In 2007 we will continue our tradition of presenting the highest quality speakers on a wide range of fascinating topics. So why not join us?

16 FEBRUARY

Dr John Long

Chief Science Officer, Museum Victoria

Tetrapod evolution

Dr John Long from the Museum of Victoria will be talking about exciting new fossil finds in China and Australia which shed light on the evolution of four-legged animals from their acquatic ancestors.

“The transition from fishes to tetrapods was one of the most dramatic events in the evolution of vertebrates, but many pivotal fossils are incomplete, resulting in gaps in our understanding of how animals came to inhabit the land – but this find helps us fill in the gaps,” Head of Sciences at Museum Victoria Dr John Long said.

Related links:  Fish Fossil Find  and Gogo fish article

___________________________________________________

16 MARCH

Prof. Alan Trounson

Stem Cell Research

Professor of Stem Cell Science
Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories

Related links: Heart Cells and Latest research on stem cells 

The key recommendation of the Lockhart Report is that:    Human somatic cell nuclear transfer should be permitted, under licence, to create and  use human embryo clones for research, training and clinical application, including the  production of human embryonic stem cells, as long as the activity satisfies all the criteria  outlined in the amended Act and these embryos are not implanted into the body of a woman  or allowed to develop for more than 14 days. 

See also news items on this topic.

___________________________________________________

20 APRIL

Dr Andrew Melatos

Physics Dept. Melbourne University

Nuclear Power

Related links: Nuclear Power Basics  How Nuclear Power Works   Wikipedia entry for nuclear power

___________________________________________________

19 MAY

Dr Andrew Prentice

Reader, School of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Monash University

A Mathematician's Journey to the Beginning of the Solar System

Related links: article about this topic 

___________________________________________________

15 JUNE

Cancelled

___________________________________________________

20 JULY

Dr Ben Kefford

Research Fellow

School of Applied Sciences

RMIT

Environmental Research in Antarctica

Related links: Safeguarding Sea Life in Antarctica 

___________________________________________________

17 AUGUST

Jason Major

Manager

Gene Technology Information Service

Genetically modified organisms and gene technology

Related links: GMO (Wikipedia),   Monsanto

___________________________________________________

21 SEPTEMBER

CSIRO  Energy Transformed Flagship

Australia's energy future.

CSIRO report on energy futures released.

After two years of research and debate, the CSIRO's report was released in December 2006. The report primarily examines the issue of addressing climate change since this was identified early on in the process by the EFF as the most pressing concern for the Australian energy sector

Related links:  http://www.csiro.au/csiro/content/standard/ps2k2.html

 

___________________________________________________

19 OCTOBER

Dr Lindy Lumsden

The Conservation of Insectivorous Bats

Related link: from the ABC's program Catalyst
 

Bats – the missing link in insect control Lindy Lumsden's research over the last 25 years has revealed the rich diversity of insectivorous bats across rural Victoria. Fresh from university zoology, she started measuring Victorian wildlife populations. Along the way she realised that practically no one was studying these small bats. She rose to the challenge. Conducting research on animals that are small, cryptic, nocturnal, and silent (to our ears) requires innovation and dedication. In the course of her research Lindy has developed much innovative technology that is now being used by bat researchers worldwide including a system for rapidly analysing thousands of bat calls. Lindy and her team have discovered that bats play a much larger ecological role than anyone had imagined, probably eating more insects than birds and other predators combined. And she has shown that most bats can cope with changing land use – provided that remanent vegetation is protected. Bats depend on old and dead trees for shelter during the day.

Dr Lindy Lumsden

Lindy travels across rural Victoria demonstrating to farmers that they, and the environment, benefit from bat conservation. She has published extensively in the scientific literature, gives 20 to 30 talks a year to community groups, and is president of the Australasian Bat Society.

Now she is working to measure the potential of bats in integrated pest control. She hopes to show that conservation measures to protect bats will also help farmers fight insect pests and reduce dependence on chemicals.

And there is still much to learn about bats. We don't even know how long they live. Lindy's closest bat friend – George – has already been with her for 15 years.

_______________________________________________________________

16 NOVEMBER

Dr Malcolm Dobbin

Chief Medical Advisor on drug and alcohol addiction

Department of Community Services

Drug Addiction and Treatment

Related links: About heroin The science and ethics of treatment for addiction  The Science of Marijuana

___________________________________________________________________________________________

OTHER TOPICS (TO BE CONFIRMED)

• Artificial Intelligence - Assoc. Prof. Lin Padgham Related links: Artificial Intelligence (Wikipedia), What Is Artificial Intelligence? 
  
• Mars - the next frontier - Dr Nick Hoffman Related links: White Mars  Water on Mars  Water on Mars - who are they trying to kid? 
  
• Australian Oceanographic Research
• Medical research - what are the big issues?
• Philosophy of Science
• Australia's water resources
• Science as an inspiration for art
• the History Wars Related link: History Wars