Lectures and Events

Introduction

The Royal Society of Tasmania's lecture program serves to promote public understanding and appreciation of science, the arts, and intellectual achievement. Delivered by distinguished experts across diverse fields, these lectures are designed to inform, inspire, and engage the Tasmanian community. By offering free and accessible presentations, the Society continues its long-standing mission to foster knowledge exchange and support lifelong learning throughout the state.

Upcoming Lectures and events

Jane Austen’s Legacy: 250 Glorious Years (SF) and The Jewels of the Regency Period (AD)
Speaker:
Susannah Fullerton OAM, FRSN and Adrian Dickens
Date:
2025-07-03 16:45:00
Venue:
The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, Marieville Esplanade, Sandy Bay
South
Midwinter Dinner and Lecture

Join Susannah Fullerton, one of Australia’s renowned experts on Jane Austen and Mr Adrian Dickens, a bespoke jeweller with extensive knowledge on some of the world’s most famous jewel collections, for an engaging midwinter lecture and dinner at The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. Please join us. Join us at 4.45pm for a 5pm lecture […]

Learn more
Orthopaedic Research in Launceston, Clifford Craig Foundation
Speaker:
Jonathan Mulford
Date:
2025-07-27 13:30:00
Venue:
QVMAG at Inveresk, Launceston
North
Lecture
In Pursuit of the ‘Cherry on Top’: how Ecophysiological Research enables Practice
Speaker:
Professor Dugald Close
Date:
2025-08-03 15:30:00
Venue:
Geology Lecture Theatre, UTas, Sandy Bay Campus
South
Lecture

Professor Dugald Close is Associate Head of Research at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture. His current research interests focus on temperate tree crop and wine grape nutrition, water and carbohydrate ecophysiology, including post-harvest science with the object of impact and outcomes via his contributions to industry development and extension. Join us for 3.30pm for refreshments, […]

Learn more
Hidden Treasures – Art Exhibitions
Speaker:
Ross Large
Date:
2025-08-09 08:00:00
Venue:
Oatlands - Heritage & Bullock Festival
North, South
Oatlands Heritage & Bullock Festival - 9th & 10th August 2025

The RST Art Committee has been busy preparing for a major series of exhibitions to run over the next three years. The concept behind the series is to bring the Society’s exceptional Art Collection to the people of regional Tasmania. The exhibition series opens in Oatlands in August 2025 with follow up Hidden Treasures exhibitions […]

Learn more
Luminous Tasmania: Nature That Glows in the Dark
Speaker:
Dr Lisa-Ann Gershwin
Date:
2025-08-24 13:30:00
Venue:
QVMAG at Inveresk, Launceston
North
Lecture
Celebrate National Science Week
Speaker:
To be confirmed closer to the event
Date:
2025-08-28 17:30:00
Venue:
Hobart Brewing Company, Evans Street, Hobart
South
Beer Aquatic / National Science Week Event

Celebrate National Science Week with a special lecture at the Hobart Brewing Company, presented in partnership with the Beer Aquatic. An informative and entertaining evening awaits! Check the website closer to the date for more details. Join us for pre-lecture drinks at 5:30, 6pm for the lecture

Learn more
Antarctic Sea Ice loss: Causes and Impacts of ‘Gobsmacking’ Changes
Speaker:
Dr Edward Doddridge
Date:
2025-09-07 15:30:00
Venue:
Geology Lecture Theatre, UTAS, Sandy Bay Campus
South
2024 Peter Smith Medal Lecture

Please join us for a revealing lecture presented by Dr Edward Doddridge, recipient of the RST 2024 Peter Smith Medal. Loss of Antarctic Sea Ice is of global concern. Why is it happening and what are the ramifications of this catastrophic event? Join us for pre-lecture drinks at 3:30, 4pm for the lecture

Learn more
Spring Harvest: Art and Collectables
Speaker:
Date:
2025-09-21 15:00:00
Venue:
Private home, 96 King Street, Sandy Bay
South
The RST Spring Art Auction

Please join us for an engaging afternoon enjoying festive drinks and delicious treats and including our Objets D’art and Collectables Auction to help raise funds for restoration of our precious Art Collections.

Learn more
Education in Tasmania: Improving Outcomes and the Role of The University of Tasmania
Speaker:
Professor Leanne McLean
Date:
2025-09-28 13:30:00
Venue:
QVMAG at Inveresk, Launceston
North
Elvin Fist Lecture
Geological Survey of Tasmania’s History and Role in Understanding the Geology of Tasmania
Speaker:
Dr Andrew McNeill
Date:
2025-10-05 13:30:00
Venue:
QVMAG at Inveresk, Launceston
North
Joint meeting with the Geological Society of Australia
Titles will reflect the status of their research at the time.
Speaker:
2024 RST Doctoral award winners Dr Ingrid Cox and Dr Manon Simon
Date:
2025-10-05 15:30:00
Venue:
South
2024 RST Doctoral Award Lectures

Our Doctoral Medallist for 2024 Dr Ingrid Cox and Dr Manon Simon will present on their most current research findings. Dr Cox studies the population, their environment, influences on their health and access to healthcare resources. Dr Simon studies transferability of lessons from the goverce of weather modification techniques to the goverce of solar radiation […]

Learn more
In a warming world, how do we coexist with fire?
Speaker:
Professor David Bowman
Date:
2025-11-02 15:30:00
Venue:
Geology Lecture Theatre, UTAS, Sandy Bay Campus
South
Lecture

Professor David Bowman is an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow and the Director of the transdisciplinary Fire Centre at UTas where he holds a research chair in Pyrogeography and Fire Science. David is recognised as a thought leader in wildfire science and management publishing influential research in high-impact journals, providing policy advice to government, and […]

Learn more
An Unsettling Medium: A Curatorial Reflection on the Materiality and Meaning of ‘Hair’ Across Culture(s)
Speaker:
Burcu Keane
Date:
2025-11-23 13:30:00
Venue:
QVMAG at Inveresk, Launceston
North
Annual QVMAG Staff Lecture
Words and ‘Wordability’
Speaker:
Dr Danielle Wood
Date:
2025-12-04 18:00:00
Venue:
University Staff Club, 38a Dobson Road, UTAS Campus Sandy Bay
South
Annual Christmas Dinner and Lecture

Dr Danielle Wood is a Senior Lecturer in English in the School of Humanities UTas, and a well-known author and commentator on human-social issues. Danielle says ‘The English language is in a constant state of evolution. Each year, the world’s major English language dictionaries nominate a Word of the Year: often a neologism, but sometimes […]

Learn more

Acknowledgement of Country

The Royal Society of Tasmania acknowledges, with deep respect, the traditional owners of this land, and the ongoing custodianship of the Aboriginal people of Tasmania. The Society pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that Tasmanian Aboriginal Peoples have survived severe and unjust impacts resulting from invasion and dispossession of their Country. As an institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, the Royal Society of Tasmania recognises Aboriginal cultural knowledge and practices and seeks to respect and honour these traditions and the deep understanding they represent.

aboriginalflag

On 15 February 2021, the Royal Society of Tasmania offered a formal Apology to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Read more