Latest News and Events

To include your latest news article on the News and Events page, contact our Cairns office.  Can't find the information you're looking for?  It may have been transferred to the News and Events Archive.  Information relating to past and upcoming conferences, workshops and meetings can also be found on our Calendar of Events.

  'Greenhouse 2011:  The Science of Climate Change' Conference Notice

(30 July 2010) Scientists, industry representatives and all levels of government will hear about the latest climate change science at the GREENHOUSE 2011 meeting, to be held at the Cairns Convention Centre from 4-8 April 2011.

Abstracts are invited on topics in line with the conference theme of 'the science of climate change'.  Abstracts are to be submitted by 19 November 2010.  See the conference website Abstract Submission webpage for further information.

For all other supporting information, including program, registration, venue and sponsorship opportunities, visit the conference home page.

  Sea Turtle and Dugong Awareness Program for Western Province, Papua New Guinea - Development Workshop, Daru, 10 June 2010

(19 July 2010) A Sea Turtle and Dugong Awareness Program Development Workshop, held in Daru, Papua New Guinea (PNG) on 10 June, brought together some 35 participants, including representatives from the thirteen PNG Treaty villages in Western Province.  Facilitated by the Sea Turtle Foundation, with support from the MTSRF Project 1.3.4, the workshop was also attended by representatives of the PNG Department of Environment and Conservation, the PNG Fisheries Department, the PNG Treaty Chairman and the PNG Border Liaison Officer.

Key objectives of the workshop included a review of the Guiding Framework that resulted from the Daru Turtle and Dugong Workshop held in February 2009, as well as an introduction of the Sea Turtle and Dugong Awareness Program for Western Province, PNG, and the chance to seek feedback from workshop participants on content and delivery options for the Awareness Program.

The Daru workshop gave participants the opportunity to develop components of the Sea Turtle and Dugong Awareness Program that the Sea Turtle Foundation will deliver in the thirteen Treaty communities and in Daru.

More information about the workshop is available at the Sea Turtle Foundation Daru workshop webpage.

  Traffic noise killing off frogs - Australian Geographic article

(1 June 2010) A recent article by Australian Geographic looks at how urban traffic noise is drowning out the mating calls of some Australian frogs.  The article highlights research being conducted by MTSRF funded researchers from James Cook University (Project 4.9.3), who, surprisingly, discovered that while larger frogs are being negatively affected by urban noise, the smaller male common mist frog (Litoria rheocola) can cope better because of their higher-pitched calls. Read more.

 'Challenges in Environmental Sciences and Engineering (CESE)' 2010 Conference

(27 May 2010) The third annual CESE conference will be held in Cairns, North Queensland from 26 September to 1 October at The Sebel Hotel.

Researchers, policy-makers, academics, students and the broader community active in contributing solutions to the myriad of environmental questions posed by the challenges facing ecological sustainability are invited to attend the event to share their knowledge and visions for the future.

For further information, visit the CESE-2010 website.

2010 Annual MTSRF Conference

(Updated 24 May 2010) The fourth Annual MTSRF Conference was officially opened by The Hon. Peter Garrett AM, MP, Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts on Tuesday, 18 May. 

The three-day conference was held in Cairns from Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 May. 

This year's venue was proudly sponsored by the Pullman Reef Hotel and Casino, Wharf Street, Cairns.

Visit our 2010 conference webpage for further information.

  Birds Australia medal awarded to leading Queensland ecologist

(23 March 2010) The RRRC extends congratulations to Associate Professor Carla Catterall of Griffith University, leader of MTSRF Project 4.9.5, who was recently awarded the D. L. Serventy Medal for 2009 for her outstanding contribution to the ornithological scientific literature. 

The medal is awarded annually by Birds Australia (Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union), the country's peak body of ornithological science and practice, with several thousand members. 

The medal will be presented at the Birds Australia 2010 Congress to be held in Townsville, North Queensland in August.

 Ministerial visit to North Queensland

(4 March 2010) On Tuesday 2 March, the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre hosted a visit to the Great Barrier Reef by Queensland State Government Ministers Kate Jones, Tim Mulherin and Peter Lawlor, during which water quality issues relevant to reef health, fisheries and tourism were discussed. The Ministers also took the opportunity to talk with MTSRF-funded scientists aboard the Australian Institute of Marine Science's research vessel (the RV Cape Ferguson) working on the Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program.

Pictured (from left):  Reef and Rainforest Research Centre CEO Sheriden Morris, with Ministers Tim Mulherin, Kate Jones and Peter Lawlor aboard the RV Cape Ferguson (Photo:  Gordon Greaves). 

 2010 Fulbright 60th Anniversary Symposium, Cairns

(3 March 2010) James Cook University and the Australian-American Fulbright Commission will host the 2010 Fulbright 60th Anniversary Symposium, 'Sustainable Societies in the Tropical World'.

The Symposium will be held 19 and 20 August 2010 at The Hilton Hotel in Cairns.

For further information visit the Symposium website.

Great news for North Queensland's environmental research

(19 February 2010) The RRRC welcomed today's announcement by The Hon Peter Garrett, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, on the future of the Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities (CERF) program in North Queensland.

In a press release, the Australian Government recognised the vital role that research plays in delivering environmental management, policies and programs.  With 2010 marking the International Year of Biodiversity, the government has looked to direct funds to targeted areas of research in a continuation of the CERF program to 2013.  Minister Garrett's department is considering three or four large research groups or hubs to research emerging biodiversity issues in terrestrial and marine ecosystems across Northern Australia, the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait.

Read the Ministerial Media Release: ' Boost to Australia's biodiversity research'

Read the RRRC Media Release: 'Great news for North Queensland's environment'

 Australian Water Education Toolkit

(5 February 2010) Teachers and schools around Australia now have access to a major water education resource with the launch of the Australian Government's Water Education Toolkit. 

Much time can be spent looking for the right resources to help students understand different water concepts.  The toolkit provides teachers and schools with access to hundreds of water education materials through on convenient and easy to use portal.  It aims to enhance students' understanding and awareness of this valued natural resource and presents the opportunity for a wider scope of water issues to be incorporated into the classroom.

Visit http://www.environment.gov.au/wet for further information.

Pesticide residues in the Great Barrier Reef

(12 January 2010) Research funded through MTSRF Project 3.7.2 has been highlighted in a recent article published in Pesticides News.

The project team, based at James Cook University, found that residues of photosystem II herbicides, including diuron, atrazine and tebuthiuron, are present in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area and lagoon at concentrations which exceed the appropriate lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) and/or ecological protection trigger value guidelines.  Read the article >