Presentation by Tony Mount

Royal Society Room

Tuesday, 1st June 2010 Commencing 8.00 pm until 10.00 pm

About the Speaker

After moving to Tasmania, Tony Mount took a MSc in Forest Ecology at the University of Tasmania in 1966. In 1967 he visited and lectured at all four British Forestry Schools and in 1969 addressed the Fire Ecology Conference, held in Florida, on Eucalypt Fire Ecology. He taught Forest Ecology and Conservation at Melbourne University for three years from 1973. He is the author of the ‘Soil Dryness Index’, ‘Australian Bushfire Research’ and many other forest fire papers.

 

Brief Abstract of the Talk

Bushfires are usually seen purely as disasters or tragedies; however, they also have had a vital role in regeneration, growth and the health of Tasmania’s natural environment for millions of years. The lecture will address such issues as fuels and fire behaviour, fire effects and many others that come under these banners.

Presentation by Tony Mount

The Royal Society Room

Tuesday, 1st June 2010 Commencing 8.00 pm until 10.00 pm

 

About the Speaker

After moving to Tasmania, Tony took a MSc in Forest Ecology at the University of Tasmania 1966. He visited and lectured at all four British Forestry Schools in 1967 and was invited to Florida to address the 1969 Fire Ecology Conference on Eucalypt Fire Ecology. He taught Forest Ecology and Conservation at Melbourne University for three years from 1973. He is the author of the ‘Soil Dryness Index’, ‘Australian Bushfire Research’ and many other forest fire papers.

 

Brief Abstract of the Talk

Bushfires are usually seen purely as disasters or tragedies: however, they also have had a vital role in the regeneration, growth and health of Tasmania’s natural environment for millions of years. The lecture will address such issues as Fuels and fire behaviour, Fire effects and many others that come under these banners.

Presentation by Jennifer Storey

The Royal Society Room

Tuesday, 4th May 2010 Commencing 8.00 pm until 10.00 pm

Presentation by Prof. Horst Dippel

Royal Society Room

Tuesday, 6th April 2010 Commencing 8.00 pm until 10.00 pm

 

About the Speaker

Prof. Horst Dippel was President of the Kassel-based Georg-Forster-Gesellschaft. He organised the annual Georg-Forster-Studien of which the fifteenth volume is scheduled to appear this year. Since 2005 he has been editor of “Constitutions of the World from the late Eighteenth Century to the Middle of the Nineteenth century” 25 volumes have ben published in this series, so far. Prof Dippel is personally responsible for the 7 volumes “Constitutional Documents of the United States of america, 1776 – 1860”.

Presentation by Prof. Horst Dippel

Royal Society Room

Tuesday, 6th April 2010 Commencing 8.00 pm until 10.00 pm

 

 About the Speaker

Until recently President of the Kassel-based Georg-Forster-Gesellschaft. He organized the annual Georg Forster conferences in Kassel and established the Georg-Forster-Studien of which the fifteenth volume is scheduled to appear this year. Since 2005 he has been editor of “Constitutions of the World from the Late Eighteenth Century to the Middle of the Nineteenth Century”, a series in which 25 volumes have been published so far. He was personally responsible for the seven volumes “Constitutional Documents of the United States of America, 1776 – 1860”.

Presentation by Mr Peter Stevenson

Royal Society Room

Tuesday, 2nd March 2010 Commencing 8.00 pm until 10.00 pm

 

About the Speaker

Peter Stevenson qualified from Birmingham University in 1954 in Geology with emphasis on soil mechanics and engineering geophysics. He has had a very diverse career in the UK, on and in much of Africa, and in Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, and Qatar. He obtained a higher degree in groundwater hydrology, spent time at the University of London on Diamonds. He migrated to Tasmania and joined the Geological Survey of Tasmania as Senior Engineering Geologist, specialising in groundwater and slope stability work. He retired in 1988.

 

Brief Abstract of the Talk

The Beagle was in Tasmanian Waters for 22 days in 1836. Charles Darwin made his geological and other observations while it was anchored in Sulivan’s (sic) Cove from the 5-17 February. The other days the Beagle was at sea. World travel under sail was tedious and this talk uses the account given in the ship’s log which deals mainly with handling the sails, and navigational fixes, but gives no clue as to the thoughts of Captain FitzRoy, or of his later- to-become famous passenger, Charles Darwin. They are not mentioned. We must admire the surveying and scientific achievements accomplished under the demanding conditions at sea in the1830s.

Presentation by Dr Peter Donaldson

Royal Society Room

Wednesday, 17th February 2010 Commencing 8.00 pm until 10.00 pm

 

About the Speaker

Peter Donalddon, PhD, has a strong scientific background (chemistry) and now runs his own technology based company, Jupe Productions, in Bowral NSW. Peter is also a film producer, director, co-writer, presenter and cameraman!

 

Brief Abstract of the Talk

Joseph hooker had special connections with Tasmania. As botanist on the Ross Antarctic Expedition 1839-43 he visited Hobart. Later in 1860, while Assistant Director of Kew Gardens he published his celebrated ‘Flora of Tasmania’, based mainly on specimens sent to both him and his father. His father was the Director of Kew Gardens at that time. The specimens were collected by Ronald Campbell Gunn, R W Lawrence and other avid collectors in Van Diemens Land. Charles Darwin also had many dealings with Hooker senior. In late 2008 Peter Donaldson retraced Joseph Hooker’s 1848 expedition in remote eastern Nepal to make a documentary film. He and his crew drew out the character of this remarkable botanist who became the foremost champion of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

Presentation by Prof Pat Quilty

CSIRO

Tuesday, 1st December 2009 Commencing 6.00pm until 10.00pm

Social Event Christmas Dinner

 

About the Speaker

Brief Abstract of the Talk

Abstract: A concise (even terse) summary but not too abstract; Vernal? Likely quoth the raven; The Frogs (for Margaret), Apology in advance; Athanasius. Was he really? And how was he that far ahead; And Dana? Amazing coincidences. Still relevant. Salt and the Q family; Amen and stet; Limited success with cryptic crosswords.

Presentation by Professor Peter Marshall

Royal Society Room

Tuesday, 3rd November 2009 Commencing 8.00pm until 10.00pm

 

About the Speaker

Professor Peter Marshall graduated in Mathematics from the University of Western Australia and then travelled to the UK and worked in Pilkington Glass’s Central Operational Research Department, while completing a post-graduate Diploma in Statistics and Operational Research at the University of Liverpool, UK. Peter returned to Australia, taught mathematics at Curtin University for some years, and then completed a PhD in manufacturing systems at Monash University. Peter then taught and researched in Information Systems at various Australian Universities including Monash, Curtin, Edith Cowan and Mt Eliza Business School. Peter has also held a number of business positions including that of Manufacturing Marketing Manager in General Electric Information Services, Melbourne and Management Information Systems Manager within the Amatil Group of companies. Currently, Peter holds the Woolworth’s Chair in Information Technology and Systems at the University of Tasmania.

 

Brief Abstract of the Talk

The nature of research and knowledge in Information Systems. The modes of research in Information Systems including a consideration of the two major research paradigms in Information Systems. The key topics or knowledge areas in Information Systems. The issues and challenges facing information systems practitioners, or why should we study information systems? The potential benefits of the discipline of information systems to business, government and the community at large.

Presentation by Professor John Dickie

Mt Pleasant, Cambridge

Saturday, 31st October 2009 Commencing 10.00 am until 12.30 pm

Lunch at Meadowbank (At own cost)