Home > Media releases > 2007

BRIGHT SPARKS TO IGNITE EXTREME HAZARDS FORUM
29 October 2007

Some of Australia's brightest minds from a range of science and technology disciplines will gather at the University of Melbourne to brainstorm issues surrounding extreme natural hazards such as tsunamis, cyclones and species extinctions.

The 2007 High Flyers Think Tank entitled Extreme Natural Hazards will be hosted by the Australian Academy of Science on 30 October 2007 and will focus on Australia's prevention, preparedness, response and recovery in the face of extreme natural events.

The event will be facilitated by Professor Kurt Lambeck, President of the Academy and Professor of geophysics at the Australian National University. Keynote speaker Michael Tarrant from Emergency Management Australia will provide an opening address on 'Resilient communities and organisations'.

Other presentations from some of the nation's leading experts, including Trevor Dhu of Geoscience Australia and Professor Nigel Stork, Head of the School of Resources Management at University of Melbourne, will provide the setting for discussion by participants.

Trevor Dhu will discuss the risk of tsunami in Australia and will highlight some of the major science questions that need to be answered to understand and manage this risk. Nigel Stork will discuss the effect climate change and other environmental pressures will have on species extinction. Other topics include 'Assessing tropical cyclone risk in a global warming environment' and 'Anticipating vulnerability in infrastructure'.

The annual High Flyers Think Tanks, run for the last six years, bring together researchers from many scientific fields in the early and middle stages of their careers to exchange ideas on a current topic. Their purpose is to discuss novel applications of existing science and technology and to identify gaps in knowledge concerning application to particular issues. Previous Think Tanks have resulted in reports to government that have been timely, well received and influential in policy development.

The Think Tanks are also seen by the Academy as unique opportunities for career development and network creation for early to mid-career researchers.

The proceedings and outcomes of the Think Tank will be available on the Academy website: www.science.org.au/events/thinktank2007

Details: The Extreme Natural Hazards High Flyers Think Tank will be held at the University of Melbourne, Fritz Lowe Theatre, Earth Sciences Building, Parkville on Tuesday 30 October 2007.