A sporting chance for champion thinkers

After decades running a distant second to sport in Australians’ affections, academe has finally enjoyed a level playing field – at least for one night in Brisbane.

The inaugural UQ Federation Fellows Public Lecture at Brisbane Customs House on September 19 featured two of Australia’s best thinkers, an audience thirsting for knowledge, and the commentary of an outspoken sports reporter. To hear the podcast click here.

Professor Hugh Possingham and Professor Graeme Turner, both Australian Research Council Federation Fellows (the cerebral equivalents of Olympic athletes) delivered lectures at the free event, convened by Radio National sports reporter and writer, Warwick Hadfield.

UQ’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor David Siddle, said it was a highlight of UQ’s annual Research Week, when researchers take the champions’ dais.

“Hugh Possingham has the gift to eloquently explain how mathematics and science can help address environmental challenges, and Graeme Turner is a well-known commentator on the role of the media in our society, experienced at explaining why changes in the social function of the media should matter to us.

“Combined with audience participation and the wit of Warwick Hadfield, this was an entertaining and informative night,” Professor Siddle said.

Professor Possingham, Director of the Ecology Centre at UQ and of the AEDA (Applied Environmental Decision Analysis, a Commonwealth-funded research centre) is Professor of Mathematics and Professor of Ecology. His recent research interests include: the design of marine reserves; weed control; kangaroo and koala management; and optimising environmental monitoring.

A Rhodes Scholar, he says he “suffers from obsessive bird watching”.

Professor Turner, Director of the Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies at UQ, is President of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and convenor of the Australian Research Council Cultural Research Network. A graduate of universities in Australia, Canada and the UK, he has published 18 books and his work has been translated into eight languages.

His recent titles have delved into subjects including celebrity and television current affairs. His current Federation Fellow project is an international study of the state of television in a post-broadcast era increasingly dominated by new media formats such as the Internet.

Mr Hadfield presents the Sports Report each weekday morning on ABC Radio National's Breakfast Program. He has been a writer and broadcaster for more than 30 years, covering sport all over the world, including Test cricket, rugby union, Australian football, and Olympic and Commonwealth Games. He is an author, playwright and musician whose new CD is called ‘Dancing With Socrates’.

Event details: (download flyer, 43Kb, PDF)

Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 6.30-9pm (free refreshments from 8pm), Customs House, 399 Queen Street, Brisbane.

Media: Fiona Kennedy, telephone 07 3365 1088.