Understanding the population-environment debate:

Conference close
by Lawrence Cram

I am Lawrence Cram. I am the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) of the Australian National University, and I would firstly like to apologise for the fact that the Vice-Chancellor has not been able to come to this closing ceremony. He asked me specifically to say that he has very much wished to be here, but something has come up that makes it impossible for him to do so.

Let me say that the ANU has been very happy to be a Platinum Sponsor for this event. The conference has sought to bridge the disciplinary divide but it has also tried to foster a greater understanding of the complex issues that relate to population, ecology, environment, sustainability. From what I have seen of the sessions that I have been able to get to and the people that I have been able to talk with, you have been very successful in raising the level of the debate and explored, I think, the problems quite thoroughly.

The challenge now is to keep the level of this discussion continuing with the broader community. As you must all find, I find when I talk to people in the community that they very much expect that the scholarly community is in fact having discussions like the one you have had in the last couple of days, and I think that they would be very pleased to know that you have been doing what you have been doing: talking about the issues, asking yourselves how you can take it forward as a research problem but also take into the community issues that are actually absolutely, vitally essential for the future of our country and for the Earth.

It is my great pleasure to thank Professor Frank Fenner for initiating and supporting this event. We are honoured to have his continuing contribution at the ANU and to benefit from his wisdom and guidance on these very important social issues.

The success of this event is also testimony to the fundamental place that the Australian Academy of Science plays in leading discussion of some of the most difficult science and public policy issues that we face. This is the 50th Anniversary of the Academy, and while I don't know how many of us will be here for the 100th, I would certainly like to wish them well in their 50th year and I hope that I will be around to see the 100th.

I should also acknowledge and thank the many speakers and contributors to the conference, and particularly to acknowledge the contribution made by Professor Julie Thompson Klein, Dr Paul Monk and Professor Ian Lowe.

All that is left for me to do now is to offer hearty thanks to all of the people who were responsible for organising such a successful event.