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FORGING THE WAY ON POPULATION–ENVIRONMENT THROUGH COLLABORATION
24 May 2004

The 2004 Fenner Conference on the Environment, which runs today and tomorrow at the Academy of Science's Shine Dome in Canberra, will forge new partnerships between disciplines to find a common way forward for the population–environment debate.

Professor Frank Fenner, Fellow of the Academy and Conference Patron, has taken a personal interest in determining the program for the conference. Understanding the population–environment Debate: Bridging Disciplinary Divides will take a fresh and long overdue 'whole-of-knowledge' approach to this important issue.

'When it comes to the population–environment debate, traditionally the various disciplines have talked past one another, at cross-purposes or simply gone around in circles. This has led to a certain frustration and lethargy regarding this important topic and has probably led to it not being given the serious attention it deserves,' said Professor Fenner.

'For this conference we do not wish to revisit the old, discipline-bound debate. Rather, we want representatives of the key disciplines to meet and discuss their different perspectives on this important topic.'

The Hon. Dr David Kemp MP, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, will open the conference which commences at 10.30am today. Plenary speakers Professor Julie Thompson Klein, an interdisciplinary expert from Wayne State University in the United States, and Dr Paul Monk, an expert on argument complexity and mapping from Austhink, will set the scene.

Today's program includes disciplinary sessions covering history and philosophy, environmental science, economics and geography.

Tuesday's program will feature sessions on demography, human health, political science and public attitudes, and the media.

The Australian National University and the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, are platinum sponsors of the event.

Media are invited to attend the Fenner Conference at The Shine Dome, Gordon Street, Canberra, on 24-25 May. The full program is available on the Academy's website at www.science.org.au/events/fenner.