Past Lectures and Events

Dr Ingrid Cox: Breathing Can Sometimes Be A Burden: Exploring the Dual Threat of Interstitial Lung Disease and Lung Cancer Dr Ingrid Cox is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Physician and Health Economist at Menzies Institute for Medical Research, UTAS. Ingrid’s current research matches her passion for health equity and equality and aims to understand the […]

For over a century, the Geological Survey of Tasmania—part of Mineral Resources Tasmania—has mapped the state, laying the foundation for world-class mineral discoveries and scientific advancement. From early field mapping to today’s cutting-edge techniques such as hyperspectral logging and 3D geological modelling, we combine tradition with innovation to preserve geological knowledge and support exploration, land […]

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.

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean lie at the heart of our global climate system. The Southern Ocean acts as a key regulator of global climate by connecting our oceans both horizontally and vertically; it is a place where ocean currents can transfer heat, carbon, and nutrients around the world and between the surface and the […]

Dramatic new insights into the Tamar Valley and Northern Midlands origins based on new 3D geological modelling spanning 40 million years. It’s a powerful interconnected story of geological forces sculpting today’s landscape, leading to a surprising new conclusion on how the Cataract Gorge was formed. Robert (Bob), has a 50 year career as a geologist […]

The RST Art Committee are running a major series of exhibitions 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 opened in Oatlands in August 2025 with follow up Hidden Treasures exhibitions in Longford (January – February, […]

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.

The involvement of the orthopaedic unit in clinical research has many benefits for Northern Tasmania. Importantly it results in improved patient outcomes, shaped clinical guidelines and has positive impacts on the culture of clinical care. Professionally it has fostered collaboration with colleagues around Australia, retained and engaged clinicians in our unit and encouraged medical students […]

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, presented an engaging lecture during the midwinter dinner at The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.  Susannah Fullerton, OAM FRSN, is Sydney’s best-known lecturer on classic […]

Population growth and patterns of settlement are among the most important determinants of prosperity, wellbeing, and the character of communities. This presentation provided a detailed overview of how Northern Tasmania’s population is changing and how we can shape this trajectory and plan for our community’s future needs. Richard is Professor of Political Science and founding […]

Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC presented the 2024 Peter Smith Medal to Dr Edward Doddridge, the inaugural 2024 Louisa Anne Meredith Medal jointly to Professor Cassandra Pybus and Fiona Hall AO and announce the 2024 Doctoral Award winners Dr Ingrid Cox and Dr Manon Simon at Government House.    

This lecture provides a rare dialogue between art and science, where conceptual boundaries are tested and reimagined. The event brings together a conceptual artist whose research-driven, interdisciplinary practice reflects critically and poetically on the materials and methodologies of science, and an esteemed scientist from Australia’s National Measurement Institute (NMI), responsible for shaping the nation’s physical […]

Rob Anders What is an Aboriginal cultural landscape and how are they being managed? Tasmanian Aboriginal people sustainably managed our environments through their relationship with Country. The imposed settler-colonial framework has seen changes to these environments. Pest species are spreading uncontrollably, and wildfire is rising. It’s time to re-think how these landscapes are managed. This talk […]

Dr Sally Bryant AM and Dr Eric Woehler OAM Globally, few animal species are more visible or cherished than birds and Tasmania is internationally recognised for its high endemicity and as a refugia for rare species. However, few people realise that for a small island Tasmania has an alarming number of threatened bird species showing […]

Northern Tasmania’s attempts to house vice-regal personages ranged from Paterson’s early prefabricated buildings at Outer Cove and York Town to the modest cottage in Launceston. By 1885 this building was so dilapidated it was demolished and the land incorporated into today’s City Park. This lecture not only reveals the history of the official Government residence, […]

Please join us for Dr Johnson’s expert lecture on how weather is predicted, forecast and modelled. Dr Johnson is the Senior Research Scientist at Bureau of Meteorology and Team Leader in Forecast Improvement. Join us for pre-lecture refreshments, 4pm for the lecture

Tasmania Reads 2025 talk by David Owen centres on two forthcoming novels in his popular Fullers Publishing detective series. The Pufferfish novels are fast-paced with a literary touch, taking the reader all over Tasmania and often beyond. David will also build into his talk aspects of Tasmania Reads Week and Hobart’s new status as a […]

The Royal Society of Tasmania Lecture, Thursday 6 March 2025 Professor Nathan Bindoff The Southern Ocean and Antarctica are changing rapidly. New discoveries and understandings are pointing to a growing role of the Southern Ocean in our changing climate. The loss of mass by Antarctica, the slowing of the southern hemisphere over-turning circulation and the […]

The Royal Society of Tasmania Christmas Dinner Lecture Dr Hanne Nielsen is known for her research on representations of Antarctica in culture and the arts, particularly in literature and media. She has a background in Antarctic Studies and has explored how Antarctica is depicted in various narratives, focusing on the intersection of polar history, gender, […]

Dr Mel Fitzpatrick Dr. Mel Fitzpatrick has been at the forefront of climate science, activism, and education since Australia’s commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992. Over the decades, Mel has witnessed firsthand how disinformation, denial, and deception have obstructed progress on climate action, both within Australia and globally. In […]

The experiences and perceptions of refugees and the host society, and the limitations of government policy and practice. Dr Ivan James AO outlines the important role that Launceston has played in the settlement of former refugees since 1979 and describe the pre-arrival and post-arrival experiences of these newcomers to the city.  He also draws on his […]

In the face of mounting environmental and political challenges, it is more important than ever for members of the public to understand and care about Antarctica. Little is known, however, about the types of strategies that work (or don’t work) when it comes to engaging the public in Antarctic matters. In this talk, Dr Katie […]

Royal Society of Tasmania Doctoral Award for 2023 The recipient of The Royal Society of Tasmania Doctoral Award for 2023 was Dr. Tobias Staal a geophysicist focussed on the understanding of the deep and shallow structure and properties of the Antarctic continent. He applied a novel approach using computational and statistical methods to infer the […]

Joint Meeting of the Royal Society of Tasmania Northern Branch and the Geological Society of Australia, Tasmanian Division Tasmanian landforms and sediments provide the only direct records of repeated glaciation from a tectonically stable landmass in the southern mid-latitudes. They afford key opportunities to understand Earth’s most recent ice ages, including interhemispheric disparities and Antarctica’s […]

Pia Benedetti Vallenari Leveraging sensor data to enhance dairy cow health and productivity. Is subclinical ketosis a disease or simply a metabolic response to the demands of milk production? Pia presents her research on using sensor data to study subclinical ketosis in pasture-based dairy cows. The presentation discusses the relationships, or lack thereof, between sensor […]

As Artificial Intelligence continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, understanding its implications becomes increasingly crucial. This thought-provoking talk aims to shed light on the profound impact of AI on both society and the scientific community. Dr Matthew Cracknell is a Senior Lecturer in Geodata Analytics for the Discipline of Earth Sciences and the Centre […]

John Dent OAM York Town was the site of the first permanent European settlement in northern Tasmania from 1804. The town grew to house 300 people but was abandoned in 1808 for the settlement of Launceston. The settlement struggled for the first couple of years facing food shortages, convict escapes, military discontent, piracy and conflict […]