The annual Sir Richard kirby Lecture, scheduled for Monday 12 October has been cancelled, after former Prime Minister Bob Hawke withdrew due to illness.
Mr Hawke is likely to visit the University of Wollongong early next year.
Oceans cover 70% of the Earth’s surface, yet the policies to manage the marine environment are under-developed.
The University of Wollongong’s Centre for Maritime Policy is therefore marking 1998, the United Nations International Year of the Oceans, by hosting a conference on the Preservation and Protection of the Marine Environment.
Organised in conjunction with the Ocean University of Qingdao, China, the conference aims to increase the public awareness of oceans issues by bringing together marine scientists, lawyers, policy makers and others from China, Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
Delegates at the conference will discuss the integration of marine science and law to develop effective policies for managing human activity on and under the oceans. These issues are particularly important in the Asia Pacific region where countries share extensive interests in the sea, and mostly have large offshore jurisdictions and a major stake in the ecologically sustainable development of marine resources.
Among the papers presented is one from the Ocean University discussing the position of the Chinese with regard to the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. This paper advocates co-development of the resources of the Spratlys by all interested parties.
Another paper discusses the challenges faced by the island nations of the Pacific which have exclusive economic zones that are far greater than their land areas. The management of these zones poses unique problems to these States, which all rely heavily on their marine resources.
CSIRO researchers will discuss the management of the impact of increasing tourism on Australia’s coastal and marine environments.
With increasing debate surrounding the relationship between environmental pollution and climate change, the role of the oceans is receiving ever increasing attention. The conference on Preservation and Protection of the Marine Environment, held on October 8 and 9 is a part of this process.
from left, Peter Arnold, from the Centre for Bulk Solids and Particulate
Technologies, University of Wollongong;
Peter Wypych, conference chairman, CBSPT Wollongong; Alan Roberts, CBSPT, Newcastle;
Mark Jones, Caledonian University, Glasgow;
John Ramage, Australian Society of Bulk Solids Handling, Sydney.
Delegates from across the country and around the world descended on the University
last week to attend the sixth International Conference on Bulk Materials Storage,
Handling and Transportation.
In all, 150 people attended the conference, and 80 papers were presented.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sutton, gave the welcoming address, and the National President of the Institute of Engineers Australia, Mr J Abercrombie, gave the opening address.
In addition to the presentation of papers, thirteen companies including port authorities, engineering consultants, and equipment suppliers, exhibited in the Function Centre and building 20 foyer in conjunction with the Conference.