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The inspiration to take action

18 March 2009

Chancellor Dr Alan Finkel, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Edwina Cornish, Director Monash Sustainability Institute Professor David Griggs, Professor Stephen Schneider, Stanford University, Governor of Victoria Professor David de Kretser, Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins.

An environmental sustainability conference will be held on Tuesday 24 March at the Clayton campus as part of Monash Sustainability Month.

Monash staff and students are invited to join high profile speakers including Monash alumni and CEO of World Vision Australia Tim Costello, Founder of Planet Ark Jon Dee and the 2007 Prime Minister's Environmentalist of the Year Aaron Wood at the free, day-long conference.

The conference, which runs from 9 am to 4.30 pm, will feature a debate on the topic: "Conservation will always win out over technology for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions" hosted by SBS 'Dateline' presenter George Negus.

Office of Environmental Sustainability Director Paul Barton said the conference aimed to show staff and students that they can make a difference when it comes to improving their global footprint.

“Monash University takes the issue of sustainability very seriously," Mr Barton said.

“We hope that listening to such experienced speakers in the field will help to inspire staff and students to take positive action and highlight the role Monash can play in embedding sustainability into teaching, research and practice," Mr Barton said.

Monash Sustainability Month - under the banner Sustainability Matters - runs from Monday 16 March to Thursday 9 April.

On Monday 16 March world-renowned climatologist Professor Stephen Schneider from Stanford University opened Sustainability Month with a public lecture: 'The heat is on - Climate change and the sustainability challenge,' at the Melbourne Arts Centre.

Professor Schneider told the 300 strong audience that sustainability needs to be addressed from a risk management perspective.

"We need to work together to develop and implement a cooperative strategy to deal with climate change," Professor Schneider said.

"We will end up on a planetary train wreck without compromise."

For more information on Sustainability Month visit the Sustainability Matters website.