News Archive

27/05/08

The Australian Mekong Resource Centre (AMRC) is a research centre located within the School of Geosciences. Its Director is Professor Philip Hirsch.

Two of our recently completed postgraduates – Viliam Phraxayavong and Daniel Robinson - have been offered book contracts for their theses. Viliam’s book is to be published by Silkworm Books and is on aid to Laos. Daniel’s book is to be published by Earthscan and is on biopiracy in Thailand.

Paula Brown, Kate Griffiths, Lindsay Soutar and Nguyen Tuong Huy, all postgraduates in Geosciences and AMRC associates, will be presenting papers at the Southeast Asian Geographers Association (SEAGA) conference in June in The Philippines. This is the 9th annual SEAGA conference and is attended by geographers from across the region. They will be presenting on: Marine conservation as driver of livelihoods change? Experiences from Vietnam (Paula); Chinese aid and Cambodia (Kate); Learning Across Borders: A research exchange approach to understanding forest management in Thailand and Laos (Lindsay); and Livelihood change and poverty in Vietnam coastal fisheries (Huy).

In Semester 2, 2008, two new Cambodian postgraduate students will be starting with Geosciences and AMRC. These students are Sopheak Chann who has received a scholarship from AusAID through the Water Resources Management Research Capacity Development Programme (WRMRCDP) to study a Masters in GIS, and Ken Serey Rotha who has received a prestigious Australian Leadership Award from AusAID and who will be beginning a PhD under the supervision of Professor Philip Hirsch.

14/05/08

Since its formation in 1976, the Earth Resources Foundation has provided an interface between the University of Sydney and the earth resources sector in private industry and government. The Edgeworth David Day commemorates the contribution of Professor T.W. Edgeworth David to the understanding of the geology of Australia and, in particular, NSW.

Each year the Earth Resources Foundation holds an Edgeworth David Day at the University where topics of interest are discussed. This year’s Edgeworth David Day provides the opportunity for the School to present to industry and the community, aspects of its geological research.

Never has geology played such a pivotal role in supporting the economic well-being of Australia and in providing key insights into the environmental issues that are threatening our way of life. The seminar will address both of these major roles for the earth sciences.

2008 also marks the year that the two arms of the School of Geosciences – geology and geography, come together in the same building. The seminars of the Edgeworth David Day are being held in our new and refurbished home in the Madsen Building.

The afternoon/evening presentations will be held on 21st May from 2pm till 5.30pm and the optional evening cocktails and prize giving will follow till no later than 7.30pm.

Event flyer

Everyone interested is warmly invited. There is no charge, but please RSVP to Lana Kolta or phone 9351 2916 for catering purposes.

08/05/08

Application Forms for the 2007 Earth Resources Scholarships are now open.

If you wish to apply for a scholarship, please complete the application and return to Lana Kolta, Room 341 of Madsen Building, no later than 4pm Friday, 2nd of May, 2008.

If you were in Year 1 in 2007, please tick Year 1.
If you were in Year 2 in 2007, please tick Year 2.
If you were in Year 3 in 2007, please tick any of the prizes in Year 3.

Application form

The scholarship recipients will be announced shortly.

16/04/08

The NSW Branch of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (ASEG) provides a forum for members and associates to share technical knowledge and ideas relating to all aspects of the earth sciences with an emphasis on geophysics. Regular meetings are held with invited and guest speakers at various venues, normally in Sydney. This Branch of the Society is active in encouraging research, undergraduate and post-graduate education and in the raising of the general public's knowledge and awareness of the science of geophysics.

The next technical meeting of the NSW Branch of the ASEG will be held at 5:30 pm for 6:00 pm on Wednesday 16th April 2008 at The Rugby Club-Level 3, Rugby Place (near Pitt and Alfred St), Sydney CBD.

Associate Professor Dietmar Müller, from University of Sydney will be presenting a talk on:

Plate tectonic and palaeo-stress field evolution of Australia since the Early Cetaceous

Abstract: In order to understand the effect of time-dependent geometries of mid-ocean ridges, subduction zones and collisional plate boundaries on intracontinental basin evolution and reactivation through time, now subducted ocean floor needs to be reconstructed, with their plate boundary configurations restored. We reconstruct palaeo-oceans around Australasia by creating “synthetic plates”, the locations and geometry of which is established on the basis of magnetic lineations and fracture zones, geological data and the rules of plate tectonics. We use a digital 2D finite element model of the (Indo-) Australian Plate that distinguishes cratons, fold belts, basins, and ocean crust in terms of their relative differences in mechanical stiffness for five time slices since the Early Cretaceous. Australian intraplate stress patterns were relatively simple in the Cretaceous, but became progressively more complex in the Tertiary reflecting the onset of several collisions, resulting in major tectonic reactivation episodes in the Eocene and Miocene. Between the Miocene and the present, the main change in Australian plate-driving forces was represented by the onset of collision along Papua New Guinea and the enhanced collision between India and Eurasia, paired with subduction plate segments between the Java Trench and the Banda Arc that exert slab pull on Australia. We focus on the structural history of the Northwest Shelf, the Bass Strait and the Adelaide Fold Belt to ground-truth our models, which provide a framework for understanding tectonic reactivation through time.

The NSW Branch of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (ASEG) provides a forum for members and associates to share technical knowledge and ideas relating to all aspects of the earth sciences with an emphasis on geophysics. Regular meetings are held with invited and guest speakers at various venues, normally in Sydney. This Branch of the Society is active in encouraging research, undergraduate and post-graduate education and in the raising of the general public's knowledge and awareness of the science of geophysics.

10/3/08

Scientists from the University and the Centre for Geodynamics in Norway have made the first comprehensive model of the Earth's sea level rising and falling over the last 140 million years, resolving a long-standing controversy over sea level fluctuations through geological history.

The group, led by Associate Professor Dietmar Müller from the School of Geosciences at the University of Sydney, has reconstructed the volumes of ancient ocean basins from the Cretaceous period until the present, in an article published in the journal Science on Friday.

Read more...

18/02/2008

Publics and the City, a new book by Kurt Iveson (Lecturer in Urban Geography at the School of Geosciences), will be launched at Gleebooks on Thurs 21 Feb at 6pm.

The book offers a new framework for understanding the urban dimensions of public life. It applies this framework to a series of case studies of struggles over the making of public space in Australian cities, including studies of protest at Parliament House in Canberra, the regulation of graffiti in Sydney, and the practice of public sex in Melbourne.

Attending the book launch is free: RSVP to Georgina Way gway@johnwiley.com.au. Gleebooks is at 49 Glebe Pt Rd, Glebe. The book will be launched together with Wendy Shaw's (UNSW) new book, Cities of Whiteness.

24/10/2007

Two weeks ago the School of Geosciences bid a fond farewell to librarian Eva Wetzlich. After seven years of work with the Madsen Library branch, Eva has moved on to another branch library within the university.

Hosting a morning tea was a simple yet important way in which the School was able to thank Eva for her years of tireless service. Eva has assisted countless students and staff members across the various research and teaching activities within the School. From helping find obscure references to conducting library skills classes for undergraduate, Honours and postgraduate students, Eva has tirelessly shared her knowledge and skills.

We wish Eva all the very best in her future endeavours and thank her once again for her service to the School. Her contribution has been extremely significant and she will be sorely missed.

17/09/2007

At the University of Sydney, most undergraduate degrees may be completed "with Honours". Completing Honours is a great way to improve your career prospects, open the door to further academic study or simply indulge a passion.

To find out more about Honours with Geosciences, students can attend an information session this week. The session is held this Wednesday, 19 September from 1pm - 2pm in Carslaw Lecture Room 350.

19/07/2007

In September the School of Geosciences will play host to a conference focusing on the development challenges in the Mekong region. The conference, "A Greater Mekong? Poverty, integration and development" is being organised by the Australian Mekong Resource Centre and will see participants and speakers from academic, government, NGO, international organisation and community backgrounds, from around Australia, Mekong countries and elsewhere.

The conference is organised by the AMRC in conjunction with AusAID and will run on the 26th and 27th of September. For more information please visit the conference website or contact .

16/07/2007

The School of Geosciences launches its new website. The redesign has been undertaken to keep the information available as up to date, relevant and accurate as possible.

Given the number of changes we've made to our site, it's inevitable that some content won't be where you expect it. To help minimise this problem we have ensured that our most popular pages automatically redirect to their new locations. Also, as a point of reference, we have kept our old site active for the time being.

12/07/2007

The Professor Harry Messel International Science School (ISS) is a two-week residential program for talented high-school science students - a unique opportunity to meet other students from across Australia and around the world, learn from leading research scientists and expand their academic and social horizons. With this year's program focusing on environmental and ecological science it was only natural that the School of Geosciences be involved.

The School ran activities for the ISS students over two days. The activities were designed to provide a practical introduction to the use of spatial data in the context of environmental science.

Using hand-held PCs with specialised Geographic Information System (GIS) software and Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment, the students navigated their way around the University's Camperdown campus in a race to find information hidden by Geosciences staff. Along the way they learnt how GIS and GPS technology helps environmental scientists obtain spatially accurate data for use in their research.

8/6/2007

Dr David Branagan, an honorary associate of the School of Geosciences, was awarded a Doctorate of Science for his outstanding contribution to the field of geology and geophysics over a long career. The School congratulates David on his achievement.

25/4/2007

The Geosciences prize night was held at the Nicholson Museum of Antiquities on Friday, 20th April 2007. Prize winners enjoyed champagne and hors d'oeuvres with family and friends, while being honoured for outstanding work and academic achievements in 2006.

Congratulations to all our scholarship & prize receipents for 2006, from all of us in the School of Geosciences! We wish you the best of luck with your studies in 2007.