What state is our environment in and how do the experts pull this knowledge together?

Join the ACT Branch of the Australian Science Communicators and CSIRO Discovery to learn about the production of the State of the Environment reports click here. The authors of these reports − including scientists, policy makers and communication professionals − synthesise and communicate the latest data so that all Australians know how our natural resources are faring. Find out how the SoE team evaluated previous editions to improve the format of the 2011 edition and hear about what the feedback on these changes has been so far.

 CSIRO Discovery Centre Lecture Theatre, Clunies Ross St, ACTON

Tuesday July 17^{th –} 530pm arrival for 6pm start (seminar to finish approximately 7pm).

Nibbles and drinks provided.

RSVPs essential through http://stateofenvascact.eventbrite.com/

 All welcome, event is free but gold coin contributions gratefully received

Panellists include:

Peter Kanowski is Professor of Forestry at the ANU Fenner School of Environment & Society (fennerschool.anu.edu.au); he is currently on extended leave as Deputy Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research (www.cifor.org). Peter’s academic work focuses principally on forest policy and governance. Prior to his membership of the 2011 SoE Committee, he has played significant roles in various forest-related policy processes at international, national, state and local levels.

Steven Cork is an ecologist and futurist.  As an ecologist he spent 25 years in CSIRO researching the interactions between humans and the natural environment around the world.  As a futurist he played a leading role in developing scenarios for the World’s social-ecological futures for the United Nations’ Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and has run similar projects with government and non-government groups around Australia. He has worked extensively as an advisor to governments on policy issues and as a government employee developing and implementing environmental policy.  He now works privately as a futurist, strategist and ecological advisor as the Principal Consultant of EcoInsights and leads a project on the resilience of Australia in the private sustainability R&D organisation Australia21. He is an adjunct Professor in the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. He was a member of the committee that prepared the 2011 National State of the Environment Report.

Nancy Dahl Tacconi is the Director of the National Environmental Reporting section in the Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities. She has worked with the department in decision-support and science management roles for over 10 years. Most recently, she was the project manager for the latest five-yearly national State of Environment report (SoE 2011), coordinating all aspects of the project from initial plans through to delivery of the report and a review of its impacts.

Kylie Evans is the principal Communications Writer and Editor for Biotext. She has written and edited documents for a range of clients, including the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, ACT Government, Pedestrian Council of Australia, and the World Health Organization. One of her most important projects has been substantive editing and informational design for the Australia State of the Environment report for the Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.

Kirstin Duncan is the senior graphic designer for Biotext. She gained her formal qualification in graphic design at the Canberra Institute of Technology whilst working as an infographics adviser for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and running a flourishing freelance graphic design business. Clients included the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, DonateLife ACT and The Australian Institute of Horticulture ACT. Highlights since joining Biotext in 2011 include sourcing photography for Australia State of the Environment 2011, developing design concepts and layouts for a Sandalwood Growers’ Guide and the University of Queensland’s Health Information Systems Hub’s working paper series.