Bruce Thom AM, known as the founding father of the Australian Coastal Society (Ltd.), will give this year’s prestigious Joseph Gentilli Memorial Lecture as part of UWA’s Research Week. Professor Thom, Emeritus Professor at the University of Sydney, will reflect on the future for coastal science in Australia.

His lecture will offer some personal examples of where coastal science has been of use, where it has been ignored, and where it could be of value in the future.

“Some attempt must be made to apply scientific understanding as best one can to the issues facing those who use coastal resources. Decision-making should benefit from that knowledge.” Said Professor Thom

In 2010, Professor Thom was prestigiously awarded a member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to ecological management of the coastal zone and as a contributor to public debate on natural resource policy. He is a founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, an independent group of Australian scientists, economists and business people with interests in the conservation of Australia’s land, water and marine resources. It was established in 2002 with the objective of connecting science to public policy.

The Joseph Gentilli Memorial Lecture honours the legacy of an influential and long-serving scholar. Joseph Gentilli (1912-2000) had a long and distinguished career at The University of Western Australia, helping to bring about a comprehensive understanding of the climates of Australia. In addition to his many other contributions, he wrote about “the selective or “greenhouse” effect of the atmosphere” more than 50 years ago (A Geography of Climate, UWA, 1952), and more than 30 years ago was calling for an understanding of how climate patterns were changing (Australian Climate Patterns, Nelson, 1972)

WHAT: Public lecture - The 2015 Joseph Gentilli Memorial Lecture by Bruce Thom AM FTSE FIAG, Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney 'Coastal Science: Reflections on the past and present and ideas for the future'

WHEN: 6pm, Thursday 10 September 2015

VENUE: Theatre Auditorium, The University Club of Western Australia

COST: Free, but RSVP essential.

BOOKINGS: http://www.ias.uwa.edu.au/lectures/thom

Media references

Audrey Barton (Marketing and Communications Officer, UWA IAS)  (+61 8) 6488 4797