Science symposium to explore human impact of diverse Great Southern region

Presentations exploring both the present and the future will be the focus of the Great Southern Great Science Symposium when it returns for the first time in three years next week. The symposium, organised by the Great Southern Science Council, will examine recent restoration projects from the region to explore whether we are discounting the future and making a difference. “The GSSC is a volunteer group passionate to promote science in our local community and the symposiums are one of our flagship events,” organiser Professor Katy Evans said. “To assist regional people to attend the symposium, we are offering a travel bursary for those living more than 50 km from Albany.” The symposium will consist of four sessions. The first will explore prescribed burning, birdlife and the region’s water needs. After morning tea, attendees will learn about restoration projects with talks from Gondwana Links’ Keith Bradby and Jim Underwood, Wilson Inlet Catchment Group’s Shaun Ossinger and restoration ecologist Adam Cross. The third session will feature presentations from South Coast Natural Resource Management as well as one offering a youth perspective on environmental issues and another from Dr Wiebke Ebeling on whether Albany can be an innovation leader for renewables. A panel discussion of the symposium’s key focus — are we discounting the future — will bring the event to a close prior to an informal sundowner from 5pm. Pre- and post-symposium workshops have also been organised by GSSC. “The Symposium will launch a pilot mentoring program supported by South Coast Enviro-Experiences which will be extended during a post-symposium workshop on November 28 at Camp Quaranup,” Dr Evans said. The one-day symposium will run from 8.30am through to 5pm at Retravision Stadium on October 25. Tickets are available by following the links on the GSSC website until October 18.