The Royal Society of Tasmania

The advancement of knowledge

ABN 65 889 598 100

Welcome to the new Council Members

 

In this update the Royal Society of Tasmania introduces

our new Vice President – Professor Jocelyn McPhie, Niamh Chapman – Councillor,

Shasta Henry – Student Councillor, and Peter Manchester – Councillor

 

§

 

Vice President – Professor Jocelyn McPhie – Vulcanologist

The Andes, Chile

 

 

Jocelyn McPhie is a geologist and for most of her career (1990 to 2015), held an academy position at  the University of Tasmania. As an academic, she conducted fundamental and applied research in volcanology, and taught volcanology and as well as other undergraduate geology units. Since retiring from the university, she has been consulting to the minerals industry, providing technical advice and professional training in volcanology. She maintain an adjunct position with the University of Tasmania, continuing to supervise PhD students and to participate in research projects.

 

 

 

 

 

Niamh Chapman – Councillor – Medical research

Niamh Chapman is a passionate medical researcher and science communicator. She is based at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research in the Blood Pressure Research Group. Niamh’s research is focused on the role of health policy and digital technology for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Niamh is the Founding Director of radio show and podcast That’s What I call Science, which won the national award for Best New Program 2019 from the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. That’s what I call Science is run by a team of women in STEM that aims to deliver accurate, accessible and engaging content on areas of public interest with expert guests from across the state of Tasmania. The podcast can be found on major streaming services or http://bit.ly/ThatsScienceTAS

Niamh is a member of the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance Emerging Leaders Committee, the Australian Society for Medical Research Tasmania state committee and the Tasmanian National Science Week Coordinating Committee.

 

 

 Shasta Henry (aka Bug Girl) – Student Councillor

Shasta is completing her PhD in 2020, investigating the impact of wildfire on Tasmania’s smallest alpine residents, invertebrates. She is a passionate Entomologist and educator, having transitioned to science and science communication from eco-tourism in 2009. During her time at Utas Shasta has completed a Bachelor of Science and Honours in zoology/entomology, worked as a tutor for Riawunnah and junior lecturer in the Geography department, volunteered as a Young Tassie Scientist and completed an internship at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington DC, “that’s how I got a species of beetle named after me.” She also maintains a public presence as the Bug Girl (https://www.facebook.com/TasBugGirl/) via ABC Radio, The Gourmet Farmer and Libraries Tasmania to name a few. Interpreting insects for the Tasmanian public Shasta often talks about insects as food, introduced pests, native pollinators, ecological adaptation and how to identify insects for kids. From her days working as a white water rafting guide and rock climbing instructor Shasta still loves to travel and explore nature, “but collecting insects is much easier on the knees.”

 

 

Peter Manchester – Councillor – Geochemist, photographer, orchid grower

Peter S Manchester B.Sc. (Hons), B.Ed. TTC.. Photographic Honors (AFIAP, AAPS, FAPS , FTPF)

Peter is Launceston born, educated at the University of Tasmania in geology, geochemistry and education. Apart from a short period at the Mines Department, then in ocean mining, he served National Service in Vietnam and Papua New Guinea. On return he served 40 years lecturing at TAFE, University and Colleges in geology, chemistry, still and video photography, multimedia(former Head of a Department) and recently geotourism to Australian and overseas to clients of all levels of experience. He is an accredited International judge in digital imagery and has conducted seminars, field trips and weekend getaways on Tasmanian Geology, photography and astronomy throughout Tasmania and mainland Australia. He was Australian President of the Australian Photographic Society in 2002 – 2006.

In 2010 Peter self-published a book on Tasmanian geology “Created fromChaos” – 100 geological sites in Tasmania which has been distributed Australia – wide. (now out of print but in process of writing the updated edition). In June this year Peter was given the challenge to photograph, write and publish a book and poster on Tasmanian fossils .. taking over from the late Dr. Max Banks.  He is also producing a booklet on “30 Tasmanian Geotrails” as a source of use for tourism.

Peter is a much sort after lecturer and educator in geology, geotourism,mineralogy and lecturers at places like U3A on various topics as scientific toys, inventions, meteorites and orchid growing. As an orchid grower he collects and presents at his place at Oakdowns.

April in Hobart – CANCELLED

The Council of the Royal Society has taken the decision to cancel this lecture. We will resume our program as soon as possible and hope to re-schedule the lecture at a later date. Thank you for your understanding.

The Royal Society of Tasmania

invites you to a lecture by

Susannah Fullerton

“Dr Johnson and his Dictionary”

 

Sunday 5th April 2020, 3:00pm

Royal Society Rooms, Customs House Building, 21 Davey St, Hobart
(Enter via Dunn Place)

Admission is free for Royal Society of Tasmania members (membership forms available)

$6 general admission; $4 for students and Friends of TMAG

♦

The idea for a comprehensive dictionary of the English language first arose with the Royal Society in 1664 – a committee was formed and there was considerable enthusiasm for the project. However, finding the right person

proved difficult and the idea was shelved. It was not until 1746 that a group of London booksellers approached Samuel Johnson and asked him to begin work on a dictionary. Johnson thought he could complete the task in three years – it took him seven, working single-handedly! But the result was a masterpiece and it made Johnson’s name.

Susannah Fullerton tells the extraordinary story, in an illustrated talk, of how the great dictionary was written, its quirks and errors, its method, reception and influence.  Get to know ‘Dictionary Johnson’ and his remarkable achievement.

Susannah Fullerton, OAM, FRSN, has been president of the Jane Austen Society of Australia, this country’s largest literary society, for the past 22 years. She is the author of several books on Jane Austen and gives many talks around the world about her favourite novelist.

Susannah also gives talks at libraries, schools, the Art Gallery of NSW and State Library of NSW on many other famous writers, such as Pepys, Oscar Wilde, the Brontës, Dickens, Trollope and many more.  She has written Brief Encounters: Literary Travellers in Australia about famous authors visiting Australia, and has also written and recorded two audio CDs, Finding Katherine Mansfield and Poetry to Fill a Room.  Susannah also leads literary tours to the UK, France, Italy, Scandinavia, NZ and America for Australians Studying Abroad.

 

 

Joint Geology Lecture May – UTAS

The Royal Society of Tasmania

together with

the Geological Society of Australia -Tasmanian Division 

 

are pleased to present

Dr Tony Webster

a joint lecture at the Geology Lecture Theatre, School of Earth Sciences,

UTAS, Sandy Bay

21 May 2020 @ 6.00 pm

 

Geology, landscape and European settlement: small things meant a lot.

 

Abstract: Historical accounts of the first European responses to Australian landscapes rarely mention the ways that their decisions were influenced by the terrain. This talk is about the role that geology and landscape played in the places chosen for permanent European settlements in Australia, and in the earliest land-use choices made as they adapted to their new environments. The most historically significant sites of first European settlement are now occupied by the modern central business districts of Australia’s largest cities and are now intensely urbanised and modified landscapes. Using examples from Hobart, Sydney and Perth, it will be shown that despite the intensity of two centuries of urban development and landscape modification, the geology and pre-European landscapes of these places had a profound influence on their early development. It will also be shown that the effects of the original land-forms remain deeply embedded in the modern urban landscapes. 

 

Dr. Tony Webster is a Hobart-based consulting geologist working with GeoDiscovery Group Ltd. Tony works on urban geology; particularly on how sub-surface geology and urban landforms impacted the earliest historical (settler) phases of development of Australia’s capital cities. He has a particular interest in understanding how the litho-structural architecture of complex mineralised systems can be applied to mining and geotechnical problems, and to near-mine exploration. Tony is also an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the W.H. Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre (BRC) at the University of Queensland, focussed on the foundational role of geological information in the successful design and safe life-of-mine operation of large-scale mines.

He is a fellow of the Geological Society of London, the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Society of Economic Geologists, as well as a member of the Geological Society of Australia, the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, the Australian Geomechanics Society and the Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology.

2020 Northern Lecture Calendar

The Northern Chapter of the Royal Society of Tasmania is pleased to present the 2020 Calendar for the Launceston Lecture series, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Inveresk.

The program commences on 23 February 2020.

A few dates are still to be finalised so please check back for updates.

2020 Lecture Calendar – Hobart

The Royal Society of Tasmania

Hobart lecture program for 2020:

 

We are pleased to present the Hobart lecture program for 2020. As usual, there is something for everyone and everything of value and interest to inquiring minds of all persuasions.

 

We would also like to announce a change to the session time for the Hobart lectures. It has been decided to follow the example of our Launcestonian confreres and hold the lectures on Sunday afternoons at 3 pm (except where otherwise indicated).  We hope that you will all find this convenient and an enlightening way to spend a Sunday afternoon, in the centre of Hobart’s cultural precinct.    

(Lectures will be held in the usual Society lecture rooms at TMAG, except where otherwise indicated).

 

Here is the calendar of speakers for the first Sunday of every month commencing in March. We look forward to seeing you there. Your feedback is always welcome.

 

Sunday 1st March – Old Woolstore, Macquarie Street: Prof. Jean-Philippe Beaulieu: The Secret Garden at Recherche Bay – 1792

Sunday 5th April: Susannah Fullerton: Dr Johnson and his dictionary. The idea of a decent dictionary was first mooted by the Royal Society.

Sunday 3rd May: Lauren Black: A botanical artist’s journey

Thursday 21 May: Additional joint lecture with Geological Society of Australia (6pm  – Geology lecture theatre Geo211, Geology/Geography Building, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay)

Sunday 7th June: Dr Geoff While: The social lives of lizard

Sunday 5th July:  MR Banks medallist *TBC

Sunday 2nd August: TMAG Culture Curator Kirstie Ross: ‘In pursuit of Tasmania’s West: A curator’s view’

Sunday 6th Sep: Clive Lord medallist *TBC

Sunday 4th October: Doctoral award winners *TBC

Sunday 1st Nov: Post graduate evening

Tuesday 1st Dec, Dinner Lecture – CSIRO Lecture Theatre: TBA*

 

* Please check back for updates *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pegasus_Mountains,_Antarctica.jpg