Presentation by Dr Brendan Vote
QVMAG – Inveresk
Sunday, 26th May 2013. Commencing 2.00 pm until .
Welcome to our new website
Welcome to the new website of The Royal Society of Tasmania.
The Royal Society of Tasmania is the oldest scientific society in Australia and New Zealand and the third oldest Royal Society in the Commonwealth.
The Society was founded in 1843 by Sir John Eardley-Wilmot, Lieutenant Governor, as the Botanical and Horticultural Society of Van Diemen’s Land. Its aim was to ‘develop the physical character of the Island and illustrate its natural history and productions’.
Queen Victoria became Patron in 1844 and the name was changed to The Royal Society of Tasmania of Van Diemen’s Land for Horticulture, Botany and the Advancement of Science. Under the current relevant Act of Parliament, passed in 1911, the name was shortened to The Royal Society of Tasmania. A branch of the Society was formed in Launceston in 1853. It lapsed but was reconstituted in 1921 and has continued since then.
In its early years, the Society established the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. It also began building up substantial collections of both art and natural history specimens, all housed in The Royal Society of Tasmania Museum. These collections became the basis of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery when, in 1885, the Society gave them to the Government, reserving ownership only of mostly works on paper. In 1965, these remaining works – some 700 – were placed on long-term loan with the state institution.
The Society also built up a substantial Library which is now housed in the Morris Miller Library in the University of Tasmania.
Systematic methods for Natural Disaster Risk Management – 7th May, 2013
Presentation by Dr Marlene Kanga FIEAust CPEng
The Royal Society Room TMAG 19 Davey St Hobart
Tuesday, 7th May 2013 Commencing 8.00 pm until 9.00 pm
Combined lecture with Members of Engineers Australia
About the Speaker
Dr. Marlene Kanga is National president of Engineers Australia and one of the most influential engineers in Australia. She is a Chartered chemical engineer with extensive experience in risk and safety engineering. Marlene is an experienced business leader and is Director of iOmniscient Pty. Ltd. which has developed patented software technology for automated camera based surveillance systems, currently used in smart city projects and winner of a National Engineering Excellence Award in 2010. As a member of the Engineers Australia Council since 2007, she has been responsible for many transformational changes especially to make the profession more inclusive. In 2012, she was Chair of the Innovation Task Force promoting innovation in engineering. Marlene was Chair of the National Committee for Women in Engineering in 2008 and 2009 and is currently a Board Member of the International Network for Women Engineers and Scientists. She represents Australia at the World Federation of Engineering Organisations and hosts an international committee which is developing resources for natural disaster risk management in developing countries. To hear Dr Kanga interviewed by Ryk Goddard, 936 ABC Hobart Breakfast Show paste this link into your browser. http://blogs.abc.net.au/tasmania/2013/05/how-to-plan-for-natural-disasters-and-why-women-dont-have-to-be-better-than-men-anymore.html
Brief Abstract of the Talk
The increasing trend in the number and severity of natural disasters has increased the level of devastation and loss to people all around the world. These events threaten the sustainable development and security of people. The application of sound principles of systematic natural disaster risk management is therefore becoming increasingly important. This presentation will provide an overview of systematic natural disaster risk management and the role of both structural and non-structural measures for sustainable construction and development. The use of such measures, supported by high level government policy, is important for all countries but especially less developed ones where widespread damage after a natural disaster has a significant human and economic cost. Approaches to natural disaster risk management used by in different parts of Australia will be presented as case studies to demonstrate the benefits of good practices for sustainable development.
A Working, Clean Coal Power Station: an Experiment to Combat Climate Change – Mr Barry Waining – 28 April 2013
Presentation by Mr Barry Waining
QVMAG – Inveresk
Sunday, 28th April 2013 Commencing 2.00 pm until
Please RSVP by Thursday 25 April 6323 3798
About the Speaker
MR WAINING won an Engineering Cadetship in 1960 to attend Sydney University and graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering. He worked in the Electricity Commission of NSW until 1981 before becoming Chief Engineer of Mitsubishi Australia Ltd. In he 1986 moved to position of Chief Engineer Mitsui & Co Australia and to General Manager Commercial in IHI Engineering Australia Pty Ltd in 1993. He was appointed as Director & Chief General Manager in 2000 until retirement in September 2008. Mr Waining worked his entire professional career on heavy engineering projects including Power Stations Steelworks and shipping amongst other smaller projects.
Brief Abstract of the Talk
Australia’s electricity consumption is growing at about 2% per annum. 75% of this supply is generated using coal as a fuel. With the total installed coal fired capacity in excess of 40,000MW replacement costs in the power generating equipment would be in excess of $80 billion without considering the newly developing and expensive low emission technologies. To address the growing concern of carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, something needs to be done to clean up the emissions from existing generating plants. The presentation will focus on one of the ‘clean coal’ technologies – that of firing black coal in oxygen which produces combustion products of carbon dioxide and water vapour. After removal of the water vapour, the carbon dioxide can be conveniently compressed into a liquid form for geosequestration underground.
Edgeworth David in Antarctica – 9th April 2013
Presentation by Dr Jenny Gardner
TMAG-meet at main entrance in the courtyardHobart
Tuesday, 9th April 2013 Commencing 8.00 pm until 9.00 pm
Please note: minor change of venue
About the Speaker
Dr Jenny Gardner was, until 2004, a lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of Tasmania, Launceston. She then moved to the Centre for University Learning and Teaching in Hobart where she worked with both staff and students across all faculties to support academic teaching and learning. She is the great grand-daughter of Professor Sir Edgeworth David.
Brief Abstract of the Talk
Professor Sir Edgeworth David (1858 – 1934), while virtually unknown now (except in Antarctic and geological circles), played a significant role in Shackelton’s 1907-9 expedition. In 1908-9 he lead the three man Northern Party to the South Magnetic Pole. With him was his former student, Douglas Mawson, and Alistair Forbes Mackay. This four month journey of 2027 km was the longest unsupported sled journey until the mid 1980’s (when radio and air rescue was available). It was a remarkable feat of endurance for the three men.
Call of the Abyss: Caverneering & the Mole Creek Karst System – Mr Paul Richards – 24 March 2013
Presentation by Mr Paul A C Richards, MSc
QVMAG – Inveresk
Sunday, 24th March 2013 Commencing 2.00 pm until 3.00 pm
AGM at 1.45 pm followed by lecture at 2.00 pm
About the Speaker
Mr Richards is a Nuclear Medicine Scientist, University Lecturer, researcher, author, and artisan and has, for 50 years, worked and researched within the Tasmanian health system, overseas medical institutions and universities in the UK and USA. In more recent times he was senior lecturer at Charles Sturt University where he inaugurated and developed an undergraduate and postgraduate degree in Nuclear Medicine. Since 2001, he has written several books on medical history and co-ordinates and tutorsMasters subjects in Radiation Sciences at Sydney University
Brief Abstract of the Talk
Mr Paul Richards is a Launceston-based Nuclear Medicine scientist with a passion for geology and caverneering, which drew him to explore the subterranean world of the Mole Creek karst system at the base of the Western Tiers. Karst is terrain with distinctive landforms and drainage characteristics resulting from the relatively high solubility of certain rock types in natural waters. It often drains through natural subterranean conduits, some of which have become caves, large enough for humans to enter. The Mole Creek area is renowned for its spectacular caves, including Marakoopa, through which a karst stream flows allowing glow=worms to survive. Mr Richards will describe his experiences as a caverneer in this region in the 1960’s
Treating osteoarthritis with bone acting agents – 5th March 2013
Presentation by Dawn Dore PhD
Clarence Seniors and Citizens Centre, 17 Alma St Bellerive
Tuesday, 5th March 2013 Commencing 7.30 pm until 9.00 pm
AGM at 7.30 followed by lecture at 8.00pm
About the Speaker
Dawn Dore is the winner of the Royal Society of Tasmania Doctoral Award for 2012
Brief Abstract of the Talk
: Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder in the world and in Western populations is one of the most frequent causes of pain, loss of function, and disability in adults. Despite its large disease burden, there are no proven preventative strategies as its aetiology is poorly understood. This talk will give an overview of my PhD thesis which supports a role for bone changes in the early stages of the disease and provides evidence for targeted bone treatments to both prevent and treat osteoarthritis.
Atlantic Salmon: From Egg to Plate – Mr Kevin Chilman – 24 February 2013
Presentation by Mr Kevin Chilman
Sunday, 24th February 2013 Commencing 2.00pm until
About the Speaker
Kevin joined the navy as a Shipwright Apprentice and trained at a naval facility in Sydney. After serving 9 years in the Navy and after 7 years owning a farm in South Australia, he went back to his trade at Port Lincoln Ship Construction. During this time, as Fitting-Out Manager, a trawler for Petuna Seafood’s was built. When the shipyard closed down, he moved to Tasmania and worked for Petuna as the Hatchery manager, living onsite at the hatchery on Brumby Creek near Cressy. Kevin is currently the Infrastructure Manager and manage projects on all sites owned by Petuna Aquaculture.
Brief Abstract of the Talk
An overview of Salmon Production by Petuna Aquaculture ranging from the Hatchery located at Cressy, the sea site at Strahan and the processing factory at East Devonport.Inclusions will be the life cycle of Atlantic Salmon and how that is enhanced for farming, how they are prepared for sea water, how they are harvested and how they are transported around the State.
How we came to know (we think)! – 4th December 2012
Presentation by Professor Pat Quilty
CSIRO Lecture Theatre Castray Esplanade Hobart
Tuesday, 4th December 2012 Commencing 6.00 pm until 10.00 pm
Christmas dinner at 7.30 following the lecture. $35.00 per head. Bookings required.
About the Speaker
Due to unforseen circumstances the talk by Eva Meidl originally scheduled for this night has been postponed until a later date.
Brief Abstract of the Talk
While the climate change debate is alive and well-known, little publicity is given to the origin of the knowledge about its natural cyclical nature that acts as a baseline against which to compare the modern trends. The lecture will go back to the origins of the concept of cyclicity, and review the basis for the data that support the idea and how patterns have changed with time. The origins are in microfossils, of course: guess which ones!
Ocean Wave and Tidal Energy Research at the Australian Maritime College – 25th November 2012
Presentation by Professor Neil Bose
Meeting Room, QVMAG at Inveresk
Sunday, 25th November 2012 Commencing 2.30 pm until
Free for Members, small charge for general public.
About the Speaker
Professor Bose is the Acting Principal of the AMC and Professor of Maritime Hydrodynamics. From 2009 to 2011 he was Director of the AMC National Centre for Maritime Engineering and Hydrodynamics. He gained his B.Sc. in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering and his Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow. Professor Bose came to the AMC in May 2007 as Manager of the Australian Maritime Hydrodynamics Research Centre. His research interests include marine propulsion, autonomous underwater vehicles, ocean environmental monitoring and ocean renewable energy. He has an international reputation in marine powering performance and his book Marine Propulsion Prediction and Propulsion was published by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, USA.
Brief Abstract of the Talk
Professor Bose will present an overview of ocean wave and tidal energy systems, focussing on tests and analysis being done at the AMC, University of Tasmania. This research in conjunction with several industry groups has culminated in a three-year Australian Research Council Linkage project with Oceanlinx, which is designing and constructing a 1MW power plant for Port MacDonnell, South Australia.
