Welcome to our November bulletin celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity (IYOB).

October saw the launch of the crocheted coral reef, the discovery of science, policy, leadership and action in Wellington, New Zealand, and discussion of the politics of biodiversity in Canberra.

Here’s a taster of what’s on in November:

• The Melbourne performance collective ‘The Masters of Space and Time’ are performing at the Australian Museum: Swamped is a razor-sharp black comedy demonstrating how the universe twists good intentions into disastrous consequences.
• There are more than 25 events taking place around the country over the month including asparagus fern eradication in NSW; biodiversity photography in the Murray Darling; the Dunstan dialogues in SA, discovering Victoria’s marine sanctuaries; and butterfly study in WA.
• And have you visited the biodiversity website lately? You can find out what would you look like as a snail, fish or bat with Monkey Me! www.biodiversity2010.org.au/?monkeyme.
• Next month The Ecological Society of Australia will be holding their annual conference ‘Sustaining biodiversity: the next 50 years’. [continue reading…]

Welcome to our October bulletin celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity (IYOB).

This month Biodiversity Year gets serious, and fun.

• Two weeks ago the UN General Assembly debated the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Secretary General announced that the world isn’t meeting the 2010 targets.
• Later this month all 193 parties to the Convention are scheduled to meet in Nagoya, Japan, to adopt a strategic plan on biodiversity and a 2050 biodiversity vision.
• And the Sydney Moring Herald reports that the Australian government’s biodiversity plan will be released later this month – more on this below in ‘News’.
• Meanwhile, back at the grass roots…there are more than 45 events taking place around the country over the month.
• And what would you look like as a snail, fish or bat? Try Monkey Me and find discover your inner animal. [continue reading…]

In this bulletin:

• Networking with science communicators tonight at the Three Degrees Bar, Melbourne
• Brunch with the Naked Scientist at the Clare Café, Carlton
• UN conference – public events, a call for volunteers and information
• Upcoming media training courses in Melbourne and Sydney
• Thirty stories for thirty years
• An online calendar for physics events
• Register your biodiversity events
• The Stupid Species: Why everyone (except you) is an idiot
• Where’s Tim?

[continue reading…]