The funeral of Peter Cullen was held yesterday morning too and I am sure Peter – the President of FASTS at the time of the first SmP – would have appreciated the co-incidence.

Over the next week I will be loading up various speeches and powerpoint presentations from the briefing day, SmP dinner and forums onto our website.

Kim Carr’s speech on science and research at the National Press Club yesterday was well received and the club itself was packed out. A copy is attached FYI.

We also launched the National Strategy plan and proceedings of the ABRS/FASTS National Taxonomy Forum  at SmP. Our media release is below FYI and the paper can be accessed at this website

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/workshop-forum/ntf.html

However, it is a big file which may be problematic for some to download.

I do have hardcopies which I am more than happy to provide. Please e-mail me back with a postal address if you want one (no charge).

For the first time we webcast a forum from SmP - The Great Barrier Reef in 2050 – this was a great success with an interesting and interested audience including journalists, Commonwealth and State bureaucrats in relevant environment, agriculture, tourism and regional development departments logged on. The Forum was coordinated by Sheriden Morris from the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre and was an excellent example of collaboration between two universities, CSIRO, AIMS and a Government authority (GBRMPA). The webcast was hosted by the Australian Science Media Centre and you can listen to the audio and watch the powerpoint at this URL.

http://www.aussmc.org.au/Great_Barrier_Reef_in_2050.php

Hope you all have a good Easter break

Regards

Bradley


Bradley Smith
Executive Director
Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies
FASTS
GPO Box 259
Canberra City  2601
ph: 02 6257 2891
fax: 02 6257 2897
Mobile: 0408 511 261
E-mail: fasts@anu.edu.au
www.fasts.org

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19 March  2008  MEDIA RELEASE  03/08

Taxonomy in Peril

Australia's capacity to identify its plant and animal species is in peril, according to leading environmental scientist Associate Professor Bob Beeton.

Speaking at the launch of the National Taxonomy Forum Proceedings, Associate Professor Beeton said the majority of Australia’s current capacity to identify organisms rests with scientists who are either retired or approaching retirement.

“If the taxonomic capacity of Australia is not corrected, we really could put in jeopardy environmental governance, not only in terms of achieving conservation and development outcomes but also the safeguarding of Australia's natural and rural systems,” Associate Professor Beeton said.

The National Taxonomy Forum, held in October 2007 at the Australian Museum, was sponsored by FASTS, the peak body representing 60,000 scientists and technologists.
It brought together scientists, policy makers, public interest and industry groups to workshop solutions and strategies for the future practice of taxonomy in Australia.

Associate Professor Beeton, who chaired the 2006 National State of the Environment Committee, said the forum found Australia urgently needed new training and funding models for taxonomy.

“Australia needs to train six to ten graduates each year for at least a decade to stop the erosion of our capacity and stabilise our national capability in taxonomy,” he said.

Associate Professor Beeton, who also chairs the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee, said taxonomy – the science of discovering, describing and naming life – provided the fundamental basis for biological conservation.

“And with the environmental investments Australia is now contemplating, it is now more important than ever that we ensure that the foundations are sound,” he said.

The State of the Environment Report, issued every five years by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, provides information about environmental and heritage conditions, trends and pressures for the Australian continent, surrounding seas and Australia's external territories.

The action plan and report are availabe from http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/workshop-forum/ntf.html <http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/workshop-forum/ntf.html>

Media: Bradley Smith (0408) 511 261

The Federation of Australian Scientific and  Technological Societies (FASTS) is the peak representative body for 60,000  Australian scientists and technologists.