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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260423T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260423T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260302T013728Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260322T014725Z
UID:10001435-1776947400-1776951000@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Leo Joseph '12 Birds\, 3 Books\, 5 Cities\, and 3 Continents: An Ornithological Life Not Yet Finished’
DESCRIPTION:Leo\, recently retired from CSIRO\, appreciates how pivotal it was for him to see certain species of bird in the wild in Australia and South America and the happy pursuit of a career studying evolution of birds\, especially in these countries. \nAbstract\nTriggered by glimpses in childhood of Adelaide Rosellas and further ignited by experiences of almost inhaling books on Australian birds\, seeing with awe museum collections of birds and not to mention a lifetime of camaraderie with like-minded friends and colleagues\, I will look back (and ahead) on a life studying the evolution of Australian birds (with a little more yet to come). Having recently retired from CSIRO where I was Director of the Australian National Wildlife Collection from 2005-2025\, I can look back and appreciate how pivotal it was for me to see certain species of birds in the wild\, and to travel across Australian and South American landscapes\, while all the while avidly absorbing the literature of ornithology and working with many colleagues. The result was perhaps dogged yet always happy pursuit of a career studying evolution of birds especially across Australia and South America. \nBiography\nLeo joined CSIRO as Director of the Australian National Wildlife Collection in November 2005. Originally from Adelaide\, he developed an early but lifelong interest in the evolution of birds and especially in a museum collections environment\, one that has always guided his work. He did undergraduate and Honours degrees at the University of Adelaide in 1977-79 and 1981\, respectively. Then he worked in Australia and travelled in South America until doing a PhD at the University of Queensland from 1989-1994. For his thesis\, he investigated the history of habitat diversity in eastern Australian rainforest birds. Then\, from 1994-97\, he held a Visiting Professorship in the Laboratorio De Evolución\, Faculdad De Ciencias\, Montevideo\, Uruguay where he worked on shorebird evolution and the evolution of bird migration. His interest in integrating ecological diversity and evolution was by then well-established. In 1997 he took up a position in the Department of Ornithology at the then Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia\, in the USA. From 2003\, he was Chair of the Department but returned to Australia in 2005. At CSIRO\, he developed an extensive network of collaborators including fellow researchers in Australia\, Europe and North America\, postdoctoral researchers\, PhD students and Honours students. He has amassed a body of work on the phylogeography and more recent evolutionary history of Australo-Papuan birds. He was awarded the D. L. Serventy medal for publication in Australian ornithology in 2018. In 2020 he was elected as a Fellow of the American Ornithological Societies. Despite all that\, he remains a birdwatcher at heart and plans to do a lot more birdwatching in the coming years. \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DHLRE \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nUnless otherwise indicated\, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/leo-joseph-12-birds-3-books-5-cities-and-3-continents-an-ornithological-life-not-yet-finished/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/leo-joseph-pic2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260424T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260424T120000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260415T052919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T052919Z
UID:10001471-1777024800-1777032000@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Photographic Group April Meeting
DESCRIPTION:The next regular meeting takes place on Friday 24 April at 10.00am in the Theatrette. \nStephen Hunter\, the Photographic Group’s publicity officer\, will talk about planning for overseas travel from a photographer’s perspective. He will illustrate his talk with stories and images from visits to Uzbekistan\, Italy\, India\, Peru\, Ecuador (Galapagos Islands and Amazon Basin)\, and the wilds of Patagonia. \nStephen will also bring along examples of the photo books he has compiled on his travels as well as the gear he uses to transport photographic equipment including in the field. \nThe meeting will also feature a further selection of images submitted for inclusion in the Gardens 2027 calendar \nThe regular show and tell session is on again. Bring up to six images on a thumb drive to share with your fellow PG members. You can include videos of up to ten seconds each if you choose.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/photographic-group-april-meeting/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/244CCc.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Friends Photographic Group":MAILTO:photo@friendsanbg.org.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260430T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260430T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260302T013734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260328T022916Z
UID:10001436-1777552200-1777555800@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Associate Professor Brad Tucker ‘The past\, present and future of Mt Stromlo: Celebrating Mt Stromlo’s 100th anniversary’
DESCRIPTION:In its 100 years Mt Stromlo has been at the forefront of astronomical discoveries\, but much of its history has remained hidden. Brad\, from ANU\, will talk about its past and how it is shaping the future of astronomy and Canberra\, and how it is helping to combat light pollution. \nBiography\nBrad is an Astrophysicist/Cosmologist and Associate Professor at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics\, Mt. Stromlo Observatory and the National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science\, at the Australian National University. \nBrad has Bachelor’s degrees in Physics\, Philosophy\, and Theology from the University of Notre Dame and a PhD in Astrophysics and Cosmology from Mt. Stromlo Observatory at the ANU. He’s involved in programs using space telescopes to find stars within the first hours of explosion\, as well as surveys to measure the growth rate of the Universe. He’s developing an ultraviolet space telescope\, as well as uses machine learning to combat light pollution as well as gaining insights into the public’s understanding of science. \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DHLRH \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nUnless otherwise indicated\, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/associate-professor-brad-tucker-the-past-present-and-future-of-mt-stromlo-celebrating-mt-stromlos-100th-anniversary/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Welcome-in-the-Theatrette_360wide.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260507T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260507T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260315T044413Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260322T014826Z
UID:10001451-1778157000-1778160600@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Kristy Gould ‘Conserving Canberra: Healing country through restoration’
DESCRIPTION:Kristy\, from the ACT Office of Nature Conservation\, describes a project to improve restoration through development of spatial planning tools\, on-ground work at three key sites\, and engaging the Ngunnawal community in Healing Country. \nAbstract \nThe Office of Nature Conservation (ONC) led a project as part of the Conserving Canberra Budget Initiative (2023 2025) to improve restoration through development of spatial planning tools\, deliver on-ground work at three key sites and provide opportunities for the Ngunnawal community to be engaged in Healing Country. The project partnered with four Ngunnawal Cultural Advisors to help embed cultural practices into land management\, engaged specialised bush regenerators for on-ground work and a spatial ecologist to develop online tools. Volunteer groups contributed many hours to the project and ONC worked closely with Parks and Conservation Service and the Natural Resource Management Team as delivery partners. This work is continuing for another 12 months ongoing though various other initiatives. \nBiography \nKristy completed her BSc (Environmental Science) at Charles Sturt University in 2004 and has had over 23 years of experience in land management working with ACT Parks and Conservation Service (PCS). Kristy has worked in most areas of PCS as a ranger and an area manager implementing programs including invasive pest and plant\, visitor\, asset maintenance and fire management. During this time Kristy has led several restoration projects including the Grassland Improvement Project (2006- 2008) and the ACT Woodland Restoration Project (2012-2017). Kristy is now working in the Office of Nature Conservation team as a Restoration Program Manager. \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DHLQN \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nUnless otherwise indicated\, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/kristy-gould-conserving-canberra-healing-country-through-restoration/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Kristy-Gould-Volunteer-Groups-20250319-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260514T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260514T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260311T222047Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260322T014847Z
UID:10001446-1778761800-1778765400@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Kim Pullen ‘More treasures–insects in fens and bogs’
DESCRIPTION:Kim will discuss bogs and fens as an insect habitat\, the variety of ecological niches that insects occupy and some threats to the fauna. She will give some local examples of the fauna of this habitat. \nBiography \nKim grew up in Canberra and inherited an interest in nature\, and particularly insects\, from his father who was a professional botanist (and a boyhood butterfly and beetle collector). On leaving school he worked first at the ANU\, and later at CSIRO\, assisting with research in grasshopper genetics\, pheromone-based control of insect pests\, and insect-based biological control of imported weeds. Kim then spent six years in Mexico collecting and evaluating weed biocontrol agents for exportation to Australia – as well as teaching English – before returning to Canberra with a family. He eventually came back to CSIRO to assist with faunal studies in South Australian mallee and subsequently on Murray River floodplains\, and prepare a taxonomic inventory of Australian weevils\, among other projects. \nAfter retirement\, he took up a CSIRO Honorary Fellowship\, allowing access to the Australian National Insect Collection. This helped Kim carry out a long-running ambition to compile a catalogue of the insects of the ACT. He now enjoys identifying insects for the general public on citizen science platforms and on social media (when their grandchildren allow it). \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DHLQK \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nUnless otherwise indicated\, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/kim-pullen-more-treasures-insects-in-fens-and-bogs-2/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Pullen-Pygmyfly-smaller-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260521T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260521T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260406T034721Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260406T034721Z
UID:10001459-1779366600-1779370200@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Andrea Wild ‘Awe and wonder in CSIRO’s collections’
DESCRIPTION:Andrea\, from CSIRO\, will share stories from the new science book Wild Collections. Learn about sharks living in sponges\, orchids flowering underground\, Spotted Handfish guarding their eggs\, quirky tales of worm bums\, Darkling beetles undertaking a decathlon\, and much more. \nAbstract\nThere are 15 million specimens in the National Research Collections Australia\, from caddisflies to daisies\, to a single albatross. \nThey’re not part of a museum\, so what do we use them for? \nWe wonder\, we discover and we take action. We’re using the 50 000 native bee specimens in our collections to discover what native bee species exist and where they live. This will help people take action to preserve the pollination benefits they provide to native plants and make use of their pollination services for agricultural plants. \nAndrea will share some of the stories from the new popular science book Wild Collections. Learn about sharks living in sponges\, orchids flowering underground\, Spotted Handfish guarding their eggs\, weevils rolling dung just like scarabs do\, Giant Kelp towering in Tasmania’s seas\, quirky tales of worm bums\, Darkling beetles undertaking a decathlon\, the curlicues of shark’s eggs and much more. \nBiography\nAndrea Wild is an author and science communicator who works with the biodiversity collections at CSIRO. She has written three books: The Very Stinky Fly Hunt\, Wild Collections and AmAZed\, CSIRO’s A to Z of Biodiversity. \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZFY \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nUnless otherwise indicated\, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/andrea-wild-awe-and-wonder-in-csiros-collections/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AndreaWildwithBooks_newwebsite.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260528T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260528T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260406T035008Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260406T035008Z
UID:10001460-1779971400-1779975000@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Dr Roger Farrow ‘Back from the brink or a resilient survivor: The case of Key’s Matchstick Grasshopper\, Keyacris scurra’
DESCRIPTION:Roger\, formerly of CSIRO\, will tell a tale of mystery and suspense involving two geneticists\, some cemeteries\, a taxonomist\, a survey\, sheep\, habitat loss\, citizen scientists and a sceptic. \nBiography\nDr Roger Farrow is an “unretired” entomologist following a career in CSIRO Entomology. Since retirement he has pursued his interest in insect natural history\, publishing an ecological and behavioural guide to the insects of south-eastern Australia (CSIRO 2018) and is currently studying insect pollination. This links to his other interest\, namely native plants and their ecology. This has developed through his membership of the Australian Native Plant Society and the opportunity to participate in field trips to identify plants in a range of different habitats. \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZFZ \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nUnless otherwise indicated\, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/dr-roger-farrow-back-from-the-brink-or-a-resilient-survivor-the-case-of-keys-matchstick-grasshopper-keyacris-scurra/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/keys-matchstick-grasshopper.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260604T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260604T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260406T035215Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260406T035215Z
UID:10001461-1780576200-1780579800@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Charlie Blumer and Jon Darvill ‘Flower power and no bad bees: Getting the big picture on pollinators in the ACT’
DESCRIPTION:Charlie Blumer and Jon Darvill explore the identities and ecology of some of the 200-odd native bees and other pollinators in the ACT. They identify why they matter\, the threats to them\, and how we can help them. \nAbstract\nCharlie Blumer and Jon Darvill explore the identities and ecology of some of the 200-odd native bees and other pollinators in the ACT. They identify why they matter\, the threats to them\, and how we can help them. We also balance this against the presence of European honey bees\, essential for the pollination of most of our food crops\, and the likely impact of the Varroa mite as it spreads across the ACT. \nBiography\nCharlie Blumer was trained in zoology and epidemiology\, before working as a public servant in the health area. Now retired\, he keeps bees and enjoys being present in his own little ecosystem\, watching it all happen. However\, he does also get out\, and out of his comfort zone\, to spread the word in various fora. \nJon Darvill is a natural beekeeper with 11 years’ experience of keeping honey bees in Warre and Kenyan top bar hives. These lend themselves to a bee-friendly approach to beekeeping. He is also a member of the Canberra Region Beekeepers Association\, serving on the committee and teaching in the club’s beekeeping courses. \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGA \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nUnless otherwise indicated\, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/charlie-blumer-and-jon-darvill-flower-power-and-no-bad-bees-getting-the-big-picture-on-pollinators-in-the-act/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SustainableAustralia2_360wide.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260611T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260611T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260406T035829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260406T035829Z
UID:10001462-1781181000-1781184600@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Dr Heidi Zimmer ‘Why do orchid names change?’
DESCRIPTION:Heidi\, from Australian National Herbarium\, will give an overview of taxonomic and nomenclatural principles\, provide a gentle introduction to modern methods used in orchid taxonomy and discuss some interesting orchid case studies. \nBiography\nDr Heidi Zimmer is a botanical research scientist at the Australian National Herbarium. \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGB \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nUnless otherwise indicated\, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/dr-heidi-zimmer-why-do-orchid-names-change/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Thelymitra-sun-orchid.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260618T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260618T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260406T040516Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T052210Z
UID:10001463-1781785800-1781789400@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Dr Rosemary Purdie ‘After the rain and floods: chasing the blooming flora’
DESCRIPTION:In March 2025 south-western Queensland experienced widespread heavy rainfall and floods that subsequently created ideal conditions for spectacular wildflower displays. A 17-day trip through the area in August traversed mulga\, gidgee\, Mitchell Grass downs\, dunefields\, channel country and alluvial plains. This talk will provide a glimpse of what these landscapes looked like 5 months after the deluge\, and the rich variety of plants that had responded. \nBiography\nRosemary trained as a botanist/plant ecologist before joining the Queensland Herbarium as part of the Western Arid Region Land Use Survey team. After moving back to Canberra she entered the Australian Public Service\, initially helping edit Flora of Australia volumes at the Bureau of Flora and Fauna. She then spent 12 years with the Australian Heritage Commission before shifting to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and later becoming the ACT’s independent Commissioner for the Environment. Since retiring and focussing on plants again\, she has been an Honorary Associate at ANBG\, including four years as the Honorary Living Collections Botanist\, and at the Australian National Herbarium where she has become a ‘botanical sleuth’. She remains an active plant collector and will ‘go bush’ at the slightest excuse. \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGC \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/dr-rosemary-purdie-river-murray-trip/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/avif:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/South-Western-Queensland-floods.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260625T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260625T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260406T040842Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260406T040842Z
UID:10001464-1782390600-1782394200@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Dr Fiona Fraser ‘Protection of species\, and bake-offs’
DESCRIPTION:Fiona\, Threatened Species Commissioner\, will talk about recent developments with the implementation of the Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032\, and awareness raising events in the community. \nBiography\nDr Fiona Fraser is the current Threatened Species Commissioner and has a PhD in threatened species and fire ecology in northern Australia. She has worked for the Australian Government for over a decade playing lead roles in Indigenous caring for country and natural resource management international environment policy and the bushfire wildlife recovery response. \nBefore joining the public service\, Fiona worked with First Nations organisations in northern Australia on caring for country programs and joint management of protected areas. \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGD \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nUnless otherwise indicated\, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/dr-fiona-fraser-protection-of-species-and-bake-offs/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Lindenmayer_After%20the%20fire_360wide.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260702T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260702T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260406T041707Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260406T041707Z
UID:10001465-1782995400-1782999000@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Dr Gina Newton ‘Darling to sea- Murray River endangered ecological community listing’
DESCRIPTION:Gina will talk about the critically endangered wetlands and floodplains of the lower Murray\, downstream of the Darling\, her involvement in the ecological assessment\, and what needs to be done. \nAbstract\nAs of February 2026\, the lower Murray River\, its wetlands\, and floodplains downstream of the Darling River are listed as Critically Endangered under Australian national environmental law\, facing imminent ecosystem collapse within a decade. \nCritically Endangered Listing: The listing applies specifically to the Lower River Murray\, including the Coorong and Lake Alexandrina\, because of systemic ecological decline. \nKey Threats: The system is heavily impacted by climate change\, excessive water allocation\, flow regulation (dams\, weirs)\, salinisation\, and acidification. \nScientific Involvement: Dr. Gina Newton has previously undertaken large-scale aquatic assessments to list endangered ecosystems like the River Murray. \nEcological Impact: The river has lost significant habitat complexity\, including old-growth vegetation\, and faces high pressures on native flora and fauna. \nThe emergency status suggests that urgent\, long-term restoration efforts are necessary to avoid ecological collapse of this vital waterway. \nBiography\nDr Gina Newton\, a specialist in ecological assessment and threatened species\, has been involved in assessing the Murray River ecosystems under the EPBC Act. \nGina is passionate about nature and the environment. As a qualified a marine biologist\, zoologist and science communicator\, she has undertaken research and published many related articles \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGE \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nUnless otherwise indicated\, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/dr-gina-newton-darling-to-sea-murray-river-endangered-ecological-community-listing/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/murray-mouth_360wide.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260709T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260709T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260415T051125Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T051125Z
UID:10001467-1783600200-1783603800@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Professor Rod Peakall ‘The magic of chemistry in the pollination and evolution of Australian terrestrial orchids’
DESCRIPTION:Rod\, from ANU\, will discuss how orchids use specific floral volatiles to attract pollinators\, highlight new insights on the evolution of Australia terrestrial orchids and outline his ongoing project on the pollination of the mysterious NSW underground orchids. \nAbstract\nAs ideal subjects for exploring a range of interesting scientific questions\, orchids and their pollination have featured strongly across his research career. His research on sexually deceptive orchids\, in particular\, has captured the imagination of the public\, educators and scientists around the world. Drawing on his research that spans across fields\, he will describe how orchids use specific floral volatiles to secure pollinator attraction and highlight new insights on the evolution Australia terrestrial orchids. He will conclude the talk with a brief outline on his exciting\, but challenging\, ongoing project on the pollination of the mysterious underground orchids of NSW. The talk will be illustrated by beautiful photographs and fascinating video clips. \nBiography\nProfessor Rod Peakall is Head of Ecology and Evolution Division\, ANU \nHis parents passed on their love of nature. They chose to bring up their five children on the outskirts of Perth\, Western Australia\, with nearby forest as a playground. They spent their holidays camping at remote and wonderful locations\, with hiking\, canoeing\, birdwatching and orchid hunting all part of the adventure. \nHe completed his BSc (Hons) in 1984 and PhD in 1987\, both at the University of Western Australia (UWA)\, then took up an ARC funded 5-year postdoctoral position at Macquarie University in Sydney in 1988. \nHe joined The Australian National University (ANU) in 1993. He has also held visiting fellowships at Rutgers University\, USA (1992) and at ETH (2003)\, Zurich\, Switzerland. \nOrchids have featured strongly in his research as ideal subjects for exploring a range of interesting ecological\, chemical\, molecular and evolutionary questions. His research on sexually deceptive orchids\, in particular\, has captured the imagination of the public\, educators and scientists around the world. \nHe is the first author of the widely used population genetics software package\, GenAlEx: Genetic Analysis in Excel (Peakall and Smouse 2006; Peakall and Smouse 2012). \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGF \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nUnless otherwise indicated\, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/professor-rod-peakall-the-magic-of-chemistry-in-the-pollination-and-evolution-of-australian-terrestrial-orchids/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Peakall-Flyer-Orchids.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260716T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260716T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260415T051544Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T051544Z
UID:10001468-1784205000-1784208600@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Dr Phillip Kodela ‘Wattle in Your Pocket\, the Bank-notable Wattles – science behind the Next Generation Banknotes of Australia’
DESCRIPTION:Philip\, from the Australian Biological Resources Study\, advised on the design and five species of Acacia to be used in the Next Generation Banknotes. He will tell us why there was a need for the new banknotes\, why these wattle species\, and some of the technical issues and challenges with the project. \nAbstract\nAcacia is the largest genus of vascular plants in Australia with over 1000 species. They are a prominent part of the Australian flora\, growing in a wide range of plant communities and habitats\, from coastal to subalpine and tropical to arid. Wattles are readily recognised in the landscape by their array of mostly yellow-hued flowers\, and they feature through much of our culture. Acacia is represented in the national floral emblem (Golden Wattle Acacia pycnantha)\, the Commonwealth Coat of Arms\, Order of Australia medals\, currency\, stamps\, literature\, the arts\, crafts and design. Over tens of thousands of years\, indigenous cultures developed a detailed knowledge about acacias and their wide range of uses\, from wooden implements to food and medicine. In more recent times\, acacias have been used for their wood\, tannin and oil; as stock fodder\, cut flowers and a source of food; and in horticulture (countless ornaments in parks\, gardens and landscaping)\, land rehabilitation and soil stabilisation. It is appropriate therefore that the iconic wattle features on our latest Australian banknotes. As a subject matter expert Phillip advised the Reserve Bank of Australia on the five species and designs used in the Next Generation Banknotes program which began c.2015. Phillip will talk about the species and their morphological features represented on each of the banknotes. He will also address why there was a need for the new banknotes\, why these wattle species\, and some of the technical issues and challenges with the project. \nBiography\nDr Phillip Kodela is Botanist and Executive Editor of the Flora of Australia\, Australian Biological Resources Study\, Parks Australia Division\, Department of Climate Change\, Energy\, the Environment and Water. \nFor over 40 years he has worked in the fields of botany\, biogeography\, ecology\, palynology\, science communication and education. His areas of research and interest include wetlands\, rainforest\, rare plants\, weeds\, environmental assessment\, management and conservation\, forensics\, horticultural botany\, plant taxonomy\, plant identification and botanical information resources including floras\, bioinformatics and the curation of herbarium specimen and living collections. \nHe started researching Acacia\, including taxonomic studies\, in 1990 when he began a long association with the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney where he was based till 2017. He has been involved with a number of major Acacia projects\, including flora treatments for the Flora of New South Wales\, WattleWeb\, PlantNET New South Wales FloraOnline\, Flora of Australia and the various incarnations of WATTLE\, as well as assessing rare plant taxa and vegetation communities\, curating collections\, teaching\, maintaining databases\, and producing numerous reports and papers\, including the publication of new species. \nPhillip has worked on the Australasian Virtual Herbarium\, Australian Plant Census\, Australian Plant Name Index\, Global Plants Type Digitisation Project\, Weeds in Australia\, Blue Mountains World Heritage Assessment\, Next Generation Australian Banknotes\, counter-terrorism and other forensic projects\, N.S.W. Vegetation Classification and Assessment projects and numerous vegetation surveys. From late 2017\, Phillip has been with ABRS involved with the eFlora of Australia\, taxonomy project grants\, research\, science communication\, botanical inquiries and advising government and other stakeholders. \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGG \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nUnless otherwise indicated\, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/dr-phillip-kodela-wattle-in-your-pocket-the-bank-notable-wattles-science-behind-the-next-generation-banknotes-of-australia/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/acacia-dealbata-a-9951%20Fagg.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260723T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260723T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260415T051849Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T051849Z
UID:10001469-1784809800-1784813400@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Dr John Turnbull ‘Trees\, woods and man’
DESCRIPTION:John\, formerly with CSIRO\, will trace the importance of trees from earliest times to the present day. \nBiography\nDr John Turnbull has a BSc Forestry degree from the University of Wales and a PhD in eucalypt genecology from ANU. He is a former Senior Forestry Research Scientist at CSIRO and Chief Scientist at the International Forest Research Centre in Indonesia. He has managed collaborative forest research projects and provided consultancy services to many countries on the use of Australia trees in plantations. He was consultant to China’s one-million-hectare multi-species plantation project. Since retiring in 1999 he has been a Volunteer Guide at ANBG. \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGH \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/dr-john-turnbull-trees-woods-and-man/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/99_lge.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260730T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260730T133000
DTSTAMP:20260416T174313
CREATED:20260302T013723Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260328T023136Z
UID:10001433-1785414600-1785418200@friendsanbg.org.au
SUMMARY:Bruno Ferronato ‘TurtleWatch ACT: citizen-science\, monitoring and conservation of turtles in Canberra’
DESCRIPTION:Bruno will talk about the biology of the Eastern long-necked turtles\, their adaptations to flood-dry cycles in Australia\, their active life in suburban areas\, and recent findings in the turtle monitoring program in Canberra. \nBiography\nBruno Ferronato (PhD) is an ecologist and turtle specialist\, who works at the Ginninderra Catchment Group. He runs TurtleWatch ACT\, which monitors turtles in Canberra with the help of volunteers. Bruno is originally from Brazil and has been involved in turtle research since 2004\, working in Brazil\, Peru\, USA and Australia. \nBooking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKXYN \nBooking\nLunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins\, notes\, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. \nUnless otherwise indicated\, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette. \nIt is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. \nThe Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
URL:https://friendsanbg.org.au/event/bruno-ferronato-turtlewatch-act-citizen-science-monitoring-and-conservation-of-turtles-in-canberra/
LOCATION:ANBG Theatrette\, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601\, Canberra\, ACT\, 2601\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Thursday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Ferronato1-scaled-1.jpg
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END:VCALENDAR