paper published in Nature that relates to this talk.

Read Full Post »

Guest Speaker: Dr Geert Jan van Oldenborgh – Podcast now available

The podcast for the presntation by Dr Geert Jan van Oldenborgh is now available for download.

The Environment Institute’s Water Research Centre presented Dr Geert Jan van Oldenborgh from the Global Climate Research division of KNMI (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) on Tuesday 22nd January 2013.

Dr Geert Jan van Oldenborgh. Image courtesy of KNMI website

The talk was titled ‘Some examples how and why precipitation means and extremes are changing’ and covered mean precipitation trends, mean precipitation extremes and precipitation events (such as the Thailand floods, hourly precipitation extremes in the Netherlands & Hong Kong and more recent extremes in Manila and Queensalnd).

Dr. Geert Jan van Oldenborgh is senior researcher in the Global Climate Research division of KNMI. He is a climate analyst with a background in statistical analysis of observations, seasonal and decadal forecast verification, and climate event attribution. He combines these by applying seasonal forecast verification techniques to climate model output, verifying whether they are able to reproduce the observed changes. Recently, he used observations and models to consider the role of climate change on the Thailand and Manilla floods. As the author of the KNMI Climate Explorer he makes large amounts of climate observations, analyses and model output available for analysis to the wider climate-interested community. He is Lead Author for the IPCC WG1 AR5 (Chapter 11, Near-term projections and predictability, and Annex I Atlas).

Listen to the presentation.

ABSTRACT

Seasonal and annual mean precipitation trends are fairly well-observed and well-studied. This enables us to compare the observed trends to the trends simulated by the CMIP5 multi-model GCM ensemble used for the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, using a verification statistic from weather and seasonal forecasting: reliability. It turns out that the mismatch between observed and modelled trends is larger than expected on the basis of natural variability and the spread between the models. The reasons for this are as yet unknown.

In summer 2011 severe flooding occurred in Thailand, a region where modelled and observed trends agree well. An investigation into the causes of these floods showed that no anthropogenic factor could be found in the meteorological aspects: the precipitation was high but not far out of the historical record, and no significant trend to more precipitation could be found in the observations. Climate model simulations covering the same period also showed no trend in mean or variability. However, there were clear anthropogenic factors on the ground that increased the risk of flooding.

Trends in extreme precipitation are harder to study, as good observations are harder to get and models have more problems reproducing extremes. We present one example of hourly precipitation extremes in the Netherlands and Hong Kong. In spite of the differences in climate, both scale exactly the same as a function of dew-point temperature. The rise in extremes in the Netherlands can be attributed to the rise in temperature, and hence global warming. In Hong Kong the increase in extreme hourly precipitation in the rainy season is not related to the mean temperature increase.

Extreme precipitation events on the daily scale also have very different characteristics from seasonal mean extremes. We discuss preliminary results on the recent flooding in Manilla in 2012 and apply the same method to the Queensland floods of 2011 to compare with results of the experts in the audience.

Read Full Post »

AWA Young Water Professionals Technical Seminar

The Australian Water Association’s SA branch Young Water Professionals are hosting their first event of 2013.

The Technical seminar is titled ‘Woodhead Courtyard talk – Redevelopment of Minda’s Brighton site: Incorporating water sensitive urban design (WSUD) & other sustainability aspects.’ There will be speakers from Woodhead Architects and Aurecon who are involved with the redevelopment of Minda’s Brighton Site, which will incorporate Water Sensitive Urban Design. There will also be drinks and nibbles provided afterwards for networking.

When: Thursday 7th February
Where: Woodhead Office – Courtyard, 26-28 Chesser Street, Adelaide, SA 5000
Time: 5:15pm
Cost: YWP/AWA members – free, Non members – $20

Register by Monday 4th February.

Download the flyer to find out more or visit the AWA website.

 

 

Read Full Post »

ARC Information Session: Discovery Projects & Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards 2014

The University of Adelaide’s Research Branch are holding an ARC Discovery Projects and Discovery Early Career Researcher Award information session. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the ARC Discovery Projects and Discovery Early Career Researcher Award grants schemes. The guest presenter will be Professor Gus Nathan, Director, Centre for Energy Technology.

When: Thursday, 31st January 2013

Time: 12.30pm – 2pm

Where: Napier Building, LG29 (Lower Ground)

RSVP: Please rsvp to arcgrants@adelaide.edu.au with “ARC Info Session” in the subject line of your email.

Read Full Post »

Guest Speaker: Xavier Lambin – Podcast now available

The podcast from the presentation by Xavier Lambin is now available to download.

The Environment Institute presented Xavier Lambin from the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Aberdeen, UK on Monday 26th November 2012.

Xavier Lambin. Image courtesy of The University of Aberdeen

The talk was titled“Continent -wide dampening of population cycles in keystone herbivores; patterns, likely processes and consequences for predators.”

Download the PowerPoint here.

ABSTRACT
In recent years, evidence has emerged that dramatic changes in ecosystem processes and functioning are taking place across Europe under the joint impact of climate change and human-induced shift in land use. One of the most spectacular changes concerns the dampening in the fluctuations of populations of keystone herbivore species such as voles and moths with cyclical dynamics that took place nearly simultaneously in much of Europe in the 1990s. Changes in small herbivore dynamics have the potential to lead to ecosystem re-organisation and therefore represent a challenge for the conservation of biodiversity. However, there remains much uncertainty on what are the processes responsible for multi-annual cycles, how these might be modified by climate and whether the same set of processes operate in all cyclic vole populations. Furthermore, whether cycle dampening is general, or local, and result from extrinsic environmental changes or from intrinsic process stochasticity is currently unknown.

In this talk, Xavier first presented empirical and modelling developments on the demographic basis for vole cycles based on our long term studies. He then showed how seasonality and the destabilising influences of pathogen host interaction or changes in herbivore-induced changes in plant quality might interact with seasonality in the environment to lead to cyclic dynamics. Next, using the largest compilation of time series of vole abundances yet assembled, Xavier presented new analyses that demonstrate consistent cycle amplitude dampening associated with a reduction in winter vole population growth, and suggesting that regulatory processes responsible for cyclicity have not been lost. The underlying syndrome of change throughout Europe, species and ecosystems suggests a common climatic driver acting over very large scales. Our analyses suggest increasing periods of low amplitude small herbivore population fluctuations are expected in the future, with cascading impacts on trophic webs across ecosystems. Finally, Xavier illustrated the likely impact of changes on prey dynamics on the dynamics of birds of prey using our long terms studies on the demography of Tawny owls.

Read Full Post »