UC EVENTS

Globally we are facing a biodiversity crisis, with species becoming extinct at an unprecedented rate. What if extinction was not forever, and we could ‘de-extinct’ species? Modern molecular approaches are making it increasingly feasible to bring back extinct species. Internationally, efforts have focused on species as diverse as passenger pigeons and woolly mammoths. In Australia there has been a particular focus on the potential to recreate the extinct Tasmanian tiger.

While the molecular science is advancing rapidly there are a range of important questions about de-extinction. How feasible is it really?? Are there concerns from ecological, ethical and Indigenous perspectives? Should we recreate extinct species or focus our limited resources on preventing extinction?

Our esteemed panel will discuss these issues and more in a free-flowing session based on short presentations from different perspectives and an open forum with questions from the floor.

We are fortunate to have three confirmed speakers on this fascinating and controversial topic.

Andrew J Pask is a Professor in the School of BioSciences at the University of Melbourne. Andrew does research in Reproduction, Developmental Biology, Endocrinology and Evolutionary Biology. Most recently he has led a research program aimed at de-coding the genome of the Tasmanian tiger and understanding the potential for it’s de-extinction. 

Gregory Andrews was Australia’s first appointed Threatened Species Commissioner and is a former Ambassador and senior climate change negotiator. During his time in the Australian Public Services’ he was one of the most senior Indigenous staff members. Mr Andrews has a strong understanding of biodiversity conservation in Australia from practical, policy and Indigenous perspectives.  

Professor Kerrie Wilson is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability Strategy) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Kerrie has two decades of experience leading and conducting research into the science, strategy and policy of conservation. She is particularly interested in applied resource allocation problems, such as how to invest limited resources to protect or restore biodiversity and what sociopolitical and institutional factors influence investment success in conservation.