More than 350 community members packed out the Blue Mountains Hub at Springwood on Sunday, July 23 to hear renowned author and biologist Tim Low speak about his book, Where Song Began – Australia’s Birds And How They Changed The World.
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The event was jointly hosted by Science at the Local and the Blue Mountains Conservation Society.
“I want to thank everyone for coming along, as well as the conservation society and Science at the Local for bringing me down from Brisbane,” Low said. “As a writer, I can be stuck at my desk or out in the field an awful lot. It’s important I talk to people occasionally!”
Conservation Society Vice President Tara Cameron said Low “is such an influential figure in the conservation movement, and a great writer to boot”.
“His talk lived up to everyone’s expectations.”
Low’s talk was divided into two parts, with the first focusing on Where Song Began and the many remarkable features of Australian birdlife. In what may not be news to Blue Mountains residents, Australia’s birds are more likely to be loud, aggressive and intelligent.
Low also spoke about his award-winning The New Nature – Winners And Losers In Wild Australia. It shines a light on some native species which are benefiting from human impacts, sometimes so much so that they can cause their own environmental problems.
There was a lively Q&A session and Low stayed back afterwards to sign copies of his books.
“We’re thrilled with the turnout,” Science at the Local co-founder Kevin Joseph said. “We knew we’d have to find a bigger venue when we confirmed Tim was coming.”
The next Science at the Local is on September 17, at their original venue, Springwood Sports Club.
“It’ll be good to be back at the bowlo,” co-founder Hamish Clarke said. “And we’ve got two more great topics: the physics of invisibility and links between online gaming and social anxiety.”
To get involved, go to www.facebook.com/ScienceAtTheLocal or follow @SciAtTheLocal on Twitter.
For more Blue Mountains Conservation Society events or to become a member, go to www.bluemountains.org.au.
