News and events

Professor Richard Roberts presents,
Body and mind: Charles Darwin, natural selection and modern human evolution

November 24th 2009,11.30am at the Queensland Museum Theatre
Professor Richard Roberts, University of Wollongong.

Celebrating the publication of one of the most influential books of all time, Charles Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’ on the 24th November 1859.

The book carefully avoided elaborating on human evolution, remarking only that “light would be thrown on the origin of man and his history”. Twelve years later, Darwin published The Descent of Man, in which he presented his arguments that humans had evolved by the same processes of natural selection as other species. Over the last 150 years we have gained a wealth of archaeological and genetic knowledge of man’s prehistory and evolution. Many fossil precursors, so called “missing links”, and extinct species once contemporaneous with Homo sapiens have been found. The latest of these was Homo floresiensis, (the “Hobbit” from Flores, Indonesia),
research on which species Professor Roberts made major contributions. In this talk, he will explore some of the recent scientific findings on the process of ‘becoming human’, focussing on the emergence of the attributes of the mind that – as Darwin recognised – have played a pivotal role in the
evolution of our species: “Through his powers of intellect, articulate language has been evolved; and on this his wonderful advancement has mainly depended”. You will be brought up to date on exciting developments
in this ‘hot’ topic.

ADMISSION FREE. Since seating is limited please register your intention to attend by emailing Sally Mather at Griffith University on s.mather@griffith.edu.au. Light refreshments will be served after the talk. Paid parking is available at either the State Library or Queensland Museum/ Art Gallery carparks. The Cultural Centre Bus Station is nearby, as is a CityCat stop and South Brisbane Station.

PHD Scholarships (2) in Environmental Science

See flier for more information. Applications close Friday, 30th of October.

Environmental Futures Centre launch - October 2nd 2009

Thank you to all involved in making the centre launch a success.


Honours research grant announcement

Congratulations to Lucy Halliday and Alexa Mossaz. They have each successfully obtained a grant valued to $1,200.

Scott Piper award for best student publication 2008

The Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies honours the memory of Dr Scott Piper through the Scott Piper Best Student Publication Award. The current award considered publications by CICS students appearing in 2008 and five submissions were received. These were judged by a panel of four experts, two from within the Centre and two external; CICS members directly involved in any publication were excluded from the assessment process. Assessors were asked to judge and rank each of the papers on the basis of three criteria: Research Question (the significance of the aims of the study); Scientific Rigour (the science quality of the approach); and Conservation Impact (the contribution to conservation biology). The assessment process resulted in two finalists.

Akihiro Nakamura - Highly commended for the publication titled
Effects of isolation on the colonisation or restored habitat patches by forest dependent arthropods of soil and litter.
Catherine Moran - Winner of Scott Piper Award 2008 for the publication titled
Reduced dispersal of native plant species as a consequence of the reduced abundance of frugivore species in fragmented rainforest.

Congratulations Catherine! - Staff and students of the Environmental Future Centre

Green Day Out, Sunday 7th June 2009 10am - 5pm, Winders Park, Duringan Street, Currumbin, Gold Coast, Queensland

The Gold Coast’s biggest environmental festival, Green Day Out is back! Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this year's event will be bigger, brighter and better than before! Sunday 7 June is the day the Gold Coast will join with the United Nations and thousands of like-minded cities around the world to celebrate World Environment Day with a day of fun and festivity.

The Green Day Out is a family fun-day featuring live music, delicious food, a petting zoo, market stalls, art displays, games and rides for the kids, street performers, film screenings, environmental workshops, and much more.

So mark the date in your calender, then come along and help us celebrate the wonderful environment in which we live!

Youth Earth Symposium, Camp Bornhoffen, Gold Coast 18th and 19th June 2009

Numerous surveys throughout Australia have identified that the environment is in the first five of concerns listed by young people. Yet there is no local or regional forum for Gold Coast youth to express their views on environmental issues and find ways to take action. This is particularly true of young people who have left the school system. Gecko believes it is important to provide opportunities for young people to feel valued and be empowered to present their views in constructive activities.

YES! aims to provide our youth with an opportunity to reacquaint themselves with basic ecological principles, whilst fostering a deep appreciation for the earth and its life supporting capacities, and go on to develop a strong commitment to more sustainable lifestyles.

The 10th International Congress of Ecology 16th -21st August 2009

Young (or old) Ecologists needed to help organise the 10th INTECOL Congress program. In 2009, the Ecological Society of Australia, jointly with the New Zealand Ecological Society, will be hosting the first INTECOL Congress to be held in the southern hemisphere. Australian ecologists will have an unparalleled opportunity to hear about the latest work from overseas, across the full range of ecological thought, organisms, and ecosystem types. A local conference organising committee, chaired by previous ESA President Craig James, is developing the meeting format. An exciting Scientific Program is taking shape under the guidance of national and international panels of ecologists, chaired by Mike Bull. We are planning a varied array of meeting styles, meeting venues, opportunities for discussion and social options to help make this is memorable event. Right now we are looking for people who can contribute a couple of hours per week to help with a variety of tasks, including:

  • generating ideas for the broader Congress program
  • designing and organising public scientific events associated with the conference
  • deciding on, and producing information about, exciting social activities suited to ecologists

Further opportunities will emerge closer as the time of the conference approaches. Particularly if you are a Brisbane-based postgraduate or young ecologist with local knowledge, we have a niche for you, to help out while gaining interesting professional experience. If you are more mature and/or live elsewhere, and are planning to attend the conference, there are still opportunities.

Back to top

Member of Innovative Research Universities Australia