Record crowds expected for Open Day

Wednesday, 22 August 2007

Up to 10,000 people are expected to visit the University of Adelaide this Sunday, August 26 for the annual Open Day, which offers something for everyone.

Childhood obesity, climate change, a film festival and the mysteries of evolution will be among the topics under discussion at the University's North Terrace campus this Sunday, from 10am-4pm.

The successful formula of community panels, faculty displays and activities, information talks, entertainment and demonstrations - which attracted record crowds in 2006 - will be repeated this year.

Ancient DNA expert and Federation Fellow Professor Alan Cooper will give a special presentation on "Watching Evolution in Action", discussing the sophisticated methods used to track climate change and mass extinctions over thousands of years.

Two big community issues - childhood obesity and environmental sustainability - are this year's Forum topics, featuring eight keynote speakers, including demographer Professor Graeme Hugo and molecular ecologist Professor Andrew Lowe.

Also on the agenda are the popular campus tours, Battle of the Bands competition and a screening of Festival of Short Film finalists. The latter is a University of Adelaide inaugural competition for budding young filmmakers to tell their visual stories of the streets of Adelaide.

The action-packed day will offer a wonderful range of entertainment right across the campus, from formal orchestra rehearsals, to international and indigenous music, short performances by the University of Adelaide's Theatre Guild, as well as 15 Adelaide bands, all vying for the audience vote.

Former Curiosity Show host and University of Adelaide graduate Dr Deane Hutton also explores the future with science and technology in a series of imaginative demonstrations on Open Day.

For detailed information about the 2007 Open Day program visit www.adelaide.edu.au/openday/

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS:
11am: Childhood Obesity: Is it a product of our media culture? Eclipse Room Level 4, Union House
1pm: Watching Evolution in Action: A "Research Tuesday on Sunday" presentation by Professor Alan Cooper.
Lecture Theatre, Napier Building.
2pm: Is the Federal Government doing enough to ensure our long-term sustainability? Eclipse Room, Level 4, Union House.

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