Cutting Edge Science
Teacher Development Lectures
Aimed at High School Science teachers, these
development lectures are designed to bridge the gap
between the Stage 6 science syllabi and current events
in science.
There will be six lectures in 2006, conveniently
located at the Australian Museum, covering Core
and Optional topics in Physics, Chemistry, Biology
and Earth & Environmental Sciences.
Tuesday 14th March - Professor Warrick Couch, Extremely Large Telescopes
Warrick's main research interest is in the evolution of galaxies, particularly in the dense rich cluster
environment. He is a major user of the 3.9m Anglo-Australian Telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope,
and the 8m Gemini telescopes. Warrick also has interests in observational cosmology and the large-scale
structure of galaxies, and was a senior investigator of the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey. He is also
currently the Australian “Extremely Large Telescope” scientist.
Tuesday 16th May – Associate Professor Mike Ford, Nanotechnology
Mike's research background lies in experimental methods for measuring electron motion in matter. His
current research interests are fundamental electronic properties of materials and nano-scale systems,
electron motion and bonding in van der Waals clusters as a route to understanding solvation chemistry,
and synthesising scanning tunnelling microscope images using quantum chemical methods. Mike Ford is
Associate Professor of Nanotechnology at UTS and runs the education programs at its Institute of
Nanotechnology.
Wednesday 21st June – Doctor Penny Berents, Ecology of Marine Invertebrates
Penny Berents is the Head of Collections at the Australian Museum and has more than thirty years
experience in marine research and collection management. Penny has extensive field experience in
collecting marine invertebrates and her research interest is amphipod (small crustaceans) systematics.
Tuesday 1st August – AQIS, Entomology & Quarantine
In this lecture, Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) will discuss the role of quarantine in
protecting Australia's unique natural environment and valuable agricultural industries from exotic pests
and diseases.
13th September – Professor Mike Archer, Climate Change & Extinction
Mike was born in Sydney in 1945 and is a citizen of Australia and the USA. His career in vertebrate
palaeontology began when he was 11 and proceeded with undergraduate training in geology and biology
at Princeton University (1967), consecutive Fulbright Scholarships for palaeontological research in the
Western Australian Museum, (1967-69) and a PhD in Zoology at the University of Western Australia
(1976). He was Director of the Australian Museum from 1999 until 2003, and is currently the Dean of the
Faculty of Science at UNSW.
7th November – Simon Walsh, Forensic Biology
Simon’s PhD research is focussed on evaluating the impact of forensic DNA profiling on the criminal
justice system, particularly the way DNA is used by police and the legal system. Simon is also involved in
a range of research projects aimed at a better understanding of population genetics within Australia, in
particular among the indigenous Australian community. This research has important implications
associated with the use of DNA evidence in Australian courts.
Cutting Edge Science
Teacher Development Lectures
If you are interested in attending any of these lectures, please fax back the form below
to (02) 9490 8648, with your details and the lectrures you wish to attend.
Note: All lectures are being held at the Australian Museum
Cutting Edge Science 2006 – Teacher Development Lectures
Contact Teacher’s Name:
Phone: _________________
Email: ____________________________________ School: _____________________________
School Address: _________________________________________________ Postcode: _______
Event
Event Time/Date
Extremely Large
Telescopes
Tues 14th March
Nanotechnology
Tues 16th May
Marine
Invertebrates /
Ecology
Wed 21st June
Entomology and
Quarantine
Tues 1st August
Climate Change
and Extinction
13th of September
Forensic Biology
#Attending
Names of Additional Teachers Attending
7th of November
CSIRO Education Centre (NSW)
2 Newbigin Close, Riverside Corporate Park, Nth Ryde
Mailing Address: T3 – Unit 14, 3 Julius Avenue, Riverside Corporate Park North Ryde, NSW 2113
Phone: (02) 9490 8677 Fax: (02) 9490 8648 Email: jason.morvan@csiro.au