Dr Rosemary Purdie ‘Simpson Desert Revisited – More Than Plants!'

In July 2019 Rosemary, a plant ecologist, spent two weeks botanising on a camel-supported walk in Munga-Thirri National Park in the eastern Simpson Desert.  She will talk about the landforms and associated plants and animals seen during the dry conditions, cultural artefacts in the area traversed, and what happens when you “just add water”.

Abstract

In July 2019 Rosemary, a plant ecologist, spent two weeks botanising on a camel-supported walk in Munga-Thirri National Park in the eastern Simpson Desert.  She will talk about the landforms and associated plants and animals seen during the dry conditions, cultural artefacts in the area traversed, and what happens when you “just add water”.

Biography

Dr Rosemary Purdie is a plant ecologist with a particular interest in fire ecology, arid ecosystems and nature conservation. She has worked for the Queensland Herbarium, Bureau of Flora and Fauna, Australian Heritage Commission and Murray Darling Basin Commission, and was the ACT's second Commissioner for the Environment.  She's been a member of government advisory bodies including the national Threatened Species Scientific Committee and the ACT's Flora and Fauna Committee and National Resources Management Advisory Committee, and has been an Honorary Associate at the Australian National Herbarium since 2002.