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Universities Australia Climate Change Forum, Parliament House Canberra

March 18, 2010


INVITATION - What is the reality of climate change in Australia? What does the science show? What changes are already happening? How are farmers, land managers and the environment responding?

Universities Australia, the peak body of Australia’s 39 universities, is hosting our first National Policy Forum on Thursday 18 March at Parliament House. The topic is Climate Change - Bridging Scientific Knowledge and Public Policy.  I am writing to encourage you to consider attending the Forum and to share this invitation with others, including any of your own staff who have an interest in this important issue. Leading researchers will report on:
  • The evidence of climate change in Australia today: in the climate record; in agriculture; in the environment
  • Predictions on the future of climate change and its impact on Australia – exploring the certainties and uncertainties
  • The challenges of communicating the science and of bridging scientific knowledge and public policy
  • The social and economic impact of climate change and the opportunities for Australia to respond, creating jobs and a sustainable future.
The Forum seeks to reach out to MPs, their advisers and the media; we are also inviting a range of stakeholders from agriculture, NGOs and others.  
Our speakers will include (in alphabetical order after Senator Carr):
-Senator the Hon Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
-Ms Anna-Maria Arabia, Director, Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies
-Professor Snow Barlow, School of Agriculture and Food Systems, The University of Melbourne
-Professor Nathan Bindoff, Professor of Physical Oceanography, University of Tasmania
-Professor Keith Dear, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, ANU
-Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Centre for Marine Studies, The University of Queensland
-Dr Anthony Hogan, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, ANU
-Professor Roger Jones, Centre for Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University
-Dr Marie Keatley, Department of Forest and Ecosystem, The University of Melbourne
-Associate Professor Janette Lindesay, The ANU Climate Change Institute
-Professor Amanda Lynch, School of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Monash University
-Ms Jenny McAllister, Director, Climate Change, Air and Noise, NSW Government
-Professor Tony McMichael, The ANU Climate Change Institute
-Professor John Quiggin, Risk and Sustainable Management Group, The University of Queensland
-Professor Roger Stone, Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments, University of Southern Queensland
-Dr Blair Trewin, Climatologist, National Climate Centre, Bureau of Meteorology
-Professor Peter Coaldrake Chair, Universities Australia and Vice-Chancellor, QUT (Chair of the Forum)
I acknowledge of course that the notice is extremely short but, as you will realise, the decision regarding timing of the event was driven by the importance and immediacy of the topic, and also because of the desirability of holding such a significant event at Parliament House. After next week, Parliament does not reconvene until the Budget session, so I hope the circumstances are understood. As you will see from the list above, we have been able to assemble an impressive list of contributors. The style of the event will involve ‘short burst’ speeches, rather than a small number of lengthy presentations. As indicated above, the Forum is scheduled as follows:

Participation is free but places are limited. Please RSVP to Niall Byrne (see below) by midday Tuesday 16 March, to allow for a security pass to be organised at Parliament House.

Date: Thursday, 18 March 2010
Time: 8.30am to 12.30pm
Venue: Mural Hall at Parliament House
RSVP: by noon, Tuesday 16 March to niall@scienceinpublic.com.au

Further details and supporting documents will be published online at www.scienceinpublic.com.au/blog/ua or contact Niall Byrne from Science in Public on tel (03) 9398 1416, mob 0417 131 977 and email niall@scienceinpublic.com.au

With best wishes.
Yours sincerely
Peter Coaldrake

_______________________________________
Professor Peter Coaldrake
Chair
Universities Australia