EVENTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNIVERSITIES AUSTRALIA INAUGURAL CONFERENCE
4–6 March 2009

The National Academies Forum is pleased to announce two public events coinciding with Universities Australia’s Inaugural Higher Education Conference. The first of these two events takes place on the first evening of the conference and is a multimedia homage to Galileo and his times. The second takes place on the final morning of the conference and provides an unusual opportunity for conference goers and others to join in an extemporaneous and unbridled debate about their vision of the future they would like to see for Australian universities.

> Program

Harmonious Revolutions
National Press Club, Wesdnesday 4 March, 8.00pm
16 National Circuit, Barton ACT
No charge, but bookings essential (Kiah Cunningham 6249-1788 or assa.secretariat@anu.edu.au)

Harmonious Revolutions is an evening of music, photography and recitals in celebration of the work of Galileo Galilei and his late 16th/ early 17th century contemporaries, and their role in the Scientific Revolution.

Sopranos and recitants will be accompanied by musicians playing instruments from the period, including the Baroque violin, viola da gamba and violoncello, the chitarrone, and lutes. Together they will present a selection of timeless compositions written by, or in celebration of the pioneering renaissance thinkers from around the turn of the 17th century, and their extraordinary contributions to astronomy, physics, mathematics, natural science, philosophy, musicology, and many other fields of knowledge. The program for the evening will include excerpts from the intermezzo La Pelligrina (1589) as well as other contemporary works, and popular compositions by Galileo’s father Vincenzo and brother Michelangelo.

Further information (external link)

What will be the most exciting opportunity for Australian universities in the next five-ten years?
Realm Hotel, Friday 6 March, 9.30–11.30am
18 National Circuit, Barton ACT
No charge, but bookings essential (Kiah Cunningham 6249-1788 or assa.secretariat@anu.edu.au)

'What will be the most exciting opportunity for Australian universities in the next five-ten years?' This question will be asked of you, the audience, and of a distinguished panel of experts who will engage with you in a lively debate centring on that question. Following the Bradley Review, and closing the Universities Australia conference, NAF hosts this session to provide conference goers with the opportunity to air their thoughts on what they think is the Most Exciting Opportunity.

We welcome your ideas. The Master of Ceremonies, Dr Gael Jennings – an award-winning journalist and TV presenter with a keen interest in education will preside over the discussion. Panellists invited to stimulate discussion include: