Biodiversity Conference - December 2013: Invitation to attend free public talks

The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cape Town will be hosting a four day conference on biodiversity research in the region, from 2-7 December 2013. Several leaders in the field of biodiversity research have been invited as keynote speakers and two public talks will be presented.

Madagascar’s Biodiversity: Origins, patterns and future

Speaker: Dr Steven Goodman
Date and time: Tuesday 3rd December, 17H30 – 18H30
Venue: LT1, John Day Building, Upper Campus, UCT 
RSVP: sarojini.pillay@uct.ac.za 

Abstract: 
The biodiversity of Madagascar is one of the splendors of the natural world and its preservation deemed a conservation priority. In this presentation, aspects of why the island holds such a unique biota, the role of continued biological research, capacity building, and new discoveries are described and illustrated. These different aspects are important to put into context certain evolutionary patterns and how these can be used for logical and scientifically sound conservation programs. The current plight of the island, specifically social-economic-political problems, is a critical aspect for what the future holds. Degrading conditions, both for humans and forest-dwelling organisms, is discussed

Dr Steven Goodman is a MacArthur Field Biologist of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, USA. He has spent much of his life working in Madagascar and is renowned for his knowledge of Malagasy fauna. Aside from his 25 years of fieldwork on the island, Dr Goodman has established a conservation NGO and trained more than 50 Master’s and Ph.D. students. He is a widely published and distinguished author, speaks five languages and has received several major awards for his conservation work.

Jika ne Langa – Turn with the Sun – Like a Dung Beetle

Speaker: A/Prof. Marcus Byrne
Date and time:  Thursday 5th December, 17H30 – 18H30
Venue: LT1, John Day Building, Upper Campus, UCT
RSVP: sarojini.pillay@uct.ac.za 

Abstract: 
Dung beetles are small insects with tiny brains, but they can perform feats of navigation most humans would struggle with. By asking the beetles simple questions we can get direct answers on how they orientate, including their use of the Milky Way as an orientation cue – the first animals ever shown to use edge of our galaxy to find their way. This presentation explores ways of doing science with a model animal.

Associate Professor Marcus Byrne works at Wits University where he teaches zoology and entomology. His research is centred on the use of insects for the biological control of alien invasives. Prof Byrne has a strong publishing record; he is a co-author of several books and has produced nearly 50 publications in DE accredited journals. One of his more recent papers, proving that dung beetles use the Milky Way for navigation, earned his research team this year’s Ig Nobel Prize for biology and astronomy. Prof Byrne has also given a TED presentation on this ground- breaking research.