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Professor Robin Batterham, Group Chief Scientist at Rio Tinto Limited, will next week examine some of the options for the minerals and energy industries in light of the extraordinary demands being called for by scientists preparing for the forthcoming climate change meeting in Copenhagen in December.

Australia has long benefited from being a supplier to the world of energy (coal and natural gas) and minerals. In the future however, how will the demands of climate change, energy security and energy supply impact on us?

For example, how will the need to reduce emissions affect demand for our products and should we be at the forefront of emissions reduction or leave it to others? Equally, will the massive demand for energy from developing countries mean that we can't afford to mine and process minerals as at present?

These are just a few of the complex questions that will be discussed in Professor Batterham's talk.

Professor Batterham has had a distinguished career in research and technology in both the public and private sectors. He was Chief Scientist to the Australian Federal Government from 1999 to 2005 and is current President of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE).

Free and open to the public, the lecture is at 6pm on Tuesday 23 June, in the Social Sciences Lecture Theatre (Carpark P3 off Hackett Drive Entrance 1).

Media references

Susan Takao (Institute of Advanced Studies) (+61 8) 6488 8037

Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs) (+61 8) 6488 5563 / (+61 4) 32 637 716