“The Australian Meteorological & Oceanographic Society (AMOS) is an independent Australian society that supports and fosters interest in meteorology, oceanography and other related sciences. This is done by providing a forum for people with a common interest, and by publishing relevant material. The Society helps all those with an interest in the environment including research workers and professionals, those whose work is affected by, and affects, the atmosphere and oceans, and those who simply want to keep up with new findings.

The South Australian branch of AMOS is seeking essays on any topic of climate, atmospheric or oceanographic science for the 2011 Student Essay Prize of AMOS South Australia. The winner will receive $500 and the essay will be presented to the SA-AMOS members at the annual general meeting late in 2011. Hurry, applications close Friday 2nd December!
To find out more, download the pdf flyer: AMOS Student Prize 2011

AMOS invites those interested to attend their AGM on Wednesday 7th December in North Adelaide. More information: AMOS Adelaide AGM Flyer…”

“This week long event gives attendees the opportunity to view a variety of hands-on workshops and seminars that show case the real life relevance and problem solving of the major challenges that the world faces today. This is your opportunity to discover what today’s innovative research is all about and what the real life impacts might look like tomorrow. Prof Monro will be presenting a 3 minute snapshot of her current research at Meet the Researchers on Wednesday 2nd November at 5:30pm, along with 9 other University researchers, followed by an opportunity to talk with them over tea and coffee.

Further information on Research Week and register for events that interest you….”

“Come and see two teams debate the topic:

“Agriculture should be exempt from greenhouse gas reduction schemes”

Ensuring that Australia’s agricultural industries remain profitable and productive while reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a major challenge.

About 20% of the total greenhouse gas emissions globally come from agriculture. Agricultural emissions are mainly methane and nitrous oxide which are much more potent that carbon dioxide. This means agriculture potentially contributes more to greenhouse gas emissions than other industries. In Australia, livestock is our third largest source of emissions, equal to transport, and make up about 70% of those from agriculture.
Reducing emissions from agriculture could contribute significantly to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Does agriculture have an obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? If other sectors are included in reduction schemes such as the ‘carbon tax’, shouldn’t agriculture be included too? Could there be new business opportunities for rural communities with schemes to offset greenhouse gas emissions? What are the consequences for the environment if agricultural emissions are not reduced?
On the other hand, agriculture is based on variable and interacting biological systems. Is it even possible to monitor its greenhouse gas emissions accurately? Do we have enough knowledge now to reduce emissions from agriculture? Would reduction schemes decrease Australia’s international competiveness in food and fibre production, along with our export earnings? What would be the likely impact on the profitability of Australian farms?

Will you be for or against?

Affirmative Team
Prof Phil Hynd, Deputy Head, Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide
Dr Murray Unkovich, Lecturer in Soil Science, University of Adelaide
Mick Keogh, Executive Director, Australian Farm Institute

Negative Team
Prof Mike Young, Executive Director, The Environment Institute, University of Adelaide
Prof Wayne Meyer, Chair of Natural Resource Science, University of Adelaide
Prof Tony Peacock, Chief Executive, Cooperative Research Centres Association

Moderator
Ian Doyle, President, Rural Media SA

When: Thursday 3rd November, 6.00 pm – 8.30 pm
Where: Lirra Lirra Cafe, Waite Campus, The University of Adelaide, Waite Rd, Urrbrae

Finger food provided. A cash bar will be open throughout the event

Admission free. Bookings essential

Register online at eventbrite or call 83036729

Download flyer …”

“The 4^th Annual Postgraduate Symposium occurs next Wednesday and Thursday (October 5-6).   The School of Agriculture, Food and Wine expects all students (and supervisors) to attend where possible as this represents one of the many training opportunities the School provides for our Postgraduates.

The program is filled with many interesting topics and offers a unique opportunity for all mid-candidature students to explain their work and for the entire School to hear about the broad range of ground-breaking research going on here at the moment.

The venue this year will be the ‘Charles Hawker Centre Auditorium’ and both morning/afternoon teas and lunch will be provided by various sponsors.

The program starts both mornings at 9am and finishes at 5pm. There will be sponsored prizes and a social event immediately following the Symposium on Thursday 6^th October.

For further information about the Timetable go to:  2011 Postgraduate Symposium…”

“Last week over 130 people attended the Waite Research Institute’s inaugural Debate @ the Waite, on the motion “Increasing agricultural production is the only sure way to feed 9 billion people by 2050”.

The event, held at Lirra Lirra Cafe at the Waite Campus of the University of Adelaide was moderated by Dr Paul Willis, Director of the Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus). The debaters on the evening were:

On arrival the audience was invited to vote on whether they were for or against the motion. Speakers for each of the two teams had 5 minutes to present their team’s case, followed by questions and comments from the audience. Each team member then had two minutes to provide a final point before the audience was invited to vote again.

The affirmative team argued that increasing food production, in particular in less developed countries expecting the highest rates of population growth, is the only way to feed 9 billion people by 2050. They gave examples of how existing knowledge could be used to increase on-farm productivity. They argued that redistribution of food through trade, or targeting wastage would not increase food availability in the hunger hot spots.

The negative team argued although hunger is real, food scarcity is not. We produce enough calories to feed the population currently, but it is international trade policies and an inefficient food system (in particular post-harvest) that cause hunger. They also argued that wastage is a big problem and that overcoming this will further contribute to alleviating food shortages. They argued that without addressing these issues, increasing agricultural production alone will not feed 9 billion people by 2050.

The initial vote showed that 60% of the audience intended to vote in favour of the motion. However, at the conclusion of the debate, 73% of the audience voted for against, indicating the negative team had argued their points persuasively…”

“We are pleased to announce that Minister Penny Wong and Professor Mike Young – along with a panel of three more South Australian leaders – are participating in a free public forum on the complex and ‘wicked’ problem of climate change.

Currently, we struggle to get our climate change discussion past immediate hip-pocket lines. In our public debates it is difficult to talk about the sort of future we want for ourselves, our families, our communities, Australia and globally.

This forum will tackle the issue head on. What type of leadership is required? What does it take to create and manage significant and complex change? And could it be that we’re actually seeing a lot of this leadership but missing the wood for the trees?

The forum is not a debate on the science of climate change. We have more than enough knowledge about human impact to act. However, given most people in our community accept the science but the debate about how best to act can seem viciously polarised and stuck, what should our leaders do?

Book now! This will be a very popular event and there are limited places despite the selected venue.

We hope to see you Thursday, 29 September, 6-7:30pm at the Masonic Hall, 254 North Terrace, Adelaide.

This event is being held as a partnership between the Environment Institute and the Leaders Institute of South Australia …”

“Come and hear two teams debate the topic: Increasing agricultural production is the only sure way to feed 9 billion people by 2050

Ensuring global food security for future generations is one of the greatest challenges of our time.

Increases in agricultural productivity in the second half of the 20^th century did much to alleviate hunger in developing countries. However, the rate of this productivity increase is slowing. Do we need another ‘green revolution’ to feed our growing population? Should the focus of investment be on the sustainable intensification of agriculture? Can we continue to push agricultural productivity further while still meeting expectations that resources will be used more efficiently and without harming the environment?

Australian consumers waste large amounts of food every year, and we are not alone. In addition to consumer wastage, vital foodstuffs are lost on the journey from paddock to plate. Political issues can also prevent the movement of food from places of excess to places of need. Do we already produce enough food to feed our growing population? Should the focus of investment be on reducing waste along food value-chains? Is food security a problem of politics rather than production?

At this exciting and important debate moderated by Dr Paul Willis (Royal Institution of Australia), six experts in two teams will argue for your vote.

Team for the affirmative

• Prof Rick Roush, Dean, Melbourne School of Land and Environment, University of Melbourne
• Dr Andrew Jacobs, Research Fellow, Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, University of Adelaide
• Prof Roger Leigh, Director, Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide

Team for the negative

• John Webster, Chief Executive, Foodbank Australia Ltd.
• Dr Wendy Umberger, Lecturer in Agricultural Economics, University of Adelaide
• Andrew Stoler, Executive Director, Institute for International Trade, University of Adelaide

Will you be for or against?

When: Thursday 25^th August, 6.00 pm – 8.30 pm
Where: Lirra Lirra Cafe, Waite Campus, The University of Adelaide, Waite Rd, Urrbrae

Admission free. Bookings essential

Register online at eventbrite or call 83036729
Download flyer (pdf)…”

“Download a podcast of Dr John Paterson’s presentation on “Ancient Seafood on Kangaroo Island: Documenting the Rise of Animals Over Half a Billion Years Ago”, presented by the Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity.

Dr John Paterson is the Convenor and Senior Lecturer in Earth Sciences School of Environmental & Rural Science at University of New England.

Abstract:

The Cambrian Period (542–488 million years ago) is arguably the most profound phase in the evolution of life, marking the initial appearance and radiation of most animal groups that exist today. The early Cambrian (515 million-year-old) Emu Bay Shale on Kangaroo Island, South Australia provides a unique window into this evolutionary burst, containing a vast array of exceptionally preserved fossils, with many specimens revealing soft-part anatomy (e.g., eyes and guts) that is rarely preserved in the fossil record. Recent excavations have revealed that the Emu Bay Shale biota comprises over 50 species (to date), more than half of which are new to science and await documentation. This talk focuses on these exciting new discoveries…”

“From 8-10 July the Environment Institute offered 10 postgraduate students the opportunity to be involved in re-instating large areas of habitat for some of KI’s rarest plant life.  This year over 120,000 seedlings, many of them endemic to KI, were planted.

The plantation took place at Kangaroo Island, Cygnet Park Sanctuary, 20km west of Kingscote. The plantings took place over 60 hectares of a 300 hectare property where plantings have taken place in previous Festivals.

Approximately 300 volunteers were involved, of which 20 were Adelaide postgraduate students sponsored by the Environment Institute….”