From DNA & Microbes to AI: Science to Save Our Planet

As our climate shifts and artificial intelligence transforms agriculture, we're witnessing a revolution in food production. This talk explores the technologies enabling us to produce food in increasingly unconventional environments. Amidst these advancements, a crucial question emerges: are we on the path to a sustainable food paradise, or inadvertently creating a farming dystopia?

Anna teaches the fastest bacterium in the world to eat PET plastic. Together with UWA colleagues, she also harvests bacterial fat as a biodegradable plastic alternative. Be fascinated by synthetic biology turning marine bacteria into the superheros we need in the fight against plastic pollution.

Genetics not only tell us about our past and how we are made but provides critical insights into the health of wildlife populations. From fish to reptiles, birds to mammals, this talk will showcase how genetics can guide conservation actions and help us restore threatened biodiversity.