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Queensland Science in the Pub


Queensland SciPub has now moved north of the NSW border, with sessions having been held in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. We hope to expand these in the future.

07 July 1998: SciPub GCI: Wallaby Hotel, Mudgeeraba. Genetics: a reality check. Nigel Morrison and Tony Perkins (Griffith University)

02 September 1998: SciPub BrI: Immigration and Science: please explain! Professor Ian Lowe, Griffith Univ, Hamish McCallum, UQ and Ken Warneke, AQIS.

Science in the Pub was the star turn following the 1998 Annual General Meeting of the Australian Science Communicators. It was held in the Regatta Hotel in Brisbane.

08 December 1998: SciPub BrII: Biotechnology- friend or foe? Dooley's Pub, Fortitude Valley.

28 April 1999: SciPub XVII: 'Can we live to 150 years?' Andreas Suhrbier (Queensland Institute of Medical Research) and Colleen Cartwright (University of Queensland). Dooley's Pub, Fortitude Valley.

6, May 2000, SciPub XXXXIII: Birdsville Pub, Birdsville. '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.

8, May 2000, SciPub XXXXIV: Longreach. '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.

10, May 2000, SciPub XXXXV: Corone's Hotel, Charleville. '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.

19 May 2000, 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.

Friday 20 October 2000, 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.

May 10, 2001, Terminus Hotel, Brisbane. 'This wont hurt a bit! What price for immunisation?'

Wednesday November 14 2001, SciPub LXVI: Plaza Ballroom, Radisson Plaza, Cairns City. World Heritage: populate or perish? Science in the Pub visits Cairns to take a look at the issues involved in maintaining a World Heritage area. What are the main threats to our heritage–population growth, ignorance or greed? These questions and many more will be addressed by our four panellists: Professor Richard Pearson, Ms Karen Benn, Dr Jonathan Nott and Councillor Mike Berwick, Mayor of Douglas Shire. Maintaining order and keeping the show on the road will be compere, Professor Brian Roberts. Brian will be ably assisted by ABC presenters, Ms Pat Morrish and Mr Jason Hagen who will be sparking questions and comments from the audience.

 

 

Science in the Pub™, © 2000. Stutchbury, R, Burton, M.