Presentation by Professor Mike Coffin

The Royal Society Room

Tuesday, 5th July 2011 Commencing 8.00 pm until 10.00 pm

About the Speaker

Mike Coffin commenced as Executive Director of UTAS’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) in January 2011, and is inspired by the unique opportunity to build a new institute that aims to become a global centre of excellence for temperate marine, Southern Ocean, and Antarctic studies. He is a marine geoscientist whose research expertise encompasses episodic Earth-Ocean system phenomena and processes. Educated at Dartmouth College (AB) and Columbia University (MA, MPhil, PhD) in the USA, he has pursued an international career that reflects the boundless nature of the global ocean. Mike has previously worked at Geoscience Australia (1985-1989), the University of Texas at Austin (1990-2001), the University of Tokyo (2001-2007), and the UK’s University of Southampton and National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (2007-2010).

Brief Abstract of the Talk

Tasmania is a primary gateway to the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, placing the University of Tasmania in a unique strategic position to pursue preeminent global excellence and reputation in Antarctic, Southern Ocean, and temperate marine research. With this in mind, IMAS has been established by the University to build a critical scientific concentration around its internationally recognized expertise in marine and Antarctic research, previously spread among diverse faculties, institutes, and schools across the Hobart and Launceston campuses. The bringing together of the elements of IMAS will give a focus that is intended to provide national and international leadership in studies of the Southern Ocean and its margins. This research concentration will also provide both CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research and the Australian Antarctic Division with a complementary research environment, infrastructure, and underpinning education and training services. The vision of IMAS—to advance, unify, and enable temperate marine, Southern Ocean, and Antarctic studies—will be achieved by innovative science and a focus on measurable benefit to society, enabled through building a network of national and international research, education, and training collaborations.

Presentation by Dr Jason Whitehead

The Royal Society Room

Tuesday, 7th June 2011 Commencing 8.00 pm until 10.00 pm

About the Speaker

Jason has been the Derwent Estuary Program’s Scientific Officer for 4 years and prior to that, he was the programs Stormwater Officer for a year. He has a PHD from the University of Tasmania – in Antarctic geological and diatom research. Jason has worked in a range of sectors, from university, industry, tourism, community and in environmental management. Having worked abroad, Jason was keen to return to Tasmania and work on estuaries

Brief Abstract of the Talk

The Derwent estuary, together with Mt Wellington, provides an idyllic natural setting for the city of Hobart, Tasmania’s capital city. The estuary is heavily used for recreation, marine transportation, boating and fishing, and is internationally known as the venue for the Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race. The Derwent is Tasmania’s fourth largest port, and has been an important centre for industrial development. Despite a long history of environmental degradation, the Derwent estuary is still an important and productive ecosystem, which requires careful and committed management if its natural values are to be enhanced and maintained in perpetuity. The Derwent Estuary Program (DEP) was established in 1999 and has been nationally recognised for excellence in coordinating initiatives to reduce water pollution, conserve habitats and species, monitor river health and promote greater use and enjoyment of the estuary. The DEP is a regional partnership between local governments the Tasmanian State Government, commercial and industrial enterprises, and community-based groups. The DEPs major sponsors include: Brighton, Clarence, Derwent Valley, Glenorchy, Hobart and Kingborough councils, the Tasmanian State Government, Southern Water, Tasmanian Ports Corporation, Norske Skog Boyer, Nyrstar Hobart Smelter and Hydro Tasmania. The DEP estuary management objectives are science informed, through collaborative research with the CSIRO, University of Tasmania, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Research Institute, and research consultants.

Presentation by Andrew Parsons – Honorary Librarian

University of Tasmania

Tuesday, 17th May 2011 Commencing 7.30 pm until

About the Speaker

Andrew succeeded Graeme Rayner as Senior Librarian (Physical Collections) at the University of Tasmania (UTAS) Library in late February 2010. Prior to this succession, Andrew worked in the Resources & Access (R&A) section of UTAS Library for a little over 18 months, for the most part supervising reclassification of UTAS Library’s northern collections from Dewey to Library of Congress. Before his relocation to R&A in mid-2008, Andrew worked at the Australian Maritime College (AMC) Library in Launceston for 12 years, first as Cataloguer then college Librarian. He was actively involved with the integration of the AMC and UTAS libraries during 2007, transferring to UTAS Library when amalgamation of the two libraries became official in January 2008.

Brief Abstract of the Talk

Honorary RST Librarian, Andrew Parsons, Senior Librarian (Physical Collections) at the Morris Miller Library will give a conducted tour. You will have the chance to: Look at the Royal Society’s collections on Level 5 of the Morris Miller Library, See the rare books room, See some of the materials scanned as part of the recent ‘Tasmanian Treasures Online’ project, View the recent Level 2 redevelopment, Find out how you can have access to library collections. Members of The Royal Society of Tasmania are welcome to bring guests on the night.

Presentation by Dr George Merridew

Nuala o’Flaherty Auditorium QVMAG- Inveresk

Monday, 6th May 2011 Commencing 7.30 pm until 10.00 pm

About the Speaker

George Merridew was born in Devonport. He graduated MBBS at the University of Tasmania in 1972 and since 1986 has practised in Launceston in anaesthesia, intensive care, pain medicine and the inter-hospital transport of the critically ill. George is a Group Captain in the RAAF Specialist Reserve, with a clinical background well suited to medical care in difficult situations, including his ADF deployments to peacekeeping, the 2002 Bali bombing and Iraq. During his medical course George had joined the RAAF Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme and 4 years of uniformed RAAF service during which he was already planning a career in anaesthesia. His military glimpses of field work kindled subsequent acute medical work outside western hospitals and their air conditioning and reliable supplies of water, oxygen, electricity and numerous expert staff. After the Permanent Air Force, George gained his anaesthetic specialist qualification in 1983 in Adelaide, travelled with his wife and children to work in the UK, Hong Kong and the USA. Then he returned to his home state.

Brief Abstract of the Talk

George’s presentation will describe the Crimean War hospital quickly designed and fabricated in England for assembly in Turkey as easily the best military hospital for 1500 years. It is still in style. Created by the great Victorian engineer I.K. Brunel, it had flushing toilets (with instructions) among many other attributes in marked contrast with Florence Nightingale’s dismal hospital in Constantinople.

Presentation by Dr John Hayman

Royal Society Room

Tuesday, 3rd May 2011 Commencing 8.00 pm until 10.00 pm

About the Speaker

John Hayman graduated MBBS from the University of Melbourne in 1957, later studied pathology at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and spent 20 years as hospital pathologist in the Gippsland Region of Victoria. His parish included Bairnsdale, the home of the ‘Bairnsdale Ulcer’, a progressive mycobacterial skin ulcer that was first described in patients from the district in 1948. He obtained his MD by thesis in 1992 on further studies of this disease. Since 1948 the infection has been described in over 30 different foci, including several in West Africa and all Australian states except, interestingly, NSW and Tasmania.

Brief Abstract of the Talk

John became aware of the problem of Charles Darwin’s illness when studying evolution and the concept of ‘inclusive fitness’ and first thought that Darwin’s symptoms might be those of abdominal migraine. This, like the numerous, very variable diagnoses that have been proposed earlier, explains some symptoms but not all. Abdominal migraine led, however, to the diagnosis of the Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, which explains almost all of Darwin’s symptoms. CVS explains Darwin’s episodes of nausea and vomiting and their initiation by stressful or even pleasurable events, his headaches, abdominal pains, his sea-sickness, his eczema and his recurrent boils. Somewhat tenuously, the diagnosis also explains his spelling difficulties, his tone deafness and his difficulty in learning German. His experiences while in NSW and Tasmania lend support to this diagnosis. If the diagnosis is expanded to that of a mtDNA abnormality, inherited from his mother and shared with his maternal uncle Tom, all of Darwin’s symptoms can be included such as his later stroke-like episodes. It is important that the exact nature of Darwin’s illness should be established. It confronts those who deny evolution and who would like to show that Darwin was psychologically flawed with an ‘imagined’ (psychogenic) illness rather than a ‘real’ complaint. Secondly, it is of help to those who suffer from this little known disorder today. Like Darwin, these patients, including Tasmanians, suffer from misdiagnosis, misunderstanding, inappropriate treatment, and, worse that Darwin, unnecessary investigations and inappropriate surgery. The thesis is presented with a view to its discussion and critical examination, in the hope that CVS/mtDNA abnormality becomes the accepted diagnosis for the ‘mysterious illness’ of Charles Darwin, an illness that has been the subject of controversy for over 150 years.

Presentation by Dr Peter McIntosh

Royal Society Room

Tuesday, 5th April 2011 Commencing 8.00 pm until 10.00 pm

About the Speaker

Dr Peter McIntosh is a geologist working with the Forest Practices Authority

Brief Abstract of the Talk

The geological record indicates that in the last Glacial period the Tasmanian landscape was cold and dry in many areas, and locally subject to severe erosion. Nevertheless there is evidence that the marsupial megafauna survived until about 40000 years ago, when humans first occupied Tasmania by walking across the Bassian Plain. Fire frequency is likely to have increased after human arrival, and as a result of increased fire frequency the fragile Glacial period ecology is likely to have been drastically altered. The Quaternary geological record provides evidence for increased erosion after 40000 years before present, and supports the hypothesis that humans were indirectly responsible for the demise of the megafauna.

Presentation by Don Kay

Royal Society Room

Tuesday, 1st March 2011 Commencing 8.00 pm until 10.00 pm

AGM and SGM

About the Speaker

Don Kay was born and educated in Tasmania before completing his music degree at the University of Melbourne. During his several years in London (1959-1964 he studied composition privately with Malcolm Williamson, currently Master of the Queen’s Music. Since returning to Hobart he has composed much music for professional individuals, ensembles, young performers, amateur groups, theatre, concert and public occasions. Over time, his musical language has increasingly developed from responses to Tasmanian landscape, ecology and history. His compositions include two one-act operas, four concerts, two concertos, two symphonies, vocal, choral, chamber and film as well as theatre and puppet theatre music. His music has been performed in all Australian states , New Zealand, Asia, the UK., European countries and the U.S.A. Orchestral, chamber and piano music is represented on commercial C.Ds. Works to have received special awards include: The Golden cane – an Opera for Young Peopl’s Theatre (Libretto, Gwen Harwood) (1985); Tasmanian Symphony – The legend of Moinee – for ‘Cello and Orchestra (1989); Dance Concertante – for String Orchestra (1990). In 1991 he was appointed a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia for his service to the Arts, particularly in the field of composition. Don Kay was on the staff of the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, University of Tasmania, where he was Head of Department from 1990-1993. He retired in 1998.