Posts Tagged ‘discussion group’
Towards a just and sustainable post carbon economy: Public forum
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on November 17th, 2011
| 24 November , 2011 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
Roy Neel is currently Chief of Staff for former US Vice President Al Gore, overseeing his climate change advocacy programs, national and international political relationships and liaison with his clean energy business interests. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University, where he teaches courses in the U. S. Presidency, White House operations, and Presidential Campaigns, and White House Transitions. In this free public lecture Roy Neel will draw on his experience of climate change and sustainability politics in the United States to reflect on the key road blocks standing in the way of effective action and on the importance of creative and courageous leadership in driving a rapid transition to a just and prosperous post carbon economy.
Free, but please REGISTER: http://royneelpostcarboneconomy.eventbrite.com
6.30-8.00pm, Thursday, 24 November 2011
Carrillo Gantner Theatre, Sidney Myer Asia Centre, Swanston St, University of Melbourne, Parkville
Enquiries: Taegen Edwards, taegene@unimelb.edu.au
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The Gemasolar Plant Reaches 24 Hour Solar Power: Concentrated Solar Technology (CST)
Posted in Events by Mark Ogge on October 31st, 2011
| 7 November , 2011 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
Santiago Arias is the Technical Director O&M of Torresol Energy which constructed the 19.9MW Gemasolar plant in Seville, Spain. Gemasolar is the world’s first plant to apply the salt thermal-storage system in a configuration with a central tower and an array of heliostats. Gemasolar reached 24 hours of uninterrupted production in June 2011.
This is the baseload concentrated solar power technology modelled by the Zero Carbon Australia 2020 Stationary Energy Plan to supply 60% of Australia’s stationary energy requirements. Mr Arias will join us via Skype.
Time: 6:30- 8pm Monday 7 November 2011
Fritz Loewe Theatre (entry via level 2)
McCoy Building
University of Melbourne
Cnr Elgin & Swanston Streets, Carlton
Thank you to the University of Melbourne Energy Research Institute, our Zero Carbon Australia project partners for joining us in bringing you this event.
Entry: Gold coin donation
Further reading:
http://www.sener.es/News/gemasolar-solar-power-plant-reaches-24-hours-of…
http://www.torresolenergy.com/TORRESOL/gemasolar-plant/en
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Social Isolation and Older People: National Roundtable Forum
Posted in Events, Policies, Research by Kate Archdeacon on October 19th, 2011
| 14 November , 2011 | ||
| 9:00 am | to | 5:00 pm |
This National Roundtable Forum will seek to develop a common understanding of the problem and identify key areas for action. Social isolation amongst older people is known to lead to poor health outcomes and to increased demand for services ranging from home help to residential care. We are seeking to identify strategies to reduce or prevent social isolation. The forum will facilitate dialogue between decision makers and service providers while engaging older people in the policy development process. Successful approaches should be identified, supported and replicated. The forum will have a focus on evidence based best practice and developing ongoing collaborations between participants. Topics to be covered that impact on social isolation of older people will include:
- Mental Health
- Housing and Urban Development
- Technology
- Age-Friendly Cities
- Late life learning
- Social Participation, Intergenerational Opportunities and Community Services
- CALD community issues
Monday 14 Nov 2011 from 9:00am to 5:00pm
ZINC at Federation Square, Melbourne
Conference fee: $190 Concession: $140
To register, visit www.4clivingwell.com
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Climate Change Adaptation National Congress
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on September 15th, 2011
| 13 October , 2011 | ||
| 14 October , 2011 |
Photo by benzpics63 via flickr CC
Climate change presents planners and decision-makers with unique challenges. How, when and at what scale climate change will impact us remains uncertain. What is clear is that adaptation needs to be part of our planning and risk management now.
3 Pillars Network in partnership with Net Balance, the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility and CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship present the 2nd Climate Change Adaptation Congress, a landmark event exploring the policy, strategies and business models needed to enable a climate resilient future for Australia. Planning for adaptation remains an outstanding challenge for the vast majority of Australian organisations. This is why we believe a practical and collaborative approach to addressing this issue is required. The Congress will create a space for knowledge sharing and ‘peer learning’ – drawing on the collective and unique expertise of organisations at all stages of adaptation planning. See About the Congress Structure for more details.
October 13 & 14, Melbourne Town Hall
Register now – early bird registration closes September 22. Download the Event Program.
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Climate Change Knowledge, Values and Action: Public Forum
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on August 18th, 2011
| 25 August , 2011 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
Source: The Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute
Image: Sergey Yeliseev via flickr CC
Towards a more informed and constructive debate on climate change trends and responses
The Garnaut Climate Change Review Update 2011 provides further confirmation of two seemingly paradoxical trends. While scientific evidence that global warming is accelerating continues to strengthen, community support for the decisions and actions needed to prevent runaway climate change remains problematic. This paradox can be explained in a number of ways. If doubt and confusion about climate science are seen as the major barriers to understanding and action then responses are likely to focus on improving communications about climate trends and impacts.
However, there is increasing evidence that public support for climate change action is significantly affected by the mental models and value frameworks which citizens and policy makers bring to the issue as well as by the potentially paralysing impact of the belief that change at the scale and speed required is too hard. This public forum provides an opportunity to discuss recent research findings and insights on the psychological, social, cultural and institutional factors affecting public attitudes to climate change trends and policy responses in Australia.
MC: Peter Mares, Presenter of The National Interest, ABC Radio National and Adjunct Fellow, Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University
Speakers:
- Professor Iain Walker, Research Group Leader, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences and co-author of Australians’ views of climate change for the Garnaut Climate Change Review Update 2011
- Professor David Karoly, School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne
- Dr Susannah Eliott, Executive Director Australian Science Media Centre and member of the Climate Commission
- Professor Carmen Lawrence, Winthrop Professor, Director, Centre for the Study of Social Change, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia
Please note this is a FREE PUBLIC FORUM but please REGISTER: http://climatechangeknowledgevaluesandaction.eventbrite.com/
6.30pm-8.00pm, Thursday 25 August 2011
Basement Theatre, ‘The Spot’, 198 Berkeley Street, Carlton
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Businesses Thinking Globally and Acting Locally on Waste
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on August 17th, 2011
| 25 August , 2011 | ||
| 8:30 am | to | 10:30 am |
Source: Metropolitan Waste Management Group
Photo courtesy 5 Gyres
Melbourne Waste Wise Network Event
Peter Hardy from GHD will present on his recent expedition on the 5 Gyres team aboard the Sea Dragon, sailing through remote oceanic areas to study plastic pollution; Elizabeth Kasell, Director of Development from Red Group Holdings will discuss plastic recycling; Tania Crosbie, Director of Sustainability at Work, will give an overview of a recent report on ‘Sustainability in the Workplace’ and; Emily Ballantyne-Brodie, Director of Urban Reforestation, will talk about the Target 3008 project.
To be held on Thursday 25 August, 8:30-10:30am
The Sustainable Living Centre, located on Merchant St, Docklands. Book Now!
Cost $100 for non-members and additional representatives from member organisations. RSVP ellen.regos@mwmg.vic.gov.au by 18/8/11
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Creating a Sustainable Table
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on August 16th, 2011
| 18 August , 2011 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 7:15 pm |
The Sustainable Table isn’t just another cookbook – it’s a collection of recipes and stories from people who are supporting the environment through their food choices, including notable chefs, farmers, gardeners and winemakers.
Join 774 ABC Melbourne’s Hilary Harper in an enlightening conversation about the challenges and rewards of creating a sustainable table, with Costa Georgiadis of Costa’s Garden Odyssey; Matt Fowles, hunter, conservationist and CEO of Plunkett Fowles Winery; and Graeme Base, author and illustrator of Uno’s Garden.
Hosted in partnership with Yaubula, publishers of The Sustainable Table.
Thursday August 18, 6- 7:15pm
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette State Library of Victoria (Entry 3, La Trobe Street)
Free entry
Bookings required – Book Online
http://slv.vic.gov.au/event/sustainable-table
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Peak Food? Arena Forum
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on July 26th, 2011
| 27 July , 2011 | ||
| 7:30 pm | to | 9:30 pm |
Image: dane brian via flickr CC
Peak food? Escalating threats and emerging possibilities in the production and distribution of food
- Kirsten Larsen, Victorian Eco Innovation Lab
- Ben Fallon, Taranaki Farm, Australian Polyface Project
- Adam Grubb, Very Edible Gardens
Many of us share a growing awareness that we are on the threshold of social, ecological and political transformations as encompassing as the scientific and institutional shifts of the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. The escalating risks of climate change, peak oil, nuclear technology and economic meltdown are only some of the most obvious consequences of a world dominated by neo-liberal institutions and underpinned by a dangerously seductive faith in the capacity of technological innovation to drive boundless economic growth and consumerism.
In this public forum Kirsten Larsen, Ben Fallon and Adam Grubb will lead a discussion about
- the accelerating risks and threats to global – and local – food security
- the inequities and waste of current food production and distribution systems
- the relationship between food choices and healthy ecosystems
- alternative food production and distribution approaches and practices
- innovative and holistic farming methods including comparisons between regenerative integrated farms and agricultural monocultures
- the potential of city spaces to produce food including through urban scale permaculture strategies
Where: Arena Project Space, 2 Kerr St Fitzroy (b/n Brunswick & Nicholson Sts)
When: Wednesday July 27, commencing 7.30 pm
Further information: 9416 0232 or www.arena.org.au
All welcome: gold coin donation at door
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Dr Frank Neumann: Wind Turbine Placement Optimisation
Posted in Events by Mark Ogge on July 25th, 2011
| 1 August , 2011 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
Dr Frank Neumann is Senior Lecturer at University of Adelaide’s School of Computer Science. He is working on wind turbine placement optimisation in collaboration with researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr Neumann has developed computer algorithms that maximise the energy generated, given a particular terrain, turbine type, wind direction and area of land. These are called “evolutionary algorithms” because they are inspired by biological evolution. An evolutionary algorithm is a mathematical process where potential solutions keep being improved a step at a time until the optimum is reached.
Time: 6:30- 8pm Monday 1 August 2011
Fritz Loewe Theatre (entry via level 2)
McCoy Building
University of Melbourne
Cnr Elgin & Swanston Streets, Carlton
Thank you to the University of Melbourne Energy Research Institute, our Zero Carbon Australia project partners for joining us in bringing you this event.
Entry: Gold coin donation
Further reading:
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/05/05/3207705.htm?site=adelaide
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news45021.html
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/adelaidean/issues/45921/news46041.html
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Q&A on the Carbon Tax: Port Phillip Community
Posted in Events, Policies by Kate Archdeacon on June 16th, 2011
| 18 June , 2011 | ||
| 2:00 pm | to | 5:00 pm |
WHAT: Port Phillip Community Q&A on The “Carbon Tax”
WHEN: 2-5pm Saturday 18 June 2011
WHO: John Thwaites, Peter Christoff, Sue Pennicuik, Rachel Powning, Frank O’Connor
WHERE: ST KILDA MEMO – 88 Acland St, St Kilda
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