Science, Technology and Engineering

Environmental Geoscience

Seminars

Environmental Geoscience Seminars are held on Thursdays at 1 pm during the semester in Room 163, Physical Sciences Building 4 (see Department location). All are welcome to attend.

Upcoming Seminars

There are no more seminars in Semester 1 - please check back later for a list of seminars in Semester 2.

Past Seminars

2009

Phil Dyson, consultant hydrogeologist: Causes and treatment of dryland salinity at Kamerooka, central Victoria

Fathi Shaqour, University of Jordan: The impact of war on water resources in the Middle East

Danny McDonald, Lane Piper and Associates: Remediation of contaminated sites - environmental consulting case studies in Melbourne

Peter Green, Botany Department, La Trobe University: Conservation biology issues on Christmas Island

Sanjeeva Manamperi, Botany Department, La Trobe University: Hydrogeological effects of the Boxing Day tsunami on coastal Sri Lanka

2008

Sandra Kentish, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Melbourne: The physics and chemistry of desalination

Rod McLellan, Department of Sustainability and Environment: Desalination in Victoria - the case for

Chris Heislers, Your Water Your Say: Desalination in Victoria - the case against

Sarah Hagerty and Yohannes Yihdego, Environmental Geoscience, La Trobe University: Dryland salinity and lake salinisation in western and central Victoria

Ben Skok, La Trobe University: Why the Howard government didn't ratify the Kyoto Protocol

Jon Fawcett, Primary Industries Research Victoria (PIRVic), Department of Primary Industries: Groundwater-dependent ecosystems

Steve Ennor, Melbourne Water: Water harvesting and transfer in Victoria

Chris Walsh, eWater, University of Melbourne: Storm water - problems and solutions

Tim New, Department of Zoology, La Trobe University: Insect conservation

2007

Sarah Hagerty, Environmental Science, La Trobe University: Salinisation of surface and groundwater: a case study from central Victoria

Dr John Morgan, Department of Botany, La Trobe University: Tracking vegetation change in the Australian Alps in relation to climate warming

Alan Pears, Sustainable Solutions: Design for energy efficiency

Julian Donlen, National Centre for Sustainability, Swinburne University: Calculating ecological footprints

Darren Bennetts, Peter Ramsay and Associates: Remediation of contaminated sites

Geoff Williams and Jane McLeish, ARPANSA: Natural radiation levels in Australia and rehabilitation of uranium mine waste sites in Australia

Kendra Dean, Department of Primary Industries: Plantation forestry in Victoria - the state government viewpoint

Charlie Hawkins, CSIRO Forest Biosciences: Plantation forestry in Victoria - CSIRO research

Darren Sheldon, Timbercorp: Plantation forestry in Victoria - the timber industry viewpoint

Luke Chamberlain, Wilderness Society: Plantation forestry in Victoria - the conservation viewpoint

Jacki Schirmer, Australian National University: Social impacts of landuse change in western Victoria, including plantation forestry

2006

Tracey Hassell, Environmental Science, La Trobe University: Acid mine drainage at Savage River Mine, North Western Tasmania

Matt Edwards, Environmental Science, La Trobe University: Dryland salinity in western Victoria

Mike Clarke, Department of Zoology, La Trobe University: The black-eared miner - flagship species for mallee conservation or waste of money

Doug Munro, formerly with EPA Victoria: Vehicle emissions

Robert van de Graaff, Soil science consultant: Effect of sewerage disposal on soils and pastures

Gavin Privett, Pyramid Salt: Saline brines as a source of salt and energy

2005

Hemanthi Ranasinghe, University of Sri Jayewardenepura , Sri Lanka: Effect of the Boxing Day tsunami on Sri Lanka

Matthias Raiber, PhD student, Environmental Science, La Trobe University: Dryland salinity in western Victoria

David Etheridge, Atmospheric Sciences, CSIRO: Long term atmospheric change

Jeff Taylor, Earth Systems: Acid mine drainage - causes and remediation

Jennifer Slatter, EPA: Waste management policy in Victoria

Chris Coulson, Maunsell Australia: Groundwater problems associated with City Link

Kudzie Musiwa, Uni Zimbabwe: Acid mine drainage problems in Zimbabwe

Peter Burns, ARPANSA: Radiological health impact of nuclear power

Ian Hore-Lacy, Uranium Information Centre: The case for nuclear power

Dave Sweeney, ACF: The case against nuclear power

Geoff Williams, ARPANSA: Management of the waste from nuclear power

2004

Danny McDonald, PhD student, Environmental Science, LTU: Acid mine drainage and its treatment, including stability of the treatment sludges

Sean Walsh, EPA: Sustainability aspects of air pollution

Matt Edwards, PhD student, Environmental Science, LTU: Dryland salinity on the northern plains of Victoria

Jim Bowler, Department of Earth Sciences, Melbourne University: Unravelling global climate change - evidence from southeastern Australia

Malcolm McIntosh, CRC for Clean Power: Brown coal and its use in power generation

Stephen Hancock, URS: Role of environmental scientists in major mining and engineering projects

Rod McClellan, Major Projects Victoria: Selection of the site for Victoria 's longterm containment facility

Harry van Moorst, Western Region Environmental Centre: The need for and design of longterm containment facilities

Gary Laidlaw, EPA: Waste management policy

Ray Spokas, Collex: The waste management industry viewpoint

2003

Darren Bennetts, PhD student, Environmental Science, LTU: Dryland salinity at Willaura, western Victoria

Silvana Santomartino, PhD student, Environmental Science, LTU: Acid mine drainage and its remediation using anoxic limestone drains

Peter Dahlhaus, Geology Department, Ballarat University: Dryland salinity on the basalt plains of western Victoria

Colin Allison, CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research: The composition of greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere

Alan Pears, Sustainable Solutions: Design for energy efficiency

Matthew Minchin, Environment Protection Authority: Trends in Melbourne air quality

Geoff Williams, ARPANSA: Radioactive waste management in Australia

Mary Voice, consultant, ex-Head of National Climate Centre: Impact of climatic variability on Australia in the 20 th Century

Peta Maddy, Water Recycling, Melbourne Water

Sam Costello, EPA

David Snaddon, Yarra Valley Water

Vicki Brown, Dept of Sustainability and Environment

2002

Clean up the Earth: Dealing with Water Pollution

Phil Dyson: Dryland Salinity

Geoff Williams, ARPANSA: Radioactive Waste management in Australia

Geoff Ball: Economic reuse of waste from the wine industry

Peter Beck, Environmental Resource Management: Groundwater remediation

Harry Scaap, Electricity Supply Ass: Energy conservation systems in industry

Ian Hore-Lacy, Uranium Information Centre: Energy conservation systems in industry

Phillip Sutton, Green Innovations

David Hasting, Pacific Hydro

David Brockway, CRC clean power

Alan Pears, Sustainable Solutions

Col Sutherland, Mission Energy

2001

Kevin Henessy: Climate Change

Pam Keating: Waste disposal

Jason Walker: Western Port

Phil Macumber

Clare Minton: Salinity in Northern Victoria

Stephen Hancock, URS Corporation: Sustainability in major mining projects

Rice Growers' Association, Leeton

Natalie O'Connell, Applied Research and Development

Rod Wharton, Water Distribution System

Evangel Aseervatham: Lawson Syphon and Delivery System Automation

Stephen Cooke, Dairy Farm: Farm efficiency works

Adrian Smith: Channel seepage trial site

Daniel Liphuyzen, Mixed rice farm: Farm efficiency works

2000

Barry Mann, OTEK: Natural attenuation of Benzine Plumes in Ground Water

Jan Doolan, EPA: Environmental Problems in the Snowy River

Andrew Steven, Marine Unit EPA

Alan Pears, Sustainable Solutions: How designers of appliances and equipment try to break the laws of physics - or just ignore them.

Peter Noar: The greenhouse effect and global warming

Matthew Kendal, Sinclair Knight Merz: Salinity in the Murray Darling Basin

Craig Hudson, CR Hudson & Associates Pty Ltd: Waste management plans and composting

Liz Carter, PWM Australia Pty Ltd: Landfill Manager

Ray Spokas, Collex Pty Ltd: Wastewater and solid waste treatment

1999

Malcolm Cooper, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency: Radioactive Waste Management

Adrian Daniell, Wildlife Reserves, La Trobe University: Managing the Green Stuff - practicalities of restoring and looking after the natural world

Tanya Ramm, Environmental Engineer, Transfield Obayashi: The Environment and City Link

Jenny Pendlebury, Department of Natural Resources and Environment: Dryland salinity in North Central Victoria - the causes, impacts and solutions

Peter Brotherton, Sustainable Solutions Pty Ltd: Air Pollution in Australia - What do we Know? What Should we be Doing?

Barry Dunn, Snowy Mountains Authority

Grahame Turner: Snowy Water Report

Chris James, VFF

Tim Doeg, River Ecology and Environmental Flows

Andy Close, Murray Darling Management Commission

Alistair Watson: Competing claims for water.

Matt Linnegar & Les Gordon, Rice Growers Association

1998

D.C. “Bear” McPhail: Environmental Impact of Mine Tailings in the King River and Macquarie Harbour , Western Tasmania

Frank Mollica, CMPS&F Environmental Consultants: Remediation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Groundwater

Matthew Kendal, Sinclair Knight Merz: Salinity in the Murray Darling Basin

Jan Doolan, Waterways Unit, Victorian Department of Natural Resources and the Environment: Water Sharing from the Snowy River

Mary Baker, Melbourne City Link Authority

Ruth Clemens, Richmond Community Group

1997

Peter Eaglen, Senior Environmental Scientist, Rio Tinto Research & Technology: Bioremediation of contaminated soil - current practice in Australia

Jon Bartley, Principal Hydrogeologist, Nolan-ITU Pty Ltd: Groundwater and Environmental Management

Adrian Daniell, Wildlife Reserve La Trobe University: The things that count. What role do the non-biological aspects of an ecosystem have in the restoration of a habitat?

B.G.Hunt, CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research: El Nino and La Nina

Alan Pears, Sustainable Solutions Pty Ltd: Applying the laws of physics to ecodesign of appliances

1996

Susan Ryan, Catchment and Land Management, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Salinity in Northern Victoria

Jim Bowler, Department of Geology, Melbourne University: Environmental Change: Climate and Human Impacts

Peter Eaglen, Advanced Technical Development, CRA: Science in the Mining Industry

John Fisher, Environmental Chemist, Environment Protection Authority: Chemistry and the Environment - Victorian Experiences

Professor Al Sweedler, Director of the Center for Energy Studies, San Diego State University: Energy And Air Pollution In International Border Regions: The Case of the USA-Mexico Border

Bryant J. McAvaney, Climate Change Modelling Group, Bureau of Meterology: Climate Change - the state of the science

Maureen Christie, Dept. of History & Philosophy of Science, University of Melbourne: The Chlorinated Fluorocarbon Story

1995

Mike Manton, Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre, Melbourne: Environmental Science and Meteorology

Ian Galbally, CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research: Atmospheric Chemistry and Environmental Problems

Geoff Knight, ICI Australia Pty Ltd, Melbourne: Environmental Issues for the Chemical Industry

Eric Ligtermoet, Melbourne Water, Melbourne: Pure Water, Waste Water and Sewage

Peter McAlister, CRA Advanced Technical Development: Mining in the Environment

Keith Lokan, Australian Radiation Laboratory, Yalambe: Sources of Environmental Radiation