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The Pint of Science Australia festival is debuting in Katoomba at the Metropole!
For one night only, we're bringing scientists out of the lab and into the pub, where you can hear the latest scientific thinking from the comfort of your local. Tickets to this special Katoomba event are FREE thanks to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute supported by Inspiring Australia through the Upper Mountains Science Hub grant program.
A small donation goes a long way to support their critical research and conservation efforts in the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
For one night only, we're bringing scientists out of the lab and into the pub, where you can hear the latest scientific thinking from the comfort of your local. Tickets to this special Katoomba event are FREE thanks to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute supported by Inspiring Australia through the Upper Mountains Science Hub grant program.
A small donation goes a long way to support their critical research and conservation efforts in the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
A feisty micro-predator bucking the extinction trend
Dympna Cullen
(Dr Dympna Cullen is a conservation ecologist who has spent much of the past decade chasing illusive nocturnal mammals across some of Australia’s hottest and most remote landscapes. She has worked on threatened-species research, monitoring, and wildlife reintroduction programs around the country. She is passionate about practical conservation and translating ecological science into real-world action.)
Across much of Australia, native mammals are disappearing. But one tough little desert hunter, the crest-tailed mulgara or ampurta, seems to be doing the opposite. In this talk, Dympna explores how this fierce, pocket-sized predator has dramatically expanded its range in one of the harshest environments on Earth, and the complex role introduced rabbits play in this surprising story. From long days in the field counting tracks in the sand, to genetic analysis and climate modelling, she reveals what this species can teach us about the uneasy balance between fragility and resilience in Australia’s native fauna. She highlights why even rare conservation success stories must grapple with an uncertain climatic future — and the possible resurgence of a floppy-eared foe.
The mysterious life of the Blue Mountains Perch
William Goodwin
(Will Goodwin is a passionate fish fan and Aquatic Systems Officer at Blue Mountains City Council.)
When we think of Blue Mountains wildlife - fish aren't the first thing that comes to mind, but this place is home to a truly remarkable species. Quiet, curious and beautifully patterned: the Blue Mountains perch is the manifestation of our stunning landscape in animal form. Without knowing it, all our lives have become intertwined with this stunning fish. We have the opportunity to be a part of a great conservation success story. Hear the story of this ancient species and how to be a part of it.
Science in the Mountains: Connecting Ecology, Climate and Community in the Blue Mountains
Brendan Choat
(Our research lab examines the ecology and physiology of plants with a primary focus on plant hydraulics and water relations. We work in both natural and agricultural systems, with current projects investigating the impacts of severe drought on native forests and improving irrigation efficiency in crop plants.)
The Blue Mountains are a hotspot for biodiversity, but they are also increasingly exposed to climate extremes such as heatwaves, drought and fire. In this talk, Professor Brendan Choat will introduce the Blue Mountains Ecology Hub — a growing network of researchers, agencies and community partners working together to better understand how mountain ecosystems respond to environmental change. Using examples from across the region, the talk will explore how ecological research, new monitoring technologies and collaboration with local stakeholders are helping to inform conservation and resilience in the Blue Mountains.
Climate change, fire regimes and deep time
Scott Mooney
(For the last few decades my research has focused on reconstructing the fire regimes of the humid environments of south-eastern Australia. Like all my research, the palaeo-fire project aims to provide a longer temporal perspective than what is afforded by the instrumental, historic (written) or ethnographic records. The research is also attentive to quantitative measures of fire regimes, including fire frequency, and increasingly fire intensity/severity.)
In Australia the drivers of pre-colonial fire regimes remain contentious, with some advocating an anthropogenic-dominated regime and others highlighting the importance of climate. My work has consistently advocated (and is supported by data generated) for a complex nexus between climate and human activity. Our palaeo-fire research project work to provide a longer-term perspective than what is afforded by the instrumental, historic (written) or ethnographic records using laboratory analysis of compounds that were formed long ago.
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