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Biodiversity expert Michael Huston will discuss the need for major re-evaluation of international development and conservation strategies at a free public lecture to be held at The University of Western Australia tomorrow night.

Professor Huston, of Texas State University, will argue that one reason human activities have so often been unsustainable may be that the global patterns of productivity are not understood correctly.

His lecture:  "The Sustainability of Global Ecosystems: Re-evaluating the Current Paradigm" will outline the re-analysis and reinterpretation of published data on net primary productivity and its ramifications for future conservation strategies as well as a re-evaluation of much ecological and evolutionary theory.

In the past several years Professor Huston has been increasingly active in efforts to apply ecological principles to issues of land management and sustainable development.  He has served as a consultant and written guidelines and recommendations for the UN Commission on Technology and Development, UNESCO and the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Professor Huston is a visiting Professor-at-Large at The University of Western Australia.  The Professor-at-Large initiative enables individuals who have achieved distinction through broad intellectual interests to visit UWA, bringing an international perspective and engaging in the campus community.  He will also present a postgraduate master class at the University's Institute of Advanced Studies on July 23.

WHAT Public Lecture - The Sustainability of Global Ecosystems: Re-evaluating the Current Paradigm

WHEN: Wednesday, July 15, from 6pm

WHERE: Webb Lecture Theatre, Room G21, Ground Floor Geography Building, UWA (Carparks P18 and 19 via Fairway Entrance  Number 1).

Media references

Audrey Barton (UWA Institute of Advanced Studies)  (+61 8)  6488 4797
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716