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Antarctica and the Climate with Chris Turney

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Antarctica holds valuable clues to understanding the future of our planet – especially regarding the implications of climate change. It is also a continent unwilling to give up those secrets readily.

There are few as cognisant of both truths as earth scientist Chris Turney. In 2013, a century after Douglas Mawson’s pioneering scientific expedition across the continent, Turney led a follow-up journey, with a view to recording how Antarctica’s climate had changed over the intervening years. Less than a month after setting sail, the boat was trapped in ice, along with its crew and 52 passengers – including Turney and his immediate family. The costly rescue mission garnered international headlines, and ignited a debate about what constitutes acceptable risk in the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

Join Professor Turney as he explores the past, present and future of Antarctica – a continent that acutely bears the impacts of our changing climate – and relives the expedition that inadvertently sent him following the fateful path of Ernest Shackleton, one of Antarctica’s unluckiest adventurers.

Featuring

Chris Turney

Australian earth scientist Chris Turney has written three books to critical acclaim – Bones, Rocks and Stars: The Science of When Things Happened; Ice, Mud and Blood: Lessons from Climates Past; and 1912: The Year the World Discovered Antarctica.  Turney is passionate about science communicat... Read more

Krystal Evans

Dr Krystal Evans is a medical research scientist whose work focuses on the development of a new malaria vaccine. She sees communication and outreach as an essential part of being a research scientist and is a regular panel member on the Melbourne community radio station 3RRRFM weekly science show Ei... Read more

Location

The Wheeler Centre

176 Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000

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The Wheeler Centre acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Centre stands. We acknowledge and pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their Elders, past and present, as the custodians of the world’s oldest continuous living culture.