Powering the Planet: The Challenge for Science in the 21st Century
The supply of secure, clean, sustainable energy is arguably the most important scientific and technical challenge facing humanity in the 21st century. Rising living standards of a growing world population will cause global energy consumption to increase dramatically over the next half century. Within our lifetimes, energy consumption will increase at least two-fold. This additional energy needed is not attainable from long discussed sources, the global appetite for energy is simply too much. Pet
Do Garnaut’s targets add up?
On Friday, 5 September 2008, Professor Ross Garnaut released his much awaited supplementary draft report on targets and trajectories. The report argues that Australia's mid- and long-term targets should be to reduce emissions net of international trading by 10 per cent from 2000 levels by 2020, and 80 per cent by m2050. This, we are told, is a proportionate contribution to the ‘achievable' international goal of stabilising the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases at 550 parts per
Unravelling the mysteries of chromsomes
The DNA in our cells is tightly packed into structures called chromosomes. The role of the physical structure of chromosomes in diseases and genetics is being explored thanks to recent advances in technology that allow scientists to look at how the DNA is packaged into chromatin- the structures that form chromosomes. In this lecture Dr Grigoryev will discuss current models of chromosome organisation, several examples of cutting edge research aimed at understanding role of chromatin in cell diffe
Waterwheel Work
Students learn the history of the waterwheel and common uses for water turbines today. They explore kinetic energy by creating their own experimental waterwheel from a two-liter plastic bottle. They investigate the transformations of energy involved in turning the blades of a hydro-turbine into work, and experiment with how weight affects the rotational rate of the waterwheel. Students also discuss and explore the characteristics of hydroelectric plants.
Falling Water
Students drop water from different heights to demonstrate the conversion of water's potential energy to kinetic energy. They see how varying the height from which water is dropped affects the splash size. They follow good experiment protocol, take measurements, calculate averages and graph results. In seeing how falling water can be used to do work, they also learn how this energy transformation figures into the engineering design and construction of hydroelectric power plants, dams and reservoi
Showcase: Oxford Stem cell Institute
Showcase: Oxford Stem cell Institute
Tougher Crops for a Warmer World
Trying to grow plants in Australian conditions is challenging - it always seems to be too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry, too salty, too infertile. And it is likely to get harder as the effects of climate change become increasingly apparent. The economic and social effects of our harsh environment are significant, reducing yield for farmers and making the sustainable use of land difficult.
Lunch Poems: Fall 2003 Series Kick-off
A stellar range of campus figures read and discuss their favorite poems. This year's line-up:
* Nezar Alsayyad (Architecture, Middle Eastern Studies)
* John Berry (Native American Studies)
* Frederick Dolan (Rhetoric)
* Elizabeth Dupuis (Doe Library)
* Jocelyne Guilbault (Music)
* Ray Lifchez (Architecture)
* Martha Olney (Economics)
* Christos Papadimitriou (Computer Science)
* Pablo Spiller (Haas School of Business)
* Steve Tollefson (College Writing)
This event took place on Septe
1.2 A closer look at ethical issues
The genetic manipulation of plants and animals and their use in agriculture is one of the most controversial scientific developments of recent times. This unt takes a look at the 'science behind the headlines' and the complex interactions between scientific and social factors. By the end of the unit it's hoped that you will have a clearer idea of both what is GM makes possible as well as what may be thought desirable.
Those Golden Eggs Come From Somewhere: Internet Regulation at a Crossroads
A discussion of how largely well-intentioned political and legal reactions to the highest-profile risks of ICT creates a danger of perhaps killing the goose that is giving us golden eggs of innovation, decentralization, and personal empowerment. From its inception, many have recognized the Internet's potential as a liberating, decentralizing, and, yes, destabilizing technology but also its counter-potential as a controlling and centralizing technology. Over the last two decades, predictions abo
Nick Bostrom on Global Catastrophic Risk and Simulation Theory
In this podcast, Professor Bostrom, Director of the Future of Humanity Institute, discusses global catastrophic risks and his earlier work on the simulation theory.
10 Risk assessment exercise
Health, safety and risk assessment are of paramount importance both in the laboratory and the field. This unit will help make you more aware of the hazards and risks involved in laboratory and field-based research work, as well as giving you an overview of the legal requirements attached to this work. The unit discusses issues involved in the handling chemical and biological agents, basic safety procedures and common field-work hazards.
9.3 Health
Health, safety and risk assessment are of paramount importance both in the laboratory and the field. This unit will help make you more aware of the hazards and risks involved in laboratory and field-based research work, as well as giving you an overview of the legal requirements attached to this work. The unit discusses issues involved in the handling chemical and biological agents, basic safety procedures and common field-work hazards.
9.1 Field-work risk assessment
Health, safety and risk assessment are of paramount importance both in the laboratory and the field. This unit will help make you more aware of the hazards and risks involved in laboratory and field-based research work, as well as giving you an overview of the legal requirements attached to this work. The unit discusses issues involved in the handling chemical and biological agents, basic safety procedures and common field-work hazards.
8.3 Genetically modified material
Health, safety and risk assessment are of paramount importance both in the laboratory and the field. This unit will help make you more aware of the hazards and risks involved in laboratory and field-based research work, as well as giving you an overview of the legal requirements attached to this work. The unit discusses issues involved in the handling chemical and biological agents, basic safety procedures and common field-work hazards.
7.7 Physical hazards
Health, safety and risk assessment are of paramount importance both in the laboratory and the field. This unit will help make you more aware of the hazards and risks involved in laboratory and field-based research work, as well as giving you an overview of the legal requirements attached to this work. The unit discusses issues involved in the handling chemical and biological agents, basic safety procedures and common field-work hazards.
7.6 Personal protective equipment
Health, safety and risk assessment are of paramount importance both in the laboratory and the field. This unit will help make you more aware of the hazards and risks involved in laboratory and field-based research work, as well as giving you an overview of the legal requirements attached to this work. The unit discusses issues involved in the handling chemical and biological agents, basic safety procedures and common field-work hazards.
7.5 Control measures
Health, safety and risk assessment are of paramount importance both in the laboratory and the field. This unit will help make you more aware of the hazards and risks involved in laboratory and field-based research work, as well as giving you an overview of the legal requirements attached to this work. The unit discusses issues involved in the handling chemical and biological agents, basic safety procedures and common field-work hazards.
7.2 Information sources
Health, safety and risk assessment are of paramount importance both in the laboratory and the field. This unit will help make you more aware of the hazards and risks involved in laboratory and field-based research work, as well as giving you an overview of the legal requirements attached to this work. The unit discusses issues involved in the handling chemical and biological agents, basic safety procedures and common field-work hazards.
7.1 Health problems associated with using chemicals
Health, safety and risk assessment are of paramount importance both in the laboratory and the field. This unit will help make you more aware of the hazards and risks involved in laboratory and field-based research work, as well as giving you an overview of the legal requirements attached to this work. The unit discusses issues involved in the handling chemical and biological agents, basic safety procedures and common field-work hazards.
