Whither Antarctica: Science and Tourism - are they compatible? Michael Stoddart, Chief Scientist, Australian Antarctic Division and Greg Mortimer, Aurora Expeditions. Wednesday 27 October, 1999, 7-9pm Harlequin Inn (formerly the Duke of Edinburgh pub), 152 Harris Street, Pyrmont. This evening takes us to the end of the Earth to Antarctica! We discuss the use of Antarctica for Science, the needs this imposes on the use of the continent, the growing demands of Tourism, and whether two can be carried out harmoniously or will lead to conflict. Leading the discussion will be the chief scientist of the Antarctic Division, Professor Michael Stoddart, and Antarctic adventurer Greg Mortimer.   To introduce you to them: Michael Stoddart Michael is a thoroughbred Scot, born in Glasgow, though enforced exile in London since early childhood has rid him of what his mother told him was an impregnable Glaswegian accent (probably just as well!). After a childhood spent on the southern fringes of London he attended Aberdeen university, where he studied Zoology, taking his PhD in rodent population ecology. A golden two years at Oxford as Junior research fellow at Worcester College came to an end all too soon when he was forced to find a real job. For 16 years he did penance as Lecturer and later Reader in Zoology at London University, spending half his life as a prisoner of British rail. During the other half he escaped as often as he could to remote places for field studies on mammalian behavioural ecology, and on one of these trips discovered Australia. To his surprise he found the natives friendly, the language understandable and the food almost edible. When he weighed up whether Maggie Thatcher's England, or Bob Hawke's Australia could offer him and his family the most, he chose the latter, and took the Chair in Zoology at the University of Tasmania in 1985. It was the best decision he ever made. Following the merger of the University of Tasmania with the Tasmanian State Institute of Technology in Launceston he was elected Chair of the Academic Board and quickly realised that the University sector was heading for trouble. Why he didn't duck out and return to Zoology is a mystery. What he did was to be appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of New England in 1994, immediately after that university's demerger from Southern Cross university. That roller-coaster experience convinced him that the university sector he had joined many years before was now dead and buried. He's always had an interest in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean and ran a small project on the feral mice of Macquarie Island in 1991. He chaired the Antarctic Animal Ethics Committee until 1996 until being appointed Chair of the Antarctic Science Advisory Committee. In 1997 ASAC presented the Government with a 30-year horizon `Foresight Analysis' of Australia's Antarctic future. Almost out-of-the-blue he was offered the position of ANARE Chief Scientist and took up his current position shortly before Christmas 1998. He is one of a tiny band of people who have ever returned to Hobart - for work - once they have left Tasmania. Michael's poem: A successful Antarctic season. Excitement at the quayside at the ship prepares to sail The crew and expeditioners at the rail. For the season is upon us with its program yet to do For the hopes of all at Antdiv never quail. As she battles thro' the ice-pack with winds a roaring gale Her headlamps cutting lance-like thro' the snow, Her fo'c'sle and her bridge and her solid thick-necked crane Give assurance to the scientists down below. The galcios exstatic with a 10-10 cover of ice Though the bios have not see a single seal. With CPR and CTD, and echosounder singing Aurora's in the ice and it's unreal! To Mawson and to Davis, to Casey, Macca too She brings cheer and news of life from far away. As helis roar and skuas dive, the slumbering seals awake And penguins, ever grumbling, pass the day. As she ploughs the broken pack and into waters filled with bergs Her engines burning fuel at quite a rate, She returns to Hobart's dock, with science plans completed To relief from all, who quayside, her await.   Greg Mortimer Greg Mortimer was born close to the sign of Capricorn - the goat. Hence from an early age he has been afflicted with the ``billy goat syndrome'' which has compelled him to walk to the top of any high point, stand with his front legs on the tippy tipy top, and just take a good look around. He has climbed to the top of mountains all over the world and still hasn't figured out why. While studying geology in the early 70's at Macquarie University he was much impressed with a presentation given by Paul Hogan which espoused the idea that Hogan had learned all he needed to know by the age of 16 and therefore did not feel compelled to go to university. Hogan therefore concluded that all people with letters after their name must be slow learners. With that in mind Greg gave away a PhD in Antarctic geology and went off to climb Mt Everest instead. He has visited Antarctica over 50 times, initially as a geologist and scientific affairs adviser for the New Zealand Antarctic Division, and throughout the 90's as an Antarctic ship and tour operator. Greg's poem: ``Whether Wither or Whither?'' It was a dark and stormy night And the snow came down in torrents The scientists sat round their cosy tent stove And this is the story they told...... Of robust days in woolly cloth Antarctica was mapped with cold war wrath As secrets unfolded, barriers peeled away For 40 good years science held sway In the clean search for knowledge Some big holes were mapped Ozone was weak so icebergs were wrapped But the piggy bank emptied Science faded away What knowledge had we missed Had we lost the day? Along came the tourists all shiny and bright In search of new wonders in the land with no night Whale watching in wonder done with respect And high on their minds environmental neglect Then the tourists sailed home Minds filled to the brim They heard from the scientists Things looked quite grim With odour of penguin, blood full of ice The tourists struck forth Their pens set to slice Their pollies were told What needed to be done By combining their forces Sciences new day was done   `Science in the Pub'(TM) is an initiative of the Australian Science Communicators (NSW) and supported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It is staged from 7.00-9.00 pm on the last Wednesday of the month (Feb - Nov) at the Harlequin Inn (formerly known as the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel), 152 Harris Street, Pyrmont, 2009. (Telephone (02) 9660 8146. UBD Map ref pg235 P10.) Dinner is available from the Gong Thai restaurant attached to the pub. Parking is difficult-best at the Casino ($10, 6pm to midnight). Door entry is $5. For further information on `Science in the Pub' please contact Robyn Stutchbury on rstutch@ozemail.com.au of Peripatus Productions Pty Limited, 1 Carisbrook Street, Lane Cove 2066, Tel: 02 9427 6747, Fax: 02 9418 9605 Next Science in the Pub session, November 5 in Coonabarabran: `Views of the Universe' with Fred Watson and David Malin of the Anglo Australian Observatory.
Science in the Pub™, © 2000. Stutchbury, R, Burton, M.