Physical Science (ANU Podcasts)

Communications and External Liaison Office
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These are recordings of ANU public lectures and special events that are categorised by physical science

  1. 10/05/2011

    Professor Brian Schmidt - Nobel Prize for Physics Press Conference

    The Australian National University is celebrating the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Physics to Professor Brian Schmidt. Announced in Stockholm, Sweden overnight, the award is shared with two US scientists – Professor Adam Riess from Johns Hopkins University and Professor Saul Perlmutter from the University of California, Berkeley.

    16 min

  2. 08/01/2011

    Tales of stars and stellar systems - Helmut Jerjen

    Mt Stromlo Centenary Celebrations - Tales Of Stars and Stellar SystemsAstronomy has arguably the single largest impact on the development of science, human society and culture over the past 10,000 years. On our journey through space and time we will explore the glorious life of our sun, learn how astrophysical knowledge acquired 100 years ago can help to solve the energy crisis on Earth today, and find out why we should rightfully call ourselves the children of the stars. The discovery of exoplanets is a regular topic in the international news. I will explain how astronomers measure the faint signal from these distant island worlds, show where our place in the Milky Way is, and disclose how the Universe grew a million times bigger on the night of October 6, 1923.

    1h 15m

  3. 05/20/2011

    Space science and Climate change

    As part of Mt Stromlo’s centenary celebrations for 2011, this lecture series provides an opportunity to hear from experts in space science technology. In order to understand fully the causes of climate change we must understand the complex interactions that control our environment on a global scale. Space assets provide the most effective way of studying the conditions, composition and changes of our atmosphere/biosphere on a planet-wide scale. This talk will first explore what is 'known' about climate change and then explain how space technology can deliver the precision and coverage that will be necessary to give confidence to our model-based predictions of the future. Climate mitigation strategies begin with understanding. Space technology can provide that knowledge.

    56 min

  4. 05/03/2010

    Global Climate Change: Perspectives from the Past

    People are constantly asking how today's climate compares with detailed climate records from tens of thousands of years ago to tens of millions of years ago. To the best of our knowledge, we have to search back 55 million years to find a time interval where the rate temperature changes were anywhere near the rate of change that is occurring now. This time interval is called the Paleocene- Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). In this lecture, Dr Opdyke compared data from the Eocene to data collected from around Australia in the Late Quaternary (the past half million years). He the finished with some facts and figures concerning the modern climate and some of the misinformation that has been liberally spread in the public arena.

    1 hr

  5. 03/12/2010

    Climate Change 2010: Where do we go from here?

    Over the past few months, the climate change challenge has taken some odd twists and turns. The COP15 meeting in Copenhagen was widely condemned in the press as a failure; the Australian Government has been unable to get its emission trading scheme through the Senate; Europe and North America have been hit by cold and snowy winters; and there has been a surge in public attacks on the veracity of climate change science. What is going on? This talk focuses on the post-Copenhagen climate - both physical and political- examining what the credible science is really saying about the state of the climate system, and what might be in store for us in the coming decades, including the prospects for rural and regional Australia. Looking beyond the stories in the popular media about what was not achieved at COP15 the progress that actually was made in Copenhagen will be explored. With the recent surge in sceptic attacks on climate science this talk will also examine why the climate change challenge has suddenly become so much more difficult.

    1h 10m

  6. 02/24/2010

    Post Copenhagen: Where do we go now?

    What really went on at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference? Was it a fiasco or a positive step forward? Those are some of the questions that were addressed by a panel of experts at The Australian National University. The panel discussion - Post Copenhagen: Where do we go now? - will brought together people who experienced the COP15 discussions first hand. They discussed and reviewed what really happened at the negotiations, what the failure to reach a binding agreement means and what comes next.

    1h 26m

  7. 02/17/2010

    The global energy challenge

    A stable and sustainable energy supply is one of the major issues of this Century. World-energy demand is expected to increase by about 70% in the coming 20 years, while the production of petroleum   - our main source of energy - is likely to peak in this period. The combination of rising demand and declining production of conventional oil raises the question: What is the plan? In the absence of a plan for a sustainable energy supply, coal and non-conventional oil are likely to become the main source of energy. These energy sources lead to much higher CO2 emissions per unit energy than the sources currently used. Combined with the expected increase in energy use, this aggravates global warming. We face the challenge to develop a strategy to develop a sustainable energy system with acceptable environmental impact. In his presentation Professor Snieder will give examples what one can do as a teacher, student, consumer, businessman and as a citizen to make progress towards a more sustainable energy system.

    1h 4m

  8. 11/05/2009

    Thirsty Work

    Rod Quantock says, "If climate change doesn't scare you, then you don't get the science." Fortunately Quantock does, and when he gives you his take on the physics, chemistry, biology, geology, palaeontology, cosmology and meteorology of climate science you'll get it too. And then... you'll be scared. It's win-win. Sounds like great fun doesn't? It's an edgy mix of panic and hysteria. But that's what you'd expect from someone whose comedy has been described as ‘medicinal'. In his irreverent style and clever humour has proven to be a great avenue to deliver powerful messages about the reality of climate change, water issues and possible outcomes.  This lecture was introduced by Jon Ward, Manager, Environmental Policy, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia.

    1h 5m
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These are recordings of ANU public lectures and special events that are categorised by physical science

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  • Creator
    Communications and External Liaison Office
  • Years Active
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  • Episodes
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  • Copyright
    © The Australian National University
  • Show Website
    Physical Science (ANU Podcasts)

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