Welcome to the ANZAAS Website
Almost every aspect of our life is touched by science. Without science our way of life would be almost unimaginable and sustainability of life in the future will be impossible. Despite this there is great public suspicion of science. Much of this is based on lack of understanding, but past failures of science to recognise public concerns about the nature and direction of progress contribute to distrust. The future is too important for such attitudes to continue. ANZAAS exists to promote dialogue and understanding between the public, science and government and to advance science and its utilisation for maximum benefit.
next ANZAAS Science Talk, Melbourne
Wednesday 29th November 2023, 6:30 pm
All welcome, free, tell your friends!
Free pizza and drink after the talk
At GTAC, in the grounds of University High School, corner Royal Parade and Story Street, Parkville (enter off Story Street or Royal Parade)
Associate Professor Daniel Mathews
School of Mathematics, Monash University
“Topology and the Shape of Space”
What are the possible shapes of the universe? How many ways can you tie a loop of string? Topology is the branch of mathematics that aims to answer questions like these. Understanding the possible shapes of 3-dimensional spaces is an active area of research. Understanding the possible ways in which a loop of string may be knotted is a longstanding question with applications in physics, biology, as well as shoelaces. In this talk Prof Mathews will introduce a little of these topics. It’s aimed at anyone with curiosity about mathematics.
Associate Professor Mathews is a pure mathematician who has diplomas in music and languages, degrees in science and law, and a Masters and PhD in mathematics from Melbourne and Stanford Universities. He did post-doctoral research in maths in France and the US before returning to Australia where he is currently at the School of Mathematics at Monash University. He works (among other things) on the properties of curves, surfaces, knots, and different types of topology and geometry.
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We are pleased to acknowledge the support by CSL and GTAC for the ANZAAS Melbourne science talks series
Further Info: David Vaux davidlaurencevaux@gmail.com
http://www.anzaas.org.au/victoria/
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Click HERE to see past ANZAAS Science Talks
Daniel Mathews November 2023
Topology and the shape of space
Beth Ebert October 2023
Improving early warnings of epidemic thunderstorm asthma
David Komander September 2023
Playing Tag with Ubiquitin
David Vaux August 2023
A short history of cancer genes
Chris Greening May 2023
The atmosphere as a hidden energy source for life
Jim Goding March 2023
Transistors, the Microchip & the Second Industrial Revolution
Paul Lasky November 2022
A new window on the Universe
Peter Currie October 2022
Regeneration: Myths and monsters and modern medicine
Heather Mack September 2022
Injecting eyes with antibodies to treat problems of the retina
Helen Green August 2022
Dating Australia’s Rock Art
Mahdi Jalali July 2022
Transport electrification and integration of EVs within the electricity grid
Grant McArthur June 2022
Science led inroads into melanoma – Australia and New Zealand’s disease
Alan Duffy May 2022
Darkness visible down-under
Timothy Clark April 2022
The importance of reproducibility and integrity in science: a fishy perspective
Tilman Ruff March 2022
Ending the nuclear weapons era evidence, challenges and pathways
Brian Abbey November 2021
The colour of cancer: could ‘smart’ microscope slides transform tissue diagnostics?
Cameron Simmons October 2021
Creating stop signs in mosquitoes; is this the end-game for Dengue?
Madhu Bhaskaran September 2021
Unbreakable sensors the future is here
Anne Marie Tosolini August 2021
Fossil Leaves from Cretaceous and Paleogene Polar Environments
Geoff Brooks July 2021
Green Steel: Can we decarburise steel production?
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Message from Nobel Laureate Professor Barry Marshall
I would like to congratulate ANZAAS on its reinvigoration and an exciting new website. ANZAAS was born to help launch scientific endeavour in Australia and New Zealand in the late 19th century and has since maintained a powerful advocate for public engagement with science. The new ANZAAS seeks to support and enliven a new phase of public involvement in science – we might call it mobilisation – in support of a sustainable culture for scientific literacy and a solid foundation for international competitiveness. The new path of action for ANZAAS is to stir the community at large into motivating more of our youth to explore the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. There are many issues facing our society as we move into the 21st century – new challenges and exciting opportunities in medicine and health, critical decisions to be made with respect to the planet and engineering innovations of which we can only dream in the present. ANZAAS seeks to engage you in vibrant and productive exchanges as together we tackle these future challenges.
I urge you all to join me in actively supporting ANZAAS in its new endeavours.
From the Archives
Douglas Mawson ANZAAS has a long, proud and prestigious history with many eminent scientists as its President. Here from the archives is the 1935 Presidential Address by the great Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson.
We invite you to wonder at Mawson’s suggestions for Prospects for Economic Development on pages 36-37 – from whaling and fur-farming to “As a winter sports ground for diversion in summer, Antarctica would be a thrill to Australians… I see no reason to delay the despatch from our ports of modern liners for summer pleasure cruises amongst the pack-ice.” View PDF
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