LATE CHANGE! Emeritus Professor Patrick De Deckker ‘Madagascar, the Red Island – A brief view of its natural history’

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Thursday, 21 April 2022 - 12:30pm

This talk relates to a short trip to Madagascar in January 2020 and will provide a brief overview of its natural history, dealing in particular with lemurs, chameleons, and extraordinary plants such as the baobab.

Mention will also be made on the extinct elephant bird, and sadly also about the poverty on the land. This island is currently struggling for survival under the pandemic.

Biography

Emeritus Professor Patrick De Deckker is at the Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University. Patrick is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
Originally from Belgium, Patrick arrived in Australia close to 50 years ago where he continued his university education in geology, micro-palaeontology and zoology at several institutions. He has been at ANU since 1981 except for 2 years at Monash and has worked on salt lakes, their biota and geological history, plus on the evolution of the oceans in our region related to climate changes and on airborne dust (a topic which he presented to the Friends of the ANBG a couple of years ago).

Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November in the Gardens’ Theatrette. Talks last for 1 hour. Admission is by gold coins donation. The Friends use the ‘gold’ coins donations received at each activity to support Gardens’ programs and development and thank all those who have donated. Please note: unless otherwise indicated, talks are in the ANBG Theatrette.

The talks are in line with COVID-19 guidelines which can change rapidly.

Bookings are essential. Bookings can be made from the Friday before the talk until Wednesday night before the talk.  Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/BWZKM

The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Some summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. A donation to the Friends for the use of this material will be gratefully accepted. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au