“Science
for Survival” Speakers Programme
In conjunction with the “Science for Survival” exhibition at the
National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Society of New Zealand is holding a series
of talks focusing on the science and lives of the many scientists and conservationists
being profiled in the exhibition.
The talks will take place every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. from 16 July to 29
October at the National Portrait Gallery in Bowen House.
Dr Hamish Campbell (Geologist, GNS and Te Papa)
The quest for imperial wealth: Hector and Hutton (23 July, 3 September)
These two great men of science and education epitomise some of the finest
aspirations of the 19th century. They embraced the concept of a knowledge economy
but first and foremost, they were students of a new science: geology. Their
concerns sprang from the industrial revolution, the needs of a crowded British
Empire, and the opportunity to do things properly in a new land. They instigated
the organised surveying of the land and its natural resources, fuelling the
creation of industrial and material wealth and, most significantly, they established
worthy public institutions including many of New Zealand’s universities,
museums and research agencies.
Confronting our worst fears: Fleming and Hatherton (6 August, 8 October)
The first half of the twentieth century was dominated by conflict, fear and
a demand for technological innovation. Accordingly, military imperatives were
major drivers of scientific research and especially so in geology and geophysics.
These two men stand out as significant science leaders of their time. They
were both worldly independent thinkers who drew attention to the finite nature
of our planet and its resources, and the dangers of unchecked human impact
on the environment. As great men of peace, they championed the role of a self
regulating science establishment in New Zealand, independent of political control.
Vicki Hyde (Manager, scitech.daily.com) :
Humanity's Heroes (16 July, 13 August)
The march of progress has brought its share of problems, particularly in the
environmental area, but it is important to remember that there are also things
to celebrate in humanity's achievements. There are many all-too-often unsung
heroes who have worked hard to gain the knowledge that underpins "science
for survival", not just for ourselves, but for those with whom we share
this planet.
Women, Science and Survival: the forgotten half of the equation (17 September,
15 October)
In this exhibition titled "Science and Survival", the portraits
show that science is, for the most part, in the man's domain. There's no question
that women have contributed to the survival of the species, but what have they
done for science? Quite a lot, if you know where to look....
Dr Cornel de Ronde (Geologist, Geochemist, Adventurer, GNS)
Submarine volcanoes, the last frontier: hot springs, mineral deposits and
strange animals.
(30 July, 24 September)
The continent of New Zealand sits astride a plate boundary. One manifestation
of this boundary is the formation of large volcanoes as a consequence of one
plate being consumed by the other. Only a few of these volcanoes, such as Ruapehu,
White Island, and Raoul Island of the Kermadec Group, sit above sea level.
The vast majority of the 94 volcanoes that are known to occur along the ~2,500-km-long
part of the plate boundary northeast of New Zealand are submarine. Most are
relatively young and many are host to hot springs on the seafloor. These hydrothermal
vents, commonly known as "black smokers", spew tonnes of metals daily
into the oceans, and locally form large metal-rich copper-zinc-lead (and some
gold) deposits. These hydrothermal emissions are the lifeblood of our oceans
and their associated mineral deposits of strategic importance to New Zealand.
The strange animals that occur with these vents are alsoof national and international
importance.
3.2 billion-year-old seawater-insight into early Earth processes and the beginnings
of life
(20 August, 22 October)
Oceans cover more than 70% of Earth's surface and are thought to have been
in existence for at least 3.8 billion years. But what do we know about them
during the earliest part of Earth's existence? Were they as deep as those of
today? What was their composition? Were they more or less salty than present-day
seawater? Did they, or could they, sustain any life forms and if so, what would
they have been like and where did they live? Understanding the chemistry of
our ancient oceans when the Earth had only just began to form continents provides
us with insight into processes occurring on early Earth. Remarkably, it would
seem that the ancient oceans were not so dissimilar to those of today.
Dr Mary McEwen (ecologist and biographer)
Environmental Patriot: ‘He serves his country best Who loves the land
itself’ (10 September)
‘He serves his country best Who loves the land itself.’ So wrote
Charles Fleming in the winter of 1972 in a poem he called Environmental Patriot.
This was a time when the battle to save Lake Manapouri had not yet been won
and conservationists were girding their loins for future fights for native
forests. What motivated Fleming’s passion for the land and the indigenous
biota of New Zealand?
Portraits of science (29 October)
In 1948 Charles Fleming sailed to England for the first time to attend an
International Geological Congress. In handsome buildings of British science
establishments he saw portraits of the famous men of science, men whose names
had become part of history. Again, at the tercentenary of the Royal Society
of London (1960) Charles was impressed by the pomp of the occasion and by the
portraits lining the walls of Royal Society headquarters, Burlington House.
Dreaming of a time when the Royal Society of New Zealand would have its own
headquarters building with the walls lined with portraits of New Zealand people
of science, he set out to achieve his dream.
George Jones (President, Royal Society Wellington Branch)
"What have we here? - Science in 19th Century New Zealand" (27 August,
1 October)
Tracing the early history of European science in NZ with reference to the
good works of several people profiled in the exhibition.
