Two of Australia’s leading thinkers will share their views on the hot topics of climate change and alternate energy sources next week as part of UQ’s Research Week.
Professor John Quiggin and Professor Paul Burn will be the speakers at UQ’s Research Week Federation Fellows Public Lecture, a free event open to the public on Wednesday, September 24 from 6.30pm.
Professor Quiggin, from the Schools of Economics and Political Science & International Studies, will present a talk on Climate Change and the Murray Darling Basin.
A prominent research economist and commentator on Australian economic policy, Professor Quiggin has published over 750 research articles, books and reports in fields including risk analysis, production economics, and environmental economics.
Professor Burn, from the School of Molecular & Microbial Sciences, will present a talk on Can light solve the energy crisis?
A leading expert on organic semiconductors, Professor Burn said they have the potential to revolutionise technologies such as flat panel displays, solar cells and plastic electronics. Organic semiconductors have electronic properties similar to traditional semiconductors, but are as easy to work with as plastics.
Australian Research Council Federation Fellows are considered to be world-leaders in their chosen fields of research. A Federation Fellowship is one of the highest academic accolades in Australia.
Facilitator for the evening will be the co-founder and director of high technology venture capital fund manager SciVentures, Dr Greg Smith.
After gaining his PhD in materials engineering from Cranfield University of Technology (UK), Dr Smith focused on technology management and new business development. He has worked for companies such as Exxon and Alcoa but more recently was managing director of Victoria’s Strategic Industry Research Foundation. He is currently a member of the Federal Government’s Industrial Research & Development Board.
The lecture will take place in the Queensland Bioscience Precinct auditorium at UQ and free refreshments will be provided following the lectures. An RSVP is essential for catering purposes. RSVP by email: researchweek@uq.edu.au
UQ's Research Week 2008 (September 22 to 26) aims to raise awareness of current UQ research amongst the university community, the general public, industry and government.
For further details on the public lecture and many other UQ Research Week events, visit http://www.uq.edu.au/researchweek/
Media: Andrew Dunne at UQ Communications (3365 2802 or 0433 364 181).
