From algae to religion: the diversity of research

The diverse topics of biofuels and religion will be explored at a public lecture in Brisbane next week.

The University of Queensland and BrisScience will host the public lecture at Customs House on September 17, as part of UQ's annual Research Week activities.

Associate Professor Ben Hankamer will explain research under way to develop biofuels from microalgae, in the quest to develop carbon-neutral energy technologies.

“Fuels make up the majority of the global energy market — electricity accounting for a smaller portion,” said Associate Professor Hankamer, of UQ's Institute for Molecular Bioscience.

“Despite this, almost all efforts to develop carbon-neutral energy are focused on electricity, for example, solar, wind, nuclear and carbon-capture technologies.”

Professor Peter Harrison, director of UQ’s Centre for the History of European Discourses, will discuss the relationship between science and religion, past and present.

He will also explain how patterns of religious belief have changed in response to the growth of modern science in his talk Has science made religion obsolete?

“We need to consider whether clashes between religion and science are inevitable, and whether widespread acceptance of a scientific worldview will necessarily lead to a decline in religious belief,” Professor Harrison said.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Alan Lawson, said the public lecture was always popular and was staged as a way of engaging the public with some of the amazing research under way at UQ.

“We have so many talented researchers working in many exciting fields,” Professor Lawson said.

“The breadth of topics covered in these lectures is an indication of the wide scope of research fields in UQ’s faculties, institutes and centres.”

Limited places are available for the lecture; RSVP is required by Monday, September 10.

The researchers will be available to chat afterwards, when refreshments will be served.

Event details
When: Monday, September 17 Time: 6:30pm – 8pm Where: Customs House, 399 Queen Street, Brisbane

For more information on public lectures please see the BrisScience website.

Contact: Dr Andrew Stephenson, 07 3346 7964, a.stephenson@uq.edu.au