Population and environment in Australia Online conference September - January 2004 Hosted by Australian Academy of Science The Population and Environment Online Conference has now closed. Planning is underway to use the discussion from the online conference as the basis for the forthcoming Fenner Conference - Understanding the population-environment debate: Bridging disciplinary divides. You are invited to join us on 24 and 25 May 2004 in Canberra for a refreshing and informative look at the disciplinary differences that influence this debate. More information about the conference is available from Gina Newton at gina.newton@science.org.au Purpose of the conference 1.   To facilitate public debate in Australia on the relationships between demographic change and environmental quality;   2.   To provide the basis for a face-to-face conference to be held at the Australian Academy of Science's Shine Dome in Canberra in mid-2004. Background The Population and Environment Research Fund of the Australian Academy of Science was established to support empirical research into how the size, distribution, material aspirations and other characteristics of Australia's population are likely to affect our environment - not only our land and landscape, but also social cohesion, health, the economy and defence. The activities of the Fund are overseen by a Steering Committee, chaired by Professor Frank Fenner AC CMG MBE FAA FRS. The committee recently commissioned an overview of research into population and environment in Australia and the positions held by the various disciplines and lobby groups. The report, Population and Environment in Australia: 2003, forms the basis for this online conference. The author of the report, Dr Colin Butler, found that comparatively little sophisticated research exists on population and environment as a distinct subject. Instead, it seems that most work has traditionally been undertaken by specialists such as demographers and economists focussing on population issues with little regard for the environmental aspects of population growth or by environmentalists with little regard for economic and social realities. The aim of this conference is to encourage interaction between different disciplines looking at the real problem: Population AND Environment. How is the conference being conducted? The report Population and Environment in Australia: 2003 by Dr Colin Butler is the keynote paper for the conference. Scholars from across the various specialist disciplines were invited to respond to the keynote and their responses are also available as papers. The public discussion forum for the conference opened on 1 September 2003 and interested individuals are welcome to participate. Registration for the conference is free and is necessary in order to read and participate in the discussion. Other reports identified as important contributors to the debate will be made available as related papers. How do I register? 1.   Click on the Register tab on the menu bar and fill in the registration form. Note that your user name is the one that will appear on the forum if you participate. Click on the Register button to submit your registration.   2.   You will be notified by email when your registration has been authorised (usually within 24 hours). You are then able to participate in the forum. How do I participate in the forum? 1.   To access the forum, click on the Login tab on the menu bar. Enter your registered user name and password.   2.   Logging in activates the Forums tab on the far right of the menu bar. This tab takes you to the messages that have been posted. Here you have three options: you may add a message under a new topic, view posted messages and submit replies to already posted messages.   3.   To add a new message topic, click on the 'Post New Topic' icon at the top or bottom left of the main page. Type your message in the dialogue box. Submit your entry.   4.   To view posted messages, click on the relevant topic.   5.   To reply to posted messages, click on the 'Post Reply' icons at the top or bottom left of the relevant message page.   6.   To return to the forum, click on the Population and Environment in Australia:2003 link at the top or bottom right of the page (or use the 'Back' button on your Internet browser). Conference management The conference is being hosted and managed by the Australian Academy of Science, under the guidance of the Academy's Population and Environment Research Fund Steering Committee. Committee members Professor Frank Fenner AC CMG MBE FAA FRS, Australian National University (Chair) Dr John Beaton, Australian Academy of Social Sciences Dr Stephen Boyden AM FAA Dr Colin Butler, Australian National University Professor Valerie Brown, Australian National University Dr Doug Cocks, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems Mr Richard Denniss, The Australia Institute Professor Tony McMichael, Australian National University Conference support Ms Marian Heard Education and Public Awareness Manager Australian Academy of Science GPO Box 783 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Phone: 02 6247 5777 Fax: 02 6257 4620 Email: marian.heard@science.org.au