2012 Program
The Society's meetings are held in the Society's rooms and are open to Fellows, guests and members of the public. Meetings commence at 6.30 pm and are preceded by wine and nibbles at 6.00 pm. Entry is free, but fellows and guests are reminded that there is a $4.00 charge to cover the wine and nibbles.
March 8th 2012 - in the Society's rooms
SCIENTIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF REGINALD CLAUDE SPRIGG
Dr Brian McGowran D.Sc.
Visiting Research Fellow
Geology and Geophysics
Earth & Environmental Sciences
The University of Adelaide, South Australia
Brian McGowran has a particular and well established interest in biogeography and in the geology that shaped Australian marine and terrestrial communities. This expertise in the history of life on earth, mass extinctions and organic evolution has already provided the foundations for his splendid presentation on “Organic Evolution and Deep Time: Charles Darwin and the Fossil Record” in the Darwin celebrations of the Royal Society SA. (to be published by the Roy Soc SA. shortly),
Now in March, Brian will talk to us on Reginald Claude Sprigg, AO, (1919–94) who was an Australian geologist and conservationist. His Adelaide University mentor, Sir Douglas Mawson, described as "……. his best ever student". Sprigg discovered the Ediacara biota, some of the most ancient animal fossils known. He was also involved in oceanographic research and petroleum exploration and in 1968 founded and transformed Arkaroola into a wild life sanctuary and wilderness reserve.
Earlier, in 1950, Sprigg attracted the attention of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) on account of his specialised knowledge of sources of uranium. And he had been Secretary of the Australian Association of Scientific Workers. ASIO’s suspicion of communist ties in the Union was unfounded.
At the age of 17, Sprigg became the youngest Fellow of the Royal Society of South Australia and in 1986 and he was the recipient of the Verco Medal, its most prestigious scientific award.
The genus Spriggina; a segmented organism, possibly predatory, reaching about 3 cm in length and known only from the Ediacaran period, around 550 million years ago; has been named in his honour.
The bright orange mineral, Spriggite, which contains barium, calcium, hydrogen, lead, oxygen, and uranium, has also been named in his honour.
The Roy. Soc SA offers this unique opportunity to learn more about Sprigg, a notable South Australian.
April 12th 2012 - in the Society's rooms
Fathoming Fish Flukes.
Simple Flatworms or Cunning Creatures?
A presentation about parasites and principally parasitic marine flatworms
and their tactics to ensure the completion of the lifecycle
Associate Professor Ian Whittington
Parasitology Section,South Australian Museum.
School of Earth & Environmental Sciences,The University of Adelaide.
Parasites pervade ecosystems but most people pay them little regard, perhaps deliberately dismissing them due to memories of childhood infections by head lice and/or pinworms, or more recent encounters after an overseas trip. Parasitism is a dominant lifestyle in all environments. Keen anglers may have come across parasitic worms or lice on fishing trips. But how common are parasites of fish? How do they live? Are they simple beings or have they evolved a few tricks that ensure the continuation of the lifecycle? Drawing on his own research, this presentation will give an overview of some of the wily egg hatching and reproductive strategies used by allegedly simple flatworm parasites to enhance transmission.
Ian Whittington heads the Monogenean Research Laboratory and leads the Marine Parasitology Laboratory and investigates a variety of marine parasites. He is also a member of the Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology & Biodiversity, University of Adelaide.
Monogenea, is a class of ectoparasitic flatworms that can live on the skin, fins, gills, oral cavity, cornea, nasal tissue, pharyngeal tooth pads, urogenital system (cloaca, rectal gland, oviducts) and body cavity of, principally, elasmobranch and teleost fishes. Monogenean parasites have a direct life-cycle and can proliferate rapidly on fish held in captivity. Therefore, knowledge and understanding of Monogenea is important for the burgeoning aquaculture industry worldwide and for aquarists responsible for public aquaria globally.
One of Ian’s roles in his split appointment at the South Australian Museum and the University of Adelaide is public outreach and community engagement. He has presented public talks at the Museum (e.g. Parasitology - Prolific Pesky Parasites) and he talks to school groups, clubs, societies as well as to the CSIRO Double Helix Science Club. Most topically, Ian engages with recreational fishers and aquaculturists to inform them about parasites of fish.
In a connection with the Royal Society SA, Ian has supervised at least research three students who have notable records with the Society. Kate Hutson, now Lecturer at James Cook University was a Royal Society SA Student Prize Winner. She was an elected Councillor and was an invited presenter at two sessions of the highly successful Darwin Celebrations, 2009. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Perkins and Sarah Catalano, were also Royal Society SA Student Prize Winners.
We are very pleased to have attracted Ian Whittington to address us.
As the program firms up, future meetings will be added. Put the following 2nd Thursdays in the month into your diary
May 10th
June 14th
July 5th(NB this is the first Thursday of July)
August 9th
September 13th
October 11th (AGM Verco/Andrewatha Presentation)
November 8th
