Blogs

On October 2011 the global population reached 7 billion people, but what you may not know is that since this date we have added nearly 10 million to this figure and by 2050 the United Nations Population Division suggests the global population may be up to 9 billion. In ... Continue Reading »

I had something of a revelation last week, an explanation for a set of facts that didn’t come together quite the way I’d hoped. In hindsight, I can see that this was a few pieces of a puzzle that didn’t really fit the picture as I saw it but I’d ... Continue Reading »

This year marked the centenary of Adelaide’s Sir Douglas Mawson’s pioneering Australasian Antarctic Expedition. While other Antarctic explorers went to explore the continent and its land, Mawson’s expedition went for a different purpose — scientific exploration. The expedition established several Antarctic bases from which to do research, these buildings still ... Continue Reading »

Australia's landscape has changed dramatically since the arrival of Europeans 224 years ago. The Australian environment has had to deal with massive changes, including agriculture, introduced plants and animals, cities, highways, irrigation, increased population, the decline of traditional land management, and much more. The ACEAS Great Debate asked some important questions. What ... Continue Reading »

Dr Estelle Lazer has worked on the human skeletal remains in Pompeii since 1986. Her book, Resurrecting Pompeii, was published in 2009 on her work on the victims of the AD 79 eruption of Mt Vesuvius. She is currently working on a project to examine the casts of these victims. ... Continue Reading »

It never ceases to amaze me how slow I am to pick up an idea ... Continue Reading »

For our first book club of 2012 we discussed The Wavewatcher's Companion, winner of the Royal Society’s Winton Prize for Science Books 2011. Author Gavin Pretor-Pinney is founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society. Exploring waves from Mexican to electro-magnetic, the book uses straightforward science to transform our perspectives on ... Continue Reading »

We reached a big milestone last month as the world’s population exceeded seven billion people for the first time. Looking behind the headlines was Paul Willis at RiAus and a panellist of scientists and journalists on Tuesday. In the 20th century we added five billion people to the Earth. ... Continue Reading »

RiAus is excited to feature Emma Lawrance's Science in the Spotlight series. Emma's blog is The Lab of Life. Scientist in the Spotlight: Sam Taylor Degree: Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology (Honours), Graduate Certificate in Spanish Current research: PhD in Marine Biology and Algal Phycology. This research ... Continue Reading »

Barney Foran covers the big picture sustainability issues of energy, greenhouse, human population, lifestyle, water, biodiversity and land use. Currently he focuses on future designs for Australia’s economy that will ensure moderate rates of economic productivity and energy security combined with the rapid transition to a low carbon economy. He has ... Continue Reading »

Dr Udoy Saikia is currently working as the Associate Director for the Applied Population Studies programme, School of the Environment, Flinders University. A demographer by profession (MSc in Demography from London School of Economics and PhD from Flinders University), Dr Saikia’s achievements in research have been demonstrated through eleven peer ... Continue Reading »

Graeme Hugo is ARC Australian Professorial Fellow, Professor of the Discipline of Geography, Environment and Population and Director of the Australian Population and Migration Research Centre at the University of Adelaide.  His research interests are in population issues in Australia and South East Asia, especially migration. He is the author ... Continue Reading »

Winner of the Tour Ready Award - Supported by Melbourne Fringe Finalist for the Adelaide Festival Centre inSPACE:development Award   "Terrific acting" - The Advertiser "The script sparkles" - Adelaide Theatre Guide "Sepia is a play of understated brilliance" - Glam Adelaide For Neil, the South Australian coastal town of ... Continue Reading »

"Great family-friendly theatre, inspired by pop-up books and comics. A breath of fresh air. 4 stars." - The Advertiser  It is 2030 and the air is different. Humans are wealthy and celebrating their indulgent lifestyles, but the natural world is suffering. Technology has allowed for most things ... Continue Reading »

I’ve always thought that cycling to work is a good idea if the roads are set up for it and the conditions are not too arduous. I used to regularly cycle 5km to work and back when living in Sydney and that was hard and often dangerous. In the back of ... Continue Reading »

RiAus is excited to feature Emma Lawrance's Science in the Spotlight series. Emma's blog is The Lab of Life. Scientist in the Spotlight: Camilla Humphries Degree: Bachelor of Agricultural Science, with a focus on agronomy and cropping including viticulture and broadacre Current research: Master of Agricultural ... Continue Reading »

RiAus is excited to feature the work of Emma Lawrance, a science communication student and blogger. Emma interviews young and inspiring scientists, and shares their stories, passions and challenges. Emma has kindly given RiAus permission to republish content from her 'Scientist in the Spotlight' series. Emma's blog is  ... Continue Reading »

Paul grew up in Whyalla before graduating with a BSc. in Meteorology and Oceanography from Flinders Uni in 1988. Following this Paul was employed by the Bureau of Meteorology and gained a Dip Applied Meteorology in 1989.  From then Paul worked for the Bureau for 10 years in Perth spending some time in the Forecasting ... Continue Reading »

Duncan grew up in Adelaide where he developed a keen interest in weather and the oceans. He pursued this interest in his tertiary education at Flinders University where he obtained a BSc (Hons) in 1997. Duncan pursued post graduate studies for a few years before joining the Bureau of Meteorology ... Continue Reading »

RiAus is excited to feature the work of Emma Lawrance, a science communication student and blogger. Emma interviews young and inspiring scientists, and shares their stories, passions and challenges. Emma has kindly given RiAus permission to republish content from her 'Scientist in the Spotlight' series. Emma's blog is ... Continue Reading »

Does recent wet weather mean we are at greater bushfire risk? This coming bushfire season, 75 percent of South Australia is at increased risk because of expansive bands of wild grass. In fact, a massive portion of Australia is at risk of above normal bushfire activity coast-to-coast due to exceptional grass ... Continue Reading »

Hundreds of Darwin school kids and members of the public flocked to the showgrounds this morning to soak up some of the atmosphere surrounding the 2011 Veolia World Solar Challenge. While solar car teams from all over the world had their cars 'scrutineered', the students and members of ... Continue Reading »

Friday 14 October Tennant Creek, NT  The Aurora solar car got a flat tyre yesterday. This was quickly replaced by Martin and Nick. And Aurora will be fine for ... Continue Reading »

Regenerative medicine, vertical farming, and synthetic meat. As one stops to consider that the discovery of DNA occurred only within the last century, the idea that we are on a trajectory to making these reality in the near future boggles the mind. In summary, regenerative medicine enables us to facilitate repair ... Continue Reading »

Residents of Alice Springs have a chance to see the science behind the 2011 Veolia World Solar Challenge when RiAus and the Aurora Solar Car team arrive in town on Friday 14 October. View full media release Related Content Veolia World Solar Challenge Outreach Program (10 - 19 October ... Continue Reading »

7.45am Friday 14 October Alice Springs, NT We’ve made it half way!  So far we’ve travelled 1500km, passing through Katherine and Tennant Creek. ... Continue Reading »

This month teams from around the world are competing in a challenge to be the first to travel 3000km from Darwin to Adelaide in vehicles powered by the sun. As part of its involvement in the 2011 Veolia World Solar Challenge, RiAus is hosting Mission Control for this prestigious and globally-recognised ... Continue Reading »

RiAus presents its latest art exhibition, showcasing the work of painter Robert Habel and filmmaker Cole Larsen. Energy Landscapes: the new frontier explores the aesthetic appeal of established and emerging industrial landscapes. View full media release

“Even if it was cruelty free and eco-friendly, would you eat lab-grown meat?” RiAus Head of Programs, Dr Lisa Bailey asks. As part of the Adelaide Festival of Ideas, RiAus will present, Three technologies that will change the way we live at the Science Exchange on Saturday from 12:00pm to 1:30pm. Dr ... Continue Reading »

This week a couple of items connected through the heavens. One is the world’s greatest solar vehicle challenge and the other, well it’s perhaps the most wonderfully weird story I’ve heard in a long time! Isn’t it fitting that our sun-drenched country is the stage for the world’s largest solar-powered vehicle ... Continue Reading »

7.30am Monday 10 October Katherine, NT Our Outreach Team reached Katherine yesterday afternoon after leaving the World Solar Challenge teams still preparing at Hidden Valley Raceway. We’re travelling with Martin and Nick from the Aurora Solar Car team with the Aurora vehicle that won the race in 1999, travelling ... Continue Reading »

On entering the latest exhibition in the RiAus FutureSpace Gallery, the viewer is greeted by a video installation of a man dressed in a newsreader’s suit, speaking in impassioned tones of politics, renewable energy and fossil fuels. Energy Landscapes: The new frontier is a collaboration between painter Robert Habel and filmmaker ... Continue Reading »

RiAus is excited to feature the work of Emma Lawrance, a science communication student and blogger. Emma interviews young and inspiring scientists, and shares their stories, passions and challenges. Emma has kindly given RiAus permission to republish content from her 'Scientist in the Spotlight' series. Emma's blog is ... Continue Reading »

Outreach activities ran from Monday 10 October until Wednesday 19 October around SA & NT - Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Coober Pedy, Port Augusta RiAus and the Aurora Solar Car visited towns along the route in the lead up to the Veolia World Solar Challenge. Demystifying the science ... Continue Reading »

Australia faces many big challenges – in the economy, health, energy, water, climate change, infrastructure, sustainable agriculture and the preservation of our precious biodiversity. To meet these, we need creative scientists and engineers drawn from many disciplines, and a technologically-skilled workforce. The many world-changing advances and achievements of Australian research and development ... Continue Reading »

Su Groome is an accomplished architect, planner and sustainability consultant with over eighteen years experience in diverse roles in design, planning, project management, community engagement, policy and strategy. Su is an associate and senior sustainability specialist with Arup. She trained in Adelaide and has since lived and worked in Cairns, ... Continue Reading »

Professor Don Bursill AM is South Australia’s Chief Scientist. He is an international leader and recognised expert in the field of water management and water quality, and has been at the forefront of the most important developments and decisions regarding potable water in Australia for the past 40 years. A key ... Continue Reading »

Michael is an archaeologist and biological anthropologist. He undertook his undergraduate training at the Australian National University (1992) and Honours year at the University of Sydney (1994) investigating the question of megafauna extinctions. Michael’s career has covered many diverse roles: consultant archaeologist in Queensland; state archaeologist with the Heritage Services Branch ... Continue Reading »

As the human population swells to over seven billion, are we in danger of permanently depleting the Earth's resources? What does the future hold for humans as a species? At our first Science behind the headlines event, Paul Willis hosted a discussion on the science of population growth. He ... Continue Reading »

Forecasters at the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) recently underwent training in the Next Generation Forecast and Warning System (NexGenFWS). The new system allows meteorologists to produce forecasts for temperature, rains, winds, humidity and more, and will include graphical, map-based representations. Probability forecasting will also be introduced ... Continue Reading »

Can our 21st century electricity demand be met without fossil fuels, or be decarbonised altogether?  This challenge was recently explored by a pioneering summit of scientists, engineers, policy experts and business leaders.  Wilson da Silva, editor-in-chief of COSMOS, was a summit participant. He revealed how a transformational process ... Continue Reading »

Do-Tank is the action oriented version of a think-tank. Led by environmental scientist Tim Jarvis and supported by RiAus and Arup, this enterprise combines a passion for environmental issues with avenues for action. Do-Tank reaches beyond the concepts, actively exploring how individuals can identify challenges, present  ideas to the ... Continue Reading »

New York City’s population is changing rapidly, and so is the Earth’s climate.  In 2007, New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched PlaNYC, a 135 point plan that aims by 2030 to accommodate 1 million more New Yorkers and reduce the city’s carbon footprint by thirty percent. The highly ... Continue Reading »

Founder and President of Urbanscape Urban Design, Planning and Illustration Practice, Jeffrey Shumaker AICP, Assoc. AIA, is currently Deputy Chief Urban Designer for NYC’s Department of City Planning under Mayor Bloomberg. Contributing extensively to the City’s first-ever Active Design Guidelines and Street Design Manual, as well as many other sustainability ... Continue Reading »

RiAus at the Science Exchange is rapidly developing a reputation as a forum for anything science. It’s great to be able to provide a site that is the focus of science-based discussions and activities as well as a venue where collaborators in scientific ventures can meet and do their work. We ... Continue Reading »

This Thursday two teams of Australian experts will debate for and against the argument that increasing agricultural production is the only sure way to feed nine billion people by 2050. The debate will be held by the Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) an institution that Director Paul Willis said ... Continue Reading »

Brad Jessup is a social scientist and lawyer at the Australian Centre for Environmental Law and the Centre for Climate Law and Policy at the Australian National University. He has expertise in social and political geography and environmental law and policy. He teaches environmental and planning law and foundation law ... Continue Reading »

Don’t you just love it when a good plan comes together? I’ve been following the development of our latest installation since before I started here at RiAus back in May. On my very first visit to the Science Exchange I was shown beautiful crocheted masterpieces that were being created for our ... Continue Reading »

Murray Bridge students were treated to a colourful, interactive two-hour presentation with a focus on marine conservation last week. Facilitated by the Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) the event, held at the Murray Bridge South Primary School, featured special guest artist and author Kim Michelle Toft, and South Australian Research and ... Continue Reading »

If I had to rate my artistic ability on a scale of 1 to 10 (and I’ll extend this rating to my craft skills), I’d give myself a 4. On a day I was feeling particularly generous. I never advanced much past stick men in the drawing stakes, and I’ve always ... Continue Reading »