The Western Australian Museum’s Harry Butler Lecture Series: In the Wild West will return to Geraldton this month with a lecture celebrating the wonderland that is Western Australia.
Presented by Chief Scientist of Western Australia, Professor Lyn Beazley, ‘Western Australia: a Geological and Biological Wonderland’ will highlight the reasons our State is internationally recognised for its unique and diverse plant and animal species.
To assist with the prioritisation of global conservation efforts, Oxford University conducted a study in 2000 to identify 25 biodiversity hotspots around the world,
Prof Beazley said.
The areas were picked based on their high concentration of unique plants and animals, and the South West of WA was recognised as one of these areas and the only hotspot in Australia.
The lecture will explain how Western Australia’s ancient rocks and fossils are helping scientists understand what Earth was like long before dinosaurs roamed.
The rocky outcrops of stromatolites created by a build-up of blue-green algae at Shark Bay are similar to the life forms found on Earth up to 3.5 billion years ago,
Prof Beazley said.
They offer scientists a unique opportunity to study a living case of the earliest life forms responsible for oxygenating our planet many years ago.
The presentation will discuss the current research being carried out to conserve threatened species and share a number of discoveries from the past year.
Prof Beazley was appointed Chief Scientist of Western Australia in 2006, and was reinstated for a second term in January 2012. In 2009 she was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia and made a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.
Prof Beazley has served on numerous boards and bodies advising State and Federal Governments, including the Australian Research Council, Western Australia’s Low Emissions Energy Development Fund and the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority.
This is the first of four lectures to be presented at the Western Australian Museum - Geraldton as part of the 2012 Harry Butler Lecture Series.
Later in the year Dr Michael McCarthy will present his lecture ‘Wreck of the Zuytdorp’, Dr Ian Godfrey will explore the difficulties of Antarctic exploration in his lecture ‘Exploration and Conservation: The Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914’, and Dr Glenn Moore will reveal the fascinating secret world of seahorses in his lecture ‘Seahorse tales and pregnant males’.
Bookings are essential for all lectures and can be made by calling the WA Museum - Geraldton or online at http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/inthewildwest
The Harry Butler lecture series: In the Wild West is proudly presented by the WA Museum in partnership with Chevron Australia. The series showcases the work of Museum scientists, curators and associates in the areas of natural and social sciences.
LECTURE: Western Australia: A Geological and Biological Wonderland
WHEN: Tuesday 26 June, 7:00pm
WHERE: Western Australian Museum - Geraldton
BOOKINGS 9921 5080
ESSENTIAL: http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/inthewildwest
COST: By gold coin donation
Media contact:
Niki Comparti, Western Australian Museum, 9212 3840, Niki.Comparti@museum.wa.gov.au
