[ZeroES.announce] [Thursday] Ken Johnson on Climatic Variation

[Robert Wiblin]

Welcome to the ANU Zero Emissions Society Announcements list!

Seminar Two: Ken Johnson on Climatic Variation
Thursday 19th of October
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Manning Clark Centre Theatre 4

You will have heard various claims about climate change, but is it
really happening?

Senior lecturer Ken Johnson is a specialist in information systems,
urban geography, policy and planning. He has researched climate
variation in the Asia-Pacific region and will be presenting his
findings. This could be the last time you will be able to see Ken as
he is retiring this year.

Detecting human-induced climate change is a challenge! Natural
variation is complex and knowing what to look for in climatic records
is difficult. How do you draw connections between complex variation in
different locations to produce a coherent picture of broader change?
This will be the basis of the discussion. Evidence will be presented
and it will be up to the group to decide for themselves whether indeed
our climate is changing.

Ken studied geography and economics at the University of Queensland
before moving to a research-teaching position at the University of
Glasgow in the Department of Social and Economic Research. During this
time his interests focussed on the economics and location of
distribution, first of retailing and then wholesaling and intermediate
warehousing. As transport systems changed the importance of these
activities became paramount.

On return to Australia and the Urban Research Unit of the ANU, the
knowledge he gained was extended to research into the processes of
urban development, with a particular focus on Melbourne. Work
interests of the research group ranged from the policy and planning of
public authorities to processes of residential selection and property
markets.

Since joining the Department of Geography in 1972 Ken has taught in a
wide range of courses from urban geography to the geography of
Australia, and, more recently branched out to longer term variation in
climate as seen in the instrumental record.

This is the second in a series of seminars presented by the ANU Zero
Emissions Society in their 2006 Climate Change Series

*Alan Dupont lecture followup*

Those interested in checking out Alan Dupont's paper on climate change
and security "Warming up the Planet", can download it for free from
here: http://www.lowyinstitute.org/PublicationGet.asp?i=392

*News of the week*

The Australian on Australia and energy sources:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/index/0,,5004220,00.html

*Website of the week*

The Climate Action Network Australia: http://www.cana.net.au/

*Other events*

Several other big events are on in the coming week including David
Suzuki's visit to ANU.

For details see the Society Calendar on our website at
http://www.anuzeroemissions.org/ .

--
Robert Wiblin
ANU Student Association Environment Officer
robertwiblin at gmail.com
Mobile: 0401242877
Burgmann College, ANU