Please join us for the first social evening of the year when the Society’s 2025 program of activities and events will be presented

Location: Gregory Place, Level 1/28 Fortescue St, Spring Hill

Five Deeps Expedition

Presented by Keith Treschman

This topic covers the attempt by one explorer, backed by his crew, to reach the deepest part of each of the 5 oceans in a submersible. How are the oceans demarcated? How does one measure these large depths? How does one determine the deepest part of an ocean?

Image:  Victor Vescovo and his submersible "Limiting Factor"

Keith has taught Science for over 40 years in Queensland secondary schools. He holds a PhD in Astronomy, an area in which he is passionate. He has visited the 7 continents and enjoys geographical places, for example, Hawaii, Great Rift Valley of Africa, Galápagos Islands, Jordan River, Central Asia and Antarctica.

His past talks to the Map Group have been: a. Mapping the Night Sky; b. Areography (Geography of Mars); c. Struve Geodetic Arc; d. Seabed 2030; e. Life on Europa? An Application of Geography; f. Plate Tectonics; g. How the USA States got their Shapes

Costs:  $5:00 which includes a special morning tea.

Limit:  35

Register and pay on the website

Coordinator:  Kay Rees

Presenter: Professor Nigel Andrew

Nigel is an entomologist and is currently the Chair of Science at Southern Cross University. He is also a 2020 Fulbright Senior Scholar. His research investigates the responses of insects (native and introduced; pests and natural enemies to environmental extremes and rapid climatic changes. Nigel is currently a panel member of the Australian Research Council, College of Experts. He is also Editor-in-Chief of Austral Ecology and Vice-President of the Entomological Society of NSW. Additionally, Nigel is a member of the NSW Fulbright Postgraduate, Postdoctoral, and Future Scholar Scholarship Panels. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society.

Nigel will be joined in conversation by Christopher Zinn. Christopher has a Geography MA (Oxon) from Hertford College Oxford, and the experience has been significant in his career as a journalist here and overseas in newspapers, radio and TV. He has specialised in environmental and social stories. He ran campaigns and communications at CHOICE for some years and is vested in forging better consumer outcomes. He has experience with boards and councils of various associations and NFPs.

Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) are one of the biggest threats to our way of life. Their occupation in South East Queensland for 25 years has led many localised populations to become persistent. This is quickly diminishing our ability to eradicate them. And the costs to contain them in their current area is also becoming larger, with fresh outbreaks continuing.  Here, I will give an overview of why RIFA are such an effective invasive species, and why it has been difficult to control them – from an ecological and entomological perspective. And what options we have to eradicate them.

When: 11 February 2025

Time:  7:30 - 8:30 pm AEST  

            8:30 – 9:30 pm AEDT

Location: Zoom Only

Please note: The ZOOM link for this event is included in the confirmation email which you will receive once you have registered. You will find it at the bottom of the notice Please keep this in a place where you can find it when needed. A reminder email will be sent with the link on the day of the event close to Close of Business hours.

Photo credit: National Fire Ant Eradication Program

This event may be recorded. If you have any questions, please email us at info@rgsq.org.au

Speakers: Dr Ashmita Sengupta, Professor John Quiggin and Assoc Professor Johanna Nalau

Dr Ashmita Sengupta leads the Modelling Water Ecosystem team in the Environment Business Unit at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. Her work examines the impact of climate change and other anthropogenic stressors on natural systems, examines system vulnerabilities, and develops pathways to adapt, restore and protect.

Associate Professor Johanna Nalau is an award-winning climate adaptation scientist who thrives on finding clues to how humans can better see into the future and adapt. Her research focuses on understanding climate adaptation heuristics and the role these play in adaptation decision- and policy-making processes globally and in Australia. A/Prof Nalau is Lead Author in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 6th Assessment report in Working Group II.

Professor John Quiggin is a Professor of Economics at the University of Queensland. He is a prominent research economist and commentator on Australian and international economic policy. He is an active contributor to Australian public debate in a wide range of traditional and social media.

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The Murray–Darling Basin is in Australia's south-east. It is a system of 23 interconnected rivers and 16 internationally significant wetlands. The Darling begins in southern Queensland where the Culgoa and Barwon rivers meet. It flows into the Murray at the border of New South Wales and Victoria, and the Murray eventually reaches the sea just to the south-east of Adelaide. The Basin includes most of New South Wales, some of southern Queensland, the east of South Australia, northern Victoria and all of the Australian Capital Territory. More than 2.4 million people live in the Basin, including people from over 50 different First Nations. The Basin is also home to 16 internationally significant wetlands, 35 endangered species and 120 species of native and migratory birds.

Reference: Murray Darling Basin Authority website. https://www.mdba.gov.au/basin

Each speaker will have 8 minutes to spotlight their work.

During the Q&A forum the audience will have up to 60 minutes to ask questions of the experts on their research on the Murray Darling Basin system.

Light refreshments are served on arrival. This is a chance to network with colleagues and friends interested in this topic.

Please post your questions on notice to:

Email questionsonnotice@gmail.com

Date: Tuesday 25 February

PLEASE Note: 6:00 pm start

Time:  6:00 pm light refreshments – doors open @ 5:45 

             6:30 – 7:00 pm Presentations

             7:00 – 8:00 Q&A Forum

             8:00 – 8:30 Mingling 

Place: Gregory Place, Level 1, 28 Fortescue St. Spring Hill 

Cost: $5.00 for refreshments, included in registration. 

Cost: $5.00 Members 

          $10.00 Non-Members 

          $5.00 Students 

Photo credit: image generated using Midjourney/Discord