Today at IUGG: Man v the World. Are we producing more CO2 than the planet? And could we reduce the impact of climate change through climate engineering. That’s the topic of a media briefing today at IUGG in Melbourne. You can participate in person or on line – details below.
And tonight meet join Ed Sykes from the Australian Science Media Centre, Dr Mark Quigley, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch and Professor Kevin Furlong, Professor of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University to discuss how scientists, science communicators and the media dealt with this year’s natural disasters. What are the lessons for future reporting?
The event kicks off at 6:00pm at the Clare Café 421 Rathdowne St, Carlton (cnr of Palmerston St). It’s a free event with food and drinks at bar prices. Details below.
MEDIA ALERT: Man Vs The World
ONLINE NEWS BRIEFING – Tue 05 July at 10.30am AEST
We often hear about rising greenhouse gases and pollutants caused by our love of cars, cheap flights and latest gadgets, but there are also emissions spewing forth from natural events such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires and underwater vents. How do these scales of emission compare and how should we be focussing our efforts? We have three top experts who are speaking at the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) conference in Melbourne on hand to discuss all the issues.
Join the briefing to ask questions such as:
- Who is the bigger emitter of greenhouse gases – man or the natural environment?
- How can we tell where the gases have come from?
- What other pollutants is the earth spewing out and do they overshadow man’s efforts?
- Does it actually matter whether only a minority of emissions are man’s if that’s enough to tip the balance to global warming?
- There are huge efforts looking to reduce man’s emissions, could we be doing anything to trap the earth’s?
SPEAKERS:
- Mr Ian Galbally, Chief Research Scientist, Marine & Atmospheric Research, CSIRO
- Dr Fred Prata, Senior Scientist, Climate and Atmosphere Department, Norwegian Institute for Air Research
- Dr Michael MacCracken, Chief Scientist for Climate Change Programs with the Climate Institute, Washington, U.S. and past president of the International Association for Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences
BRIEFING DETAILS:
DATE: Tue 05 July
START TIME: 10.30am AEST
DURATION: Approx. 45 min
VENUE: Online (If you wish to attend the briefing in person at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre then please let us know and go to the registration desk for the IUGG conference)
JOINING ONLINE:
Journalists can follow the briefing online via audio and video streaming. Each presenter will speak for 5 minutes followed by questions. Journalists will have the opportunity to ask questions online.
1. Go to the briefing web portal by clicking here 5 minutes before the start time or anytime during the briefing. Alternatively go to www.aussmc.org and follow the links.
2. Enter your name and email address
3. Click “Join”.
(System requirements: You will need a broadband connection and speakers/headphones to hear the event. Allow 1-2 mins for your computer to be configured correctly, install ActiveX, if asked)
*Note* some Fairfax journalists may not be able to access the online system due to a firewall issue.
PHONE ONLY ACCESS:
1. For phone only access please call: 1800 671 909.
2. Enter access code 820 883 183#. Wait for the prompt and press #.
Radio stations can also record the briefing over a phone line. If you would like to make sure that you can connect, please contact us to arrange a quick test before the day.
If you have any problems joining the briefing online, phone WebEx on 1800 12 92 78 quoting event number 820 883 183.
Audio files will be posted on our website at www.aussmc.org as soon as possible after the event.
For further information, please contact the AusSMC on 08 7120 8666 or email info@aussmc.org.
Media assistance for these stories:
- Simon Torok, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, 0409 844-302, Simon.Torok@csiro.au
- AJ Epstein, Science in Public, 0433 339 141, aj@scienceinpublic.com.au
- AusSMC on 08 7120 8666 or email info@aussmc.org.
Communicating science in a crisis; 6-7.30pm Tuesday 5 July
Join Ed Sykes from the Australian Science Media Centre and Dr Mark Quigley, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch to discuss how scientists, science communicators and the media dealt with this year’s natural disasters. What are the lessons for future reporting.
Ed gained a PhD in evolutionary biology from the University of Edinburgh before joining the UK Science Media Centre where he led on many of the most high-profile scientific issues of the time including swine flu, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the volcanic ash cloud that ground aircraft across Europe for weeks and the ongoing issue of vaccinations. In February 2011 he joined the Australian Science Media Centre for a 12 month stint as their Media Manager just in time for the Sendai tsunami.
Mark brings a remarkable professional and personal insight to the recent earthquakes: “I was born in London, Ontario, Canada, where my parents presently live. My love of earth science began out of a desire to have adventures like Indiana Jones and to wear running shoes to work. This led me through the halls of the University of Toronto (1995-99), University of New Mexico (2000-02), and the University of Melbourne (2003-2008). I am now a Senior Lecturer in Active Tectonics and Tectonic Geomorphology at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. I presently live in the suburb of Avonside in Christchurch.”
I’ll chair the conversation.
The event kicks off at 6:00pm at the Clare Café 421 Rathdowne St, Carlton (cnr of Palmerston St). It’s a free event with food and drinks at bar prices.
Coming soon in Melbourne
At the XVIII International Botanical Congress, 23-30 July, scientists will report on research from the molecular level to global food security and environmental change. The program also includes public lectures on: the future of wines under climate change;, strategies for conserving the 20 per cent of plant species faced with extinction yet of vital importance for our lives; botanical illustration as botanical education; and how an Atlas of Living Australia contributes to research and policy making.
A lunchtime debate on Wednesday 27 July asks: can we solve tomorrow’s environmental and energy problems by using life itself?
Jeff Powell, University of Sydney, and Kirsten Heimann, James Cook University, will argue that we should prioritise research into microbes to find solutions to problems such as climate change while David Mabberly from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in London and Kevin Thiele, Curator of the WA Herbarium will be speaking for the plants.
More info at http://www.ibc2011.com
Asian psychiatrists will meet in the 3rd World Congress of Asian Psychiatry 2011 from 31 July – 4 August. The opening address will be given by The Hon Ted Baillieu, Premier of Victoria, and 2010 Australian of the Year Pat McGorry will talk on the mental health of teenagers and young adults. Psychiatrists from many specialities will discuss the latest findings in psychiatry research relevant to practictioners in the Asia Pacific region – representing over 40 countries that host over 60% of global population.
This congress will blend philosophy, the practical and the spiritual, venerable Eastern wisdom and cutting edge Western science with demonstrated dynamic results.
More info at http://www2.kenes.com/wcap/Pages/Home.aspx