2000 Program   23 February SciPub XXXIII: 'The Next Species?' with Professor Hans Coster and Dr Michael Ashley from the University of New South Wales. 7 April, Hobart: SciPub XXXVII: 'Are we loving the wilderness to death?', University Club, University of Tasmania, 5-7:30pm. With Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick and Dr David Leaman from the University of Tasmania, aided and abetted by Paul Willis and Bernie Hobbs. 26 April SciPub XXXVIII: 'What's the use of Maths?!' with Dr Clio Cresswell and Professor Jason Middleton from the School of Mathematics at the University of New South Wales. 30 April, SciPub XXXIX: Canberra, ACT. Science in the Pub goes Forensic! Is DNA testing a new crime-fighting tool or an invasion of privacy? Forensic experts James Robertson (Australian Federal Police) and Alastair Ross (National Institute of Forensic Science). 3 May, Melbourne, during 'ScienceNow' SciPub XXXX: 'Life OFF Earth: are we alone?' featuring Paul Davies and the Hencoups (Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest). 5-12 May, 2000: Science in the Pub goes Outback Description of Program Media Release Online Diary Songs Report for the ASC Newsletter   Science in the Pub goes Outback Sponsors 'Science in the Pub goes Outback' was only made possible by the generous support of a number of sponsors. The Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR), through its Science and Technology Awareness Program (STAP), and the University of New South Wales, through its Faculty of Science and Technology, were major sponsors of Science in the Pub, Science in the Bush, school visits and distance education broadcasts, whilst the U Committee of the University of New South Wales were sponsors of Starry Starry Night (The U Committee is a charitable organisation for the University of New South Wales. Since its inception the group of volunteers have raised more than $2 million for the University. These funds have been dispersed to groups and projects which otherwise would not have been funded). Other sponsors included: The Australian Mathematics Society The Garvan Institute of Medical Research CSIRO Australian Telescope National Facility Sydney Observatory (Powerhouse Museum) New Scientist Macquarie University Financial help also came from a number of the centres for either accommodation, transport or receptions. Science in the Pub goes Outback Program 5 May, 6-30-8:30pm, Silverton Pub, Broken Hill. SciPub XXXXII: `Life, the Universe and Everything', with Professor Ian Plimer (University of Melbourne) and Dr Fred Watson (Anglo Australian Observatory), compered by Paul Willis and Bernie Hobbs. Although geology and mining sciences are the obvious choices for Broken Hill, one of Australia's leading mining centres, the mineral deposits are rapidly being depleted and so far, no worthwhile mineable deposit has been found to replace them. Consequently, Broken Hill is looking to reassess its situation and plans to develop as a leader in the tourist industry. With this in mind, Science in the Pub will present `Life, the Universe and Everything!' and discuss where Broken Hill might go. Tel: 08-8088-5313. 6, May, 7:00-9:00pm, Birdsville Pub, Birdsville. SciPub XXXXIII: `Greenhouse Warming is a lot of Hot Air!'. Professor Ian Lowe (Griffith University) and Wilson da Silva, Science Journalist and Communicator, compered by Paul Willis and Bernie Hobbs. Birdsville is famous as an important watering hole on the historic stock route that took cattle from north Queensland to ports in South Australia. It is the gateway to the Simpson Desert and has geologically significant features. Birdsville's Diamantina River and the other Channel Country rivers flow into Lake Eyre, forming one of the largest internal drainage basins on Earth. However, Lake Eyre rarely fills even though it is 15 m below sea level. This is because the evaporation rate is so high. This may be set to change shortly, however, following extensive flooding in region of the catchment this year! Birdsville's Science in the Pub will focus on moves to dam rivers upstream for cotton growing together with recommendations to list the Lake Eyre Basin for World Heritage. These are of considerable consternation to the local graziers, who in turn, are accused of over-grazing. The issues are very much on the agenda of a number of government agencies and one or two expert scientists from the Lake Eyre Basin Commission will be invited to join Professor Ian Plimer to debate and discuss the science underpinning these matters. Tel: 07-4656-3244. 8, May, 4:00-5:30pm, Longreach. SciPub XXXXIV: `Land Use in the Lake Eyre Basin'. Professor Ian Lowe (Griffith University), Kate Andrews, CEO Lake Eyre Basin Co-ordinating Group and Andrew White, Dept of Primary Industries, Longreach, compered by Paul Willis and Bernie Hobbs. Longreach is the largest town in central-western Queensland. It lies beside the Thomson River on the Tropic of Capricorn. It is a popular tourist attraction. Scientific features include its proximity to a number of famous palaeontologic sites (Muttaburra dinosaur deposits; Riversleigh marsupial deposits); mining centres (Mt Isa, MacArthur); boulder opal deposits, and the fact that it was Qantas Airlines' first air base and factory. Tel: 07-4658-4521. 10, May, 7:30-9:30pm, Corone's Hotel, Charleville. SciPub XXXXV: `Life, the Universe and Everything', with Dr David Malin and Dr Fred Watson (Anglo Australian Observatory), compered by Wilson da Silva and Bernie Hobbs. Charleville is situated on the Landsborough Highway, known by travellers as the Matilda Highway. The shire has four artesian bores. Artesian water is essential to the town's survival, as the average rainfall of the area is just 50 cm a year. Charleville's tourist industry has focussed on the clear night skies of the Outback to set up a centre called Outback Queensland Skywatch, its own establishment for stargazing. Tel: 07-4654-1022. 11, May, 7:00-9:00pm, Port of Bourke Hotel, Bourke. SciPub XXXXVI: `River of Dreams? ... or Nightmares? The science involved'. Professor Ian Lowe, Environmental Scientist, Griffith University and Mr Ian Cole, chair of the Cotton Authority, Bourke, compered by Paul Willis and Bernie Hobbs. Bourke lies on the Darling River and was a major inland river port up until the beginning of the last century. Potential scientific issues for the Science in the Pub session arise from problems associated with Darling River water use. These include the salinity problems of the Murray Darling Basin and the blue-green algal blooms. Cotton growing and the use of gene technology to overcome insecticide problems could be discussed. Feral fish and efforts to restock with Australian native fish is another topic suggested to the local organisers. Scientists will be drawn from local scientific government agencies (Fisheries; Border Rivers Commission; Murray-Darling Basin Co-operative Research Centre) in collaboration with Professor Ian Lowe (Griffith University, Queensland). Tel: 02-6842-2544. 10 May, SciPub XXXXI: Harlequin Inn, Sydney. Discovery National Science Program ( 2SER 107.3 FM / CBAA) is hosting this National Science Week "Science in the Pub". The topic is 'The Future Science of the Metanormal: explaining the unexplained with science'. 18 May, SciPub XXXXVII: Harlequin Inn, Sydney. 'Fermat's Last Theorem: a mathematical obsession?' With Dr Simon Singh, cryptographer and author, and Professor Alf van der Poorten (Macquarie University). Sponsored by the British Council. 19 May, SciPub XXXXVIII: Carlton Crest Hotel, Brisbane: 'Innovation.com or Innovation.con?', from 4:00-5:20pm. With a panel comprising Dr Gael Jennings, Science Broadcaster, Dr David Perry, CRC for Catchment Management, and Dr David Barbagello, DSTC. 28 June, Harlequin Inn, Sydney. SciPub XXXXIX: 'Cheats or Champs - the use of drugs in sport'. A special event for Chemistry Week. With Ray Kaslauskas and Graham Trout, Director and Deputy-Director, respectively, of the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory (ASDTL) of AGAL (Australian Government Analytical Laboratories). With the Sydney Olympics looming, we discuss the science and issues behind drug testing in sport. 13, July, The Canobalos Hotel, 248 Summer Street, Orange, NSW, 7-9pm. SciPub L: 'Is Palaeontology a Dead Science?'. With John Laurie, Curator of Paleontological Collections at the Australian Geographical Survey Office and Cindy Hann, Education Officer at AGSO. 30 August, Harlequin Inn, Sydney, SciPub LI, in conjunction with the Australian Biotechnology Association. 'New Millenium Medicine: Alternative or Genetic?', with Professor John Shine, Director of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (UNSW) and Mr Alan Bensoussan, Head, Research Institute for Complementary Medicine at the University of Western Sydney. Monday 11 September, Foster's Australian Pub, Olympic Media Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney. SciPub LII, 12.45–14.45. "Foster's Aussie Pub". Science in the Pub takes a look at Aussie culture for our overseas visitors. Compered by Paul Willis and Bernie Hobbs. Commissioned by DISR. Friday 20 October, Dooley's Hotel, Brisbane, SciPub LV 7.00–9.00pm. Are we any closer to a cure for cancer – and where is all that research money going? With Professor Martin Lavin and Professor Jonathon Fawcett, compered by Michelle Riedlinger and Bernie Hobbs. Tuesday 24 October, Harlequin Inn, Sydney, SciPub LIII  7.00–9.00pm. 'Information for Atomic Masses'. A session in collaboration with the British Council, featuring Professor Brian Wynne, a renowned commentator on democracy and science. He is Research Director of the Centre for the Study of Environmental Change and Chair of the Centre for Science Studies at the University of Lancaster in England. Our other panelist is Professor Helen Garnett, executive director of ANSTO. Friday 27 October, Imperial Hotel, Coonabarabran, SciPub LIV. 7.00–9.00 pm 'Astronomy's looking up - but where to?' With optical/infrared astronomer Michael Burton and radio astronomer Ray Norris, and compered by Fred Watson. This edition of SciPub looks at the world of astronomy, how its has developed through the ages, where it is going and the big questions that it seeks to address. In particular we will discuss what role Australia might play in what is now a global pursuit of our origins, especially with regard to the squeeze in basic science funding we are suffering as a nation. It takes place during the yearly AstroFest at Coonabarabran. Also, if you want to make a weekend of it, on Sunday October 29, at Coonabarabran High School, there will be the annual Bok Lecture, given by eminent astro-photographer David Malin, followed by a special edition of 'Starry Starry Night'. This brings together both the science and cultural aspects of astronomy, which we learn about under the stars, as we watch the twilight turn into the beauty of the night sky. Featuring Bill Robinson, Fred Watson, David Malin, Michael Burton and the Coonabarabran Public School Aboriginal Dance Troop. Wednesday 20 December, Harlequin Inn, SciPub LVI, 'Maths for Christmas', 142 Harris St, Pyrmont, Sydney. 6pm 'til you drop. ASC NSW Christmas Party with a special Science in the Pub feature, a fun session starring Rob Eastaway, a UK mathematician and author who specialises in the popularisation of maths and writes on its applications to daily life. His best known book is Why do buses come in threes? By invitation, but all welcome. Cost $12 for ASC members and $15 for non-members, to cover finger food. Cash bar available. Upcoming Programs in 2000
Science in the Pub™, © 2000. Stutchbury, R, Burton, M.