What makes Canberra #3 in the knowledge cities index? What does Canberra need to do to counteract climate change as the city booms? What affect does our growing population have on the local waterways and ecology? How do we evolve and stay true to our identity a bush capital?
Join a climate change specialist, an urban planner, a freshwater ecologist, and a health and wellbeing expert as we ask the question “Evolution of Canberra: blessing or curse?”, as the University of Canberra launches its UnCover free public event series on Thursday 28 March at 6.30pm at The Loft, Duxton.
HerCanberraAssociate Editor and University of Canberra Distinguished Alumni, Walkley Award-winning journalist Emma Macdonald, delves deeper into the rapid growth of our city to become a Lonely Planet favourite, restaurant mecca and on the most livable cities lists worldwide.
The University of Canberra expert panel includes Professor of urban and regional planning, Barbara Norman, urban planning Fulbright Scholar Dr Sajeda Tuli, freshwater ecologist, Professor Ross Thompson and health and wellbeing researcher, Dr Jacki Schirmer.
As chairwoman of the ACT Climate Change Council, Professor Barbara Norman advises the ACT Government on climate change and paths for action. Professor Norman has advocated for the bush capital to keep its strong green aesthetic as it grows in order to counteract increasing heat waves.
Urban planning scholar and 2019 Fulbright Scholar Dr Sajeda Tuli and her team created a knowledge cities index of 25 Australian cities of which Canberra sits in the top three. Canberra is a small city, but has a big population of educated, knowledgeable people with a strong university sector which makes it stand out from its bigger city counterparts such as Adelaide and Perth. Dr Tuli tell us exactly what makes Canberra so special.
Director and Chair of Water Science in the Institute for Applied Ecology at UC, Professor Ross Thompson is best known for his work on Lake Tuggeranong and Lake Burley Griffin’s blue-green algae issues. Professor Thompson examines what effect our growth has on our waterways and ecosystems.
Dr Jacki Schirmer’s works examines how to maintain human wellbeing in the face of challenges such as climate change, with a recent report examining how to support ACT residents to adapt to the increased heatwaves, droughts and extreme weather events predicted in our future. Find out what makes ’a good life’ and debate what is important to keeping a high quality of life for Canberrans.
Test your knowledge with a Canberra quiz, throw your opinion or question into the hat for our experts to discuss and join your community in debating whether the rapid rise of Canberra is a blessing or curse. Drinks, DJs and trivia all included.
UnCover Events is a series of monthly rolling events from June 2019 at various locations throughout Canberra, tackling a range of subjects and issues dear to the hearts of Canberrans.
UnCover is the University of Canberra’s new online platform. www.canberra.edu.au/uncover
WHAT: The Evolution of Canberra: blessing or curse?UnCover Event Series Launch
WHO: Emma Macdonald, HerCanberra and University of Canberra experts: Professor Barbara Norman, Dr Sajeda Tuli, Professor Ross Thompson and Dr Jacki Schirmer.
WHEN: Thursday 28 March, 6.30pm
WHERE: The Loft at Duxton. Macpherson St & Sargood St, O’Connor
FREE: Register via www.facebook.com/UniversityOfCanberra
