*“What Have Animals Ever Done For Us?” *
22 September 2010, 7pm-9pm. Top floor, Harlequin Inn, 152-156 Harris St (near corner with Union St), Pyrmont NSW 2009
*Do we really need animals? What’s all this biodiversity stuff anyway?* To celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity, we’re getting together a microbiologist, an ecologist and an insect-loving entomologist to discuss – over a few beers and peanuts – why would should care about biodiversity at all. Chaired by Wilson da Silva, editor of COSMOS magazine, it promises to be a night of fun, stimulating discussion, a few laughs, door prizes plus real science with beer chaser. And best of all – it’s free!!!
*THE PANELISTS*
*Lisa Sedger* A senior lecturer in Microbiology from the Department of Medical and Molecular Biosciences at the University of Technology, Sydney, Lisa is also head of the Viral Immunobiology and Apoptosis Research at the Institute for the Biotechnology of Infectious Diseases. She has been studying the role of microbes in our environment for the past 20 years, and her current research is supported by grants from Australian Research Council and Multiple Sclerosis Society of Australia.
*Dieter Hochuli* With a focus on the ecology of terrestrial insects and their interactions with plants, the work in Dieter’s lab has three central themes: insect-plant interactions, community ecology and conservation biology. H’s a senior lecturer from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Sydney, and was awarded the 2010 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research Higher Degree Supervision. An aficionado of rare books, he also curated the Rare Books and Special Collections exhibition at Fisher Library in 2009.
*Sarah Mansfield* A former research entomologist with Forest Research in Rotorua, New Zealand, and Post-doctoral Fellow with CSIRO Entomology, Sarah has been a senior lecturer in agricultural entomology from the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at the University of Sydney since 2005. With a particular interest in insect parasitoids (larvae which feed on living tissue), as well as predator ecology and behaviour – so she can use them to control agricultural pests – Sarah coordinators all units of study in agricultural entomology at the University of Sydney. Her research organisms of choice include egg parasitoids of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, ladybirds and predatory bugs.
*Wilson da Silva* The editor-in-chief of COSMOS, Australia’s #1 science magazine, Wilson has had a long career as a science reporter and editor, including working as a science reporter at ABC TV, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and New Scientist, and as a foreign correspondent for Reuters. The winner of 27 awards – including an AFI Award for Best Documentary, and twice Editor of the Year for his work on COSMOS – he is a former president of the World Federation of Science Journalists.
*Brought to you by COSMOS magazine and the Royal Institution of Australia, in association with Science in the City. This event is made possible by a grant from the Council of Australasian Museum Directors with funding from the Science Connections Program of the Federal Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.*
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