bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Update of the Surat Underground Water Impact Report
Authors: Cox Randall , Phillipson Keith
Published: August 2017

The production of coal seam gas (CSG) involves the pumping of large volumes of groundwater to lower water pressure in coal seams. This has the potential to affect groundwater resources in the coal-bearing formations and in adjacent aquifers connected to the coal formations. The formations that are the target for CSG development in the Surat Basin in Queensland are part of the Great Artesian Basin multi-layered aquifer system and also underlie important alluvial water resources. There are multiple major CSG projects being developed in the area.
Queensland has a regulatory framework to manage the impact of CSG water extraction on groundwater resources that includes cumulative management arrangements for areas of intensive development, where the groundwater impacts of multiple projects overlap.
In a declared Cumulative Management Area, the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment (OGIA) carries out a regional assessment of impacts of CSG water extraction, specifies an integrated regional water monitoring network, and assigns responsibilities to individual CSG companies to implement individual parts of the water monitoring network and other management actions.
OGIA sets out the results in an underground water impact report (UWIR), which on approval becomes a statutory instrument. OGIA is an independent entity fully funded by a levy on petroleum tenure holders.
The first Surat UWIR was approved in 2012. In early 2016, OGIA revised the Surat UWIR using a new regional groundwater flow model that incorporates updated knowledge of the groundwater flow system. The key content of the revised Surat UWIR is presented.
A whole-of-business approach to major accident event preparedness
Authors: Murphy Peter , Wilkinson Peter
Published: August 2017

Recent disasters such as Montara and Macondo have highlighted the devastating impact that major accident events (MAE) have on organisations. This awareness is reflected within industry, among regulators and by professional organisations, who are all increasing their focus on process safety management to prevent MAEs.
This extended abstract posits that the increased focus on process safety management, while essential as a preventative measure, provides only part of the broader solution that underpins a robust business resilience framework. Such a framework delivers a systematic whole-of-business approach to MAE prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, and highlights the role corporate strategy and governance play in better managing and preparing all levels of an organisation for a MAE.
The authors ask the following questions:

To what extent are organisations really prepared to manage the consequences of a MAE?
Are organisations investing appropriately to support MAE preparedness across all levels of their business?

In this context, this extended abstract discusses the significance of a robust business resilience framework that incorporates and understands the interdependencies of enterprise risk management, business continuity planning, critical event management, and the lessons that have been learned. It identifies the importance of the role of executives and senior leaders in a robust framework, and the value of continued investment in a complete whole-of-business MAE solution. The authors outline a framework for implementation at all business levels that will build overall business resilience to prepare for a MAE.
Performance excellence: the path to becoming a global leader
Authors: Lawrence Tania
Published: August 2017

Shifting from a domestic focus to a global focus requires a rethink of business elements — organisation, people, process and culture. To achieve transformational change towards its own global leadership aspiration, Woodside led the commission of a study into global performance excellence. Twelve companies with a global footprint, and more than 150 people with substantial international experience, participated in the study to identify the elements of success that underpin technical and commercial drivers for global growth.
The study found that achieving internal congruence across the business elements is necessary to maximise value on the global stage. Sustainable growth is achieved through a focus on direction setting, optimising global capability, applying adaptable business models, and leveraging networks and connections.
Relevant to companies that have a global footprint or who are seeking to expand, this extended abstract highlights the practical initiatives to achieve performance excellence. The study findings also serve as a basis for companies to validate areas of strength and opportunity for improvement in organisational performance and capability to meet the challenges that can arise.
Other hallmarks of success, such as the importance of an organisation-wide global mindset, worldwide presence, and brand and industry recognition are discussed, providing a frame of reference to support the realisation of a company's strategic vision and performance objectives. The extended abstract illustrates how these elements can be applied in a variety of ways and to varying levels of detail to reflect any stage of development, complexity and maturity of a company, thereby translating a global vision into results.
Lean times in oil and gas: frugal strategies for emerging as a stronger player
Authors: Eberspaecher Kai
Published: August 2017

The reduction of the oil price depressed earnings for oil and gas companies during the past year.
For many smaller players, this lack of revenues can lead to bankruptcy or takeovers. Even some larger companies have fallen casualty to depressed share prices.
The first part of this extended abstract outlines focus areas on the process side to lower costs and improve revenues for operating companies, based on a number of case studies from around the world. In particular, the examples given will look at ways to increase production and reduce costs, increase the efficiency of drilling wells, and improve cycle times between well completion and bringing on production.
The second part of the extended abstract discusses approaches in engineering and project execution that can lead to significant reductions in cost.
Case studies will be used to illustrate how engineering deliverable standardisation decreased development cost considerably for operators. Further case studies will show that engineering practices such as debottlenecking, risk assessments, and technology application (e.g. flow assurance, reliability engineering, etc.) can lead to improving throughput, increasing reliability, and ultimately reducing cost.
A final hypothetical case will be qualitatively evaluated to show the value of retaining flexibility in engineering designs.
The conclusion of the extended abstract will look at how additional organisational measures such as training, performance management, and reporting structures can drive sustainable change and lead to increased profit margins in very challenging circumstances.
Field trials of the use of hydrated bentonite for decommissioning oil and gas wells
Authors: Towler Brian , Firouzi Mahshid , Mortezapour Amin , Hywel-Evans Paul
Published: August 2017

Bentonite is widely used for plugging shallow water wells in the US. In the past 15 years Chevron has been plugging oil and gas wells with bentonite in the San Joaquin Basin in California, and has successfully plugged about 10,000 wells. In several previous publications the authors’ research team has reported laboratory data to predict pressure containment using bentonite to underpin the fundamentals for plugging both oil and gas wells.
The authors propose bentonite as an alternative medium for decommissioning coal seam gas wells in Queensland. Gas producing companies in Queensland are proposing to drill and produce about 40,000 coal seam gas wells in the state, and all of these will have to be plugged eventually.
Water wells are shallow and are usually plugged with coarse granulated bentonite that is simply poured down the hole and hydrated. The authors propose a process for compressing bentonite into cylinders of various shapes, which promises to improve the use of bentonite for plugging deeper wells.
Oil and gas wells are presently plugged and abandoned with cement. Bentonite has a number of advantages when plugging oil and gas wells. It is cheaper and easier to deploy and it is more reliable than cement.
In this extended abstract the application of bentonite for plugging conventional oil and gas and coal seam gas wells will be discussed. The many field trials will be reviewed and the fundamental theory for plugging wells with bentonite will be outlined.
Structural reform and petroleum (environment) regulations in the Northern Territory
Authors: van Hattum Jop , Jackson Victoria
Published: August 2017

The opportunity for onshore oil and gas development in the Northern Territory (NT) has grown exponentially in recent years, driven by the NT’s expansive shale gas resources in the McArthur Basin and elsewhere. Such resources provide many potential benefits to the territory’s economy, including job creation and clean, cost-effective energy generation opportunities. Critical to the successful development of the industry is a legitimate social licence to operate with the community, for which strong environmental regulation is a key enabling factor. Communities must be assured that oil and gas activities can provide ecologically sustainable development, and a transparent, evidence- and risk-based framework is the best way to achieve this.
Following the NT Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing by Dr Allan Hawke in November 2014, and further review of the environmental assessment and approval processes in May 2015, the NT Government has implemented structural reform and developed contemporary outcome-focused Petroleum (Environment) Regulations to balance environmental protection with the economic development benefits offered by the onshore gas industry. Those objectives include that petroleum development in the NT: is consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development; reduces risks and impacts to levels that are as low as reasonably practicable and acceptable; ensures meaningful engagement with stakeholder; and, provides for transparency of decision-making and publication of approved environment management plans in full.
This extended abstract provides an update of the reform of the regulatory framework, the regulatory objectives, the regulations by which they’re achieved, and the consultation process followed to gain wide stakeholder support. It will also highlight that strong regulations alone do not provide a robust regulatory framework, and the steps the NT Government is taking to achieve its objective.
The regulations are planned to come into force in the third quarter of 2016. Meanwhile, a full review of the NT Petroleum Act and development of Petroleum (Resource Management) Regulations that takes into consideration the recommendations from the Hawke Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing in the NT is underway.
The death of Australian LNG—and how to bring it back to life
Authors: Kavonic Saul
Published: August 2017

This extended abstract provides an overview of the recent LNG capex boom, Australia's place in the global LNG supply industry, and how this capital expenditure is forecast to rapidly decline in the next few years.
The author analyses how the prospect for new LNG projects in Australia is bleak, with recent Australian projects remaining near the top of the breakeven cost curve compared to other competing projects globally. This incorporates an analysis of the impact of cost deflation to date, which has not been a structural shift in costs and is therefore insufficient to enhance Australia's relative competitive position.
An analysis illustrating the hidden value of Australia's existing LNG infrastructure is then presented, including how debottlenecking, brownfield economics, and collaboration and infrastructure sharing could improve Australia's competitive position and what the size of the prize would be in doing so.
The author then looks at what it will take from operators to realise this potential, and suggests how the industry shock resulting from the oil price drop could provide the impetus for the more collaborative and humble approach that will be needed.
Why are the values of large capital projects routinely overestimated?
Authors: Reid Stephen
Published: August 2017

The values of resources projects are routinely overestimated and poorly understood when projects are sanctioned. The challenge with this is that shareholder funds can be squandered on projects that are less attractive than they are perceived to be. This extended abstract addresses how this happens.

Behavioural biases at the organisational, portfolio, and project level lead to the benefits of projects being overestimated.
Forecasts of capital expenditure and project timing are routinely optimistic. The author will survey the recent track record of the oil and gas industry in estimating project costs, showing that project costs and timelines are positively skewed; that is, costs and timelines have a greater tendency to be in excess of original estimates.
Project valuations are often presented as simple base case and anchored high/low cases. A poor understanding of the full spectrum of value outcomes can remove the chance for the project design to be enhanced and the benefits of flexibility are routinely ignored.
Small biases in commodity prices and demand projections can significantly improve the appearance of a project, particularly when these metrics move together.
Too much comfort is placed in the FEED processes.

There is a way to consider value to enable better decisions to be made when sanctioning resources projects. This approach combines tools and techniques from decision analysis, corporate finance and valuation, portfolio management, data analytics, and behavioural economics to provide tailored insights. The author will work through a case study on how to present value differently.
Australia's onshore basin inventory: volume I
Authors: Carr Lidena , Korsch Russell , Palu Tehani
Published: August 2017

Following the publication of Geoscience Australia Record 2014/09: Petroleum geology inventory of Australia’s offshore frontier basins by Totterdell et al (2014), the onshore petroleum section of Geoscience Australia embarked on a similar project for the onshore Australian basins. Volume I of this publication series contains inventories of the McArthur, South Nicholson, Georgina, Amadeus, Warburton, Wiso, Galilee, and Cooper basins. A comprehensive review of the geology, petroleum systems, exploration status, and data coverage for these eight Australian onshore basins was conducted, based on the results of Geoscience Australia’s precompetitive data programs, industry exploration results, and the geoscience literature. A petroleum prospectivity ranking was assigned to each basin, based on evidence for the existence of an active petroleum system. The availability of data and level of knowledge in each area was reflected in a confidence rating for that ranking.
This extended abstract summarises the rankings assigned to each of these eight basins, and describes the type of information available for each of these basins in the publically available report by Carr et al (2016), available on the Geoscience Australia website. The record allocated a high prospectivity rating for the Amadeus and Cooper basins, a moderate rating for the Galilee, McArthur and Georgina basins, and a low rating for the South Nicholson, Warburton and Wiso basins. The record lists how best to access data for each basin, provides an assessment of issues and unanswered questions, and recommends future work directions to lessen the risk of these basins in terms of their petroleum prospectivity. Work is in progress to compile inventories on the next series of onshore basins.
Trends in onshore seismic data acquisition: a case study on cable-free nodal systems
Authors: Yassi Nabeel
Published: August 2017

The desire to conduct onshore seismic surveys without cables has been an elusive dream since the dawn of seismic exploration. Since the late 1970s, seismic surveys were conducted with cabled multi-channels acquisition systems. As the number of channels steadily grew, a fundamental restriction appeared with hundreds of kilometres of line cables dragged on the ground. Seismic surveys within rugged terrain—across rivers, steep cliffs, urban areas, and culturally and environmentally sensitive zones—were both challenging and expansive exercises.
Modern technology has made different cable-free solutions practical. High-resolution analogue to digital converters are now affordable, as are GPS radios for timing and location. Microprocessors and memory are readily available for autonomous recording systems, along with a battery the size and weight of a field nodal now promising to power an acquisition unit for as long as required for normal seismic crew operations.
Many successful 2D and 3D seismic data acquisition using cable-free autonomous nodal systems were attempted in the past few years; however, there remain a number of concerns with these systems.
The first concern queries whether the units are working according to manufacturer specifications during the data acquisition window. The second is the limited or no real-time data quality control that inspires sceptics to use the term blind acquisition to nodal operations. The third is the traditional question of geophone array versus point receiver acquisition. Although a string of the geophone can be connected to autonomous nodes, the preference is to deploy a single or internal geophone with the nodes to maintain the proposed flexibility of cable-free recording systems.
This case study elaborates on the benefits of the cable-free seismic surveys, with specific examples of 2D and 3D exploration programs conducted in Australia in the past few years. Optimisation of field crew size, field crew resources, cost implications, and footprint to the environment, wildlife and domestic livestock will be discussed. In addition, the study focuses on the data quality/data assurance and the processes implanted during data acquisition to maintain equivalent industry standards to cable recording. Emphases will also include data analysis and test results of the geophone array versus the cable-free point receiver recording.
Exergy analysis of an ethylene refrigeration cycle integrated with a NGL recovery process for a large LNG train
Authors: Khan Nazreen Begum Najibullah , Barifcani Ahmed , Tade Moses , Pareek Vishnu
Published: August 2017

The natural gas liquefaction process consists of a sequence of refrigeration cycles that consumes a considerable amount of energy. The separation of natural gas (NG) from the natural gas liquids (NGL) is considered to be one of the significant parts in the liquefaction of natural gas, as this will influence the LNG product quality. The integration of NGL section with the liquefaction process is one of the fundamental ways to improve the efficiency of the process and provide economic benefit from operating and capital cost perspectives.
In this extended abstract, two different configurations of NGL section integrated with the ethylene refrigeration cycle for the Cascade LNG plant—processing 5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA)—are proposed. The objectives of the proposed concepts are to meet the LNG higher heating value (HHV) specification and to achieve minimum power consumption for the refrigeration cycle. Exergy analysis is used as a thermodynamic tool to evaluate the efficiency of the process.
The process was simulated using Aspen HYSYS and the results of the proposed configurations are presented and analysed. The proposed configurations can be used to produce LNG and NGL with minimum energy consumption.
Fur seals and sea lions (family Otariidae) on the breakwaters at Adelaide
Authors: Shaughnessy Peter D. , Bossley Mike , Nicholls A. O.
Published: August 2017

Long-nosed fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) and Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea) on the breakwaters at the mouth of the Port River estuary at Adelaide’s Outer Harbor were counted from 2004 to 2015. Observed counts were modelled using a generalised linear model. Fur seal numbers have been increasing since 2011; for sea lions there was a small discernible annual trend in counts. Counts of fur seals varied seasonally; most annual maxima were in August or September with modelled peak numbers around 9–11 September. The maximum count of fur seals was 79 in September 2015. For sea lions, the model predicts annual peaks in the period 28 August to 19 September. The maximum count of sea lions was nine in September 2009. The haulout sites on the Outer Harbor breakwaters are easily accessible by boats, including pleasure craft. In particular, the seaward end of the outer breakwater is a popular spot with recreational anglers whose lines are often within a few metres of the seals. We propose that a management plan should be developed involving a study of the effect of boat approaches on seals utilising the Outer Harbor area followed by education coupled with enforcement.
Observing Mondellimin, or when Gerard Krefft ‘saved once more the honour of the exploring expedition’
Authors: Kean John
Published: August 2017

The Victorian government’s expedition to the Murray river in 1857 was distinguished by the quality of images generated by its principals. Guided by the unifying vision of alexander Humboldt, William Blandowski and Gerard Krefft examined the relationship between the australians and their environment. Blandowski initiated a productive engagement with the local nyeri nyeri that yielded an unsurpassed collection of vertebrate animals endemic to the Murray-Darling Basin. Despite Blandowski’s reckless leadership and Krefft’s simmering resentment of his commander, the expedition resulted in irreplaceable data. The immediacy of Krefft’s observations offer a glimpse of mammals that have subsequently plummeted to extinction, as well as providing unique evidence of the interaction between the indigenous australians and their environment. Krefft’s images illuminate one of australia’s richest and most diverse regions at the moment of pastoral incursion. Both men were intensely aware that they had the opportunity of observing a world that was changing irrevocably in front of their eyes.
The composition and seasonal changes in the beetle (Coleoptera) fauna of the western Victorian basalt plains native grasslands
Authors: Yen Alan L. , Kobelt Amanda J.
Published: August 2017

The western Victorian basalt plains native grasslands are recognised as one of the most endangered plant communities in Australia. Since European settlement, they have been cleared, grazed, and fragmented and are now found as small scattered remnants. No general invertebrate surveys were undertaken in these grasslands until the 1990s, and this paper reports on the beetles associated with 12 native grassland sites that were sampled seasonally between 1992 and 1993. A total of 114 beetle morphospecies from 26 families were collected, dominated by members of four families (Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Scarabaeidae and Tenebrionidae). The beetle fauna comprised a small number of widespread species and over 63% of species were found at only one or two sites. In terms of relative abundances, a small number of beetle species dominated the fauna; the 10 most common species comprised nearly 64% of the total number of individuals collected.
A special place in history - Professor Nancy Millis
Authors: Clarke Adrienne E.
Published: August 2017

Professor Millis has had a profound influence on the regulatory framework for Gene Technology in Australia. Her leadership in this and other fields has been an inspiration to younger women in science. Her use of humour in all her interactions is legendary.
Orchids on the edge: threatened orchid recovery in the North Central region, 2003-2009
Authors: Nevill Geoff
Published: August 2017

This paper presents an overview of activities to conserve a suite of threatened orchid taxa within the North Central region between 2003 and 2009. Historical and current threats to orchid populations are outlined and management responses detailed, together with results of key management actions. Knowledge gaps are identified, with past and current actions to address some of these included. Future directions for the conservation of threatened orchids in the region are briefly discussed.
Community participation in land restoration
Authors: Slattery Deirdre
Published: August 2017

This case study of community participation in a landscape restoration program explores some implications of the Federal Government’s Caring for Our Country Program (CFOC) in Mount Alexander Shire in North Central Victoria. It briefly describes the process of establishing a community-based wide-ranging program of landscape restoration, Connecting Country, from its inception in 2007 to its current stage: implementation of a detailed program. As a member of the Connecting Country group, I used participant observation techniques to examine issues and concerns worked through in this process by community members. Background literature about community participation in Landcare programs since 1989 provides the setting for this analysis and for reflection on the development and conduct of land stewardship programs in the changing context of government policy in land restoration funding.
North central Victoria – climate change and land-use: potentials for third century in a timeless land
Authors: Mansergh Ian
Published: August 2017

For the 21st century, scenarios of future climate under global warming suggest that Bassian-Eyrean bioclimatic region of northern Victoria, centred on the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA), will become markedly warmer and drier. Significant climate change is a real possibility midcentury and some basic bio-physical attributes underpinning the current ecology, land-use and management will be altered. Societal adaptation to climate change will include enhancing landscape resilience and changes to the mix of inter-related ecosystem services. The increasing understanding of these inter-relationships will allow for the creation of a more holistic quantification and production of landscape services. In combination, these challenge the past land-use paradigm on the driest, inhabited continent. Following the mid-19th century gold rushes, land-use in the NCCMA represented the epitome of the colonial land-use paradigm through clearing for agriculture and pastoralism. Victoria has long had the highest percentage private land of any Australian state. The NCCMA catchment is the most denuded of native vegetation, with the smallest percentage of public land and conservation reserves, and is now the centre of a continental concentration of bioregions under high environmental stress. The original primacy of agriculture was fulfilled, sometimes under adverse circumstances, but resultant landscape legacies persist within the relative economic decline of Australian agriculture. The amelioration of these within a future land stewardship that is water-stressed, carbon constrained and prone to extreme weather events is a major challenge. Exploring landscape adaptation, the simple questions arise: From what? To what? This contribution examines broad land-use in the NCCMA in the long term context of climate change and adaptation, land-use and the perceived valuation of ecosystem services from the landscape. The increasing realisation of the interconnectedness of these phenomena and the necessity for ecologically sustainable agriculture provide enhanced drivers for the evolution of new landscape meanings in the context of an inter-generational equity and climate change response.
Georg von Neumayer: his influence on marine meteorology in the German Meteorological Service
Authors: Kusch Wolfgang , Zöllner Reinhold , Dentler Frank-Ulrich
Published: August 2017

Georg von Neumayer achieved outstanding scientific results and created the organisational framework for the successful completion of scientific tasks. Returning from Australia, Neumayer aimed to set up in Germany a state-owned centre for marine meteorology, hydrography, navigation, marine instruments and geomagnetism, with an emphasis on scientific research with practical application of the findings. Since 1868, a successfully operating private institute, Norddeutsche Seewarte, had existed in Hamburg. This institute provided instructions for sailing routes and the optimal use of favourable winds and currents. In 1875, the institute was transformed into an imperial institution, the ‘Deutsche Seewarte’ (German Marine Observatory), with a broad spectrum of marine responsibilities including meteorological forecasts and warnings, data acquisition and management, and climatology. Its first director was Georg von Neumayer, who led it to worldwide recognition. In 1903, he retired but the Deutsche Seewarte continued in his spirit. At the end of World War II, the institute was destroyed by bombs and ceased to exist. Today, the tasks are shared between Marine Meteorological Office of the Deutscher Wetterdienst specialising in the marine meteorological and related topics and the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency.
Neumayer’s impact on meteorology in Germany
Authors: Lüdecke Cornelia
Published: August 2017

When Georg von Neumayer (1826–1909) had a practical training with Johann von Lamont (1805-1879) at the observatory at Bogenhausen (today part of Munich), he learnt not only about astronomical observations and the construction of instruments, but also about magnetic and meteorological measurements, as well as the organisation of networks of stations and the importance of publication of measured data and their analysis. When he became first Director of the Deutsche Seewarte (German Maritime Observatory) in Hamburg (1876–1903) he subsequently introduced weather telegraphy and synoptic meteorology and installed a workshop for the development and calibration of meteorological and magnetic instruments and compasses. He also initiated the establishment of a weather service in Bavaria and the aerological (kite) station at Groß Borstel close to Hamburg (1903). Under his guidance the Deutsche Seewarte soon took over a leading role in Germany, which was confirmed in Neumayer’s membership in the International Meteorological Committee (1879–1888). Finally he became the founding President of the Deutsche Meteorologische Gesellschaft (German Meteorological Society) in 1883. This can be regarded as a further important step for the institutionalisation of meteorology as a discipline in Germany.
Georg von Neumayer’s legacy in geomagnetism
Authors: Barton Charles , Morrison Doug , Hitchman Adrian
Published: August 2017

Terrestrial magnetism—its temporal and spatial manifestations and origins—has fascinated humans for 2000 years and has long been exploited for navigation. But not until the 19th and early 20th century was systematic mapping and observation of the field undertaken on a global scale, a satisfactory mathematical theory of magnetism developed, and a dynamo origin in the core identified. Georg von Neumayer was one of the leading luminaries who laid the observational basis for these advances. His principal contributions were in persistent and meticulous observation of earth and space science phenomena, particularly in the southern hemisphere, often carried out under challenging conditions. This talk traces the development to modern times of the areas of geomagnetism where von Neumayer played a pioneering role—establishing
a world network of magnetic observatories, mapping and modelling of the geomagnetic field, the quest for the origin of the field, exploration geophysics (diagnostic use of magnetic fields to characterise subsurface bodies and geology), solar-terrestrial effects and auroral physics, magnetic disturbances and a relationship with weather, polar science and more. Perhaps his greatest legacy is in the foundation of a spirit of peaceful scientific collaboration between nations and sharing information for the common good. This is best exemplified by his lead role in the first International Polar Year (1882–1883) and its sequel today—the 4th IPY 2007–2008.
The von Neumayer legacy in Australian meteorology
Authors: Williams Mark
Published: August 2017

Georg von Neumayer established the first formal program to take meteorological observations in Melbourne in 1858 at the Flagstaff Hill Observatory. In doing this he set the platform for a long-term climate record of Melbourne of immeasurable value to the city of Melbourne and the nation. He also helped set in train an ever expanding program of weather recording in Victoria, and around the country. This program of observing the weather then evolved into the sophisticated system which exists today. Today’s weather observation program underpins the modern weather forecasting service, which the nation depends on so much for short and longer term activities.
Von Neumayer’s place in history a century on: closing remarks at the anniversary symposium
Authors: Zillman John
Published: August 2017

The Georg von Neumayer Anniversary Symposium held at the Royal Society of Victoria Hall in Melbourne on 27–30 May 2009 brought together a wide range of perspectives on the life, times and scientific achievements of one of the most remarkable figures of 19th Century Australian, German and polar science.
Fire severity and ecosystem resilience – lessons from the Wombat Fire Effects Study (1984-2003)
Authors: Tolhurst Kevin G.
Published: August 2017

The Wombat Fire Effects Study was established to address a number of questions in relation to the effects of repeated low-intensity fires in mixed species eucalypt forest in the foothills of Victoria. This study has now been going for 25 years and has included the study of understorey plants, fuels, bats, terrestrial mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, fungi, birds, soils, tree growth, fire behaviour and weather. This forest system has shown a high resilience to fire that is attributed here to the patchiness and variability in the fire characteristics within a fire and the relatively small proportion of the landscape being affected. A means of comparing the level of “injury” caused by low-intensity prescribed fire with high intensity wildfire is proposed so that the debate about leverage benefits (the reduction in wildfire area compared to the area of planned burning) can be more rational. There are some significant implications for assessing the relative environmental impacts of wildfire compared with the planned burning program being implemented in Victoria since the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission recommendations (Teague et al. 2010).
Framing the challenge of climate change adaptation for Victorian local governments
Authors: Fünfgeld Hartmut
Published: August 2017

Climate change adaptation, although dependent on our understanding of current and future climatic trends, is predominantly a social and institutional process. This becomes evident when studying how organisations actually respond to and prepare for climate change impacts. This paper explores the notion of framing climate change adaptation as a process of organisational development and change in the local government sector. Local governments, as the tier of government closest to the community, provide a raft of services to residents and businesses, many of which may be affected by the impacts of a changing climate. Local governments in Victoria and elsewhere have been at the forefront of assessing climatic risks and opportunities, as well as devising strategies and response measures to address these risks. The growing evidence of adaptation planning in the local government sector suggests that adaptation can be framed in many different ways, although a risk management perspective is frequently applied. Increasingly, adaptation to climate change is conceptualised as an ongoing, flexible process that needs to be fully embedded in the local and organisational context. This paper discusses the conceptual and organisational framing of climate change adaptation, illustrated by examples of the diversity of adaptation approaches taken by local governments in Victoria.
Geothermal energy: shallow sources
Authors: Johnston Ian
Published: August 2017

Below a depth of around 5 to 8 metres below the surface, the ground displays a temperature which is effectively constant and a degree or two above the weighted mean annual air temperature at that particular location. In Melbourne, the ground temperature at this depth is around 18°C with temperatures at shallower depths varying according the season. Further north, these constant temperatures increase a little; while for more southern latitudes, the temperatures are a few degrees cooler. Shallow source geothermal energy (also referred to as direct geothermal energy, ground energy using ground source heat pumps and geoexchange) uses the ground and its temperatures to depths of a few tens of metres as a heat source in winter and a heat sink in summer for heating and cooling buildings. Fluid (usually water) is circulated through a ground heat exchanger (or GHE, which comprises pipes built into building foundations, or in specifically drilled boreholes or trenches), and back to the surface. In heating mode, heat contained in the circulating fluid is extracted by a ground source heat pump (GSHP) and used to heat the building. The cooled fluid is reinjected into the ground loops to heat up again to complete the cycle. In cooling mode, the system is reversed with heat taken out of the building transferred to the fluid which is injected underground to dump the extra heat to the ground. The cooled fluid then returns to the heat pump to receive more heat from the building.
Unconventional gas: shale gas and coal seam gas
Authors: Kentish Sandra , Beck Vaughan
Published: August 2017

The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA1), Securing Australia’s Future, Project 6 report, entitled Engineering energy: unconventional gas production, explored the scientific, social, cultural, technological, environmental and economic issues surrounding alternative energy sources, with particular reference to shale gas production. The project was one of a series of strategic research projects for the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council. The project report made 51 key findings considering the potential technological, environmental, social and economic impacts of an Australian shale gas industry. Recommendations arising from the report were developed by the Office of the Chief Scientist in consultation with relevant government departments. The symposium presentation was based on the ACOLA project report.
Host-derived viral transporter protein for nitrogen uptake in infected marine phytoplankton
Authors: Monier Adam , Chambouvet Aurélie , Milner David S. , Attah Victoria , Terrado Ramón , Lovejoy Connie , Moreau Hervé , Santoro Alyson E. , Derelle Évelyne , Richards Thomas A.
Published: August 2017

Significance

Viruses often carry genes acquired from their host. In the present work, we show that a virus of a marine alga carries a gene encoding a transporter protein that mediates nutrient uptake. We confirm that the viral transporter protein is expressed during infection and show that the protein functions to take up sources of nitrogen. This is important because acquisition of nutrients often determines the ecological success of phytoplankton populations. This work demonstrates how a virus can amend host–viral dynamics by modulating acquisition of nutrients from the environment.
Capturing LTA
4
hydrolase in action: Insights to the chemistry and dynamics of chemotactic LTB
4
synthesis
Authors: Stsiapanava Alena , Samuelsson Bengt , Haeggström Jesper Z.
Published: August 2017

Significance

Leukotriene B
4
(LTB
4
) is a one of the most potent chemotactic agents known to date and participates in leukocyte recruitment during the innate immune response. Leukotriene A
4
hydrolase/aminopeptidase (LTA
4
H) catalyzes the committed step in LTB
4
biosynthesis. Here we report high-resolution crystal structures of LTA
4
H in complex with its highly labile substrate LTA
4
, which reveal the structural basis for the enzyme’s unique epoxide hydrolase mechanism. Moreover, we show that LTA
4
H undergoes domain movements, which gates the hydrophobic cavity for entrance of LTA
4
followed by induced fit. Our results provide new insights to the mechanism of LTA
4
H and structure-based drug design.
From Venice to Sicily
Authors: Williams Gareth D.
Published: August 2017

Chapter 3 focuses on Bembo’s complex motivations for leaving Venice for Messina in 1492, and particularly on four individuals who shaped his humanism both before and during his time in Sicily. It is surely no coincidence that Pietro departed for Sicily soon after assisting Angelo Poliziano, that revolutionary figure in philological method, in collating, during the great man’s visit to Venice in summer 1491, the celebrated ancient manuscript of Terence that belonged to the Bembo family. Constantine Lascaris’ reputation as a teacher was far reaching, but Giorgio Valla, Lascaris’ former pupil from his Milan days and later Pietro’s teacher in Venice, may well have helped Bembo toward Messina. The naturalistic interests in De Aetna were perhaps partly nurtured by Lascaris; they also bear the imprint of another major influence on the young Pietro in Venice: Ermolao Barbaro. He was appointed Venetian ambassador to Rome in 1490; scandal estranged him from the Republic in 1491.
Desire: Uncommitted Relationships and Augustine
Authors: Bennett Jana Marguerite
Published: August 2017

Casual uncommitted relationships are those that never admit even the possibility of long-term commitment, are frequently short-term, and tend to focus on sexual activity as an important aspect (though not the only aspect). That is, many people might not say they are in relationships at all, or will specifically name that they are in casual relationships. These relationships frequently involve sexual encounters that leave people feeling unfulfilled, or desiring more. Augustine of Hippo, a fifth-century lover of casual relationships in his youth, teaches us that sex is very significant, so significant that it can become unselfish, so that our own desires become surrendered to God.
Proclamation: Widowhood and Elizabeth Ann Seton
Authors: Bennett Jana Marguerite
Published: August 2017

Widowhood has been one of the least discussed states of singleness in recent decades. This is despite both real and present poverty of many widows, and the scriptural mandate for Christians to care for the widows in their midst. Christians in previous ages have often cared for widows by providing communities for them (an Order of Widows). Perhaps Christians mistakenly believe widowhood is no longer really a problem—or perhaps an American fear of death means we avoid those associated with death. Not to face death, however, means also avoiding part of the Gospel message. Elizabeth Ann Seton, a 19th century American widow, mother of five, and founder of a religious community, provides a distinctive look at death, resurrection, and hope in Christ. She and her community of widows help proclaim Christ’s life, death, and resurrection to a church that needs to see Christ in this life of singleness.
Sufficiency: Single Parenting and Dorothy Day
Authors: Bennett Jana Marguerite
Published: August 2017

Single parenting vastly affects women (divorced, widowed, and military spouses, among others). Single parents are caught between contemporary parenting wars (including welfare reform wars) and the need to be self-sufficient. Single parents suffer from never quite living up to parenting ideals, thereby being utterly un-self-sufficient. Christians, especially, emphasize perfect parenting as a means of discipleship. Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, was a single mother because she decided to baptize her daughter, and become a Christian herself. She discusses the importance of Christian community in parenting, and narrates how, for Christians, family means more than biological ties. Day helps all Christians understand the need to be family for each other and to loosen the stranglehold that sufficiency has on parenting in Christian life.
A Primitivism of the Senses
Authors: Cook Malcolm
Published: August 2017

This chapter examines the aesthetically and conceptually central role of music in the film work of Len Lye. Lye’s first film, Tusalava, exhibits a strong concern with notions of the “primitive”, both visually and musically. While Lye abandoned that film’s African and South Pacific influences in his work of the 1930s, his use of jazz is here understood to continue those same concerns. This is considered both in his direct relationship with the Harlem Renaissance and in that movement’s dissemination internationally, as well as with an underlying conceptualisation of primitive perception. His work is in many ways experimental, while also being entwined with traditions normally excluded or ignored when studying “experimental film”. This chapter’s findings bring into question the very boundaries and definitions of that category.
“bump … bup … bup”
Authors: Dobson Terence
Published: August 2017

Norman McLaren was a prolific and innovative filmmaker for almost half a century. During this time, his experimentation with image, sound and the physicality of filmmaking produced groundbreaking examples of audiovisuality that form pivotal moments in the history of experimental film. His sonic innovations, developed using the optical soundtrack area of movie film, initially stemmed from utilitarian considerations, yet his application of his innovations transcended these mundane beginnings. Through an examination of his belief in the importance in his films of the visual-sonic relationship, and of his philosophical approach to his filmmaking, and further, of his manner of working, an understanding of McLaren’s unique filmic journey is approached. McLaren’s hand-drawn sound and card method of animating sound is discussed through such films as his Dots, Loops, Neighbours and Synchromy.
Sights and Sounds of the Moving Mind
Authors: Smigel Eric
Published: August 2017

American experimental filmmaker Stan Brakhage revolutionised independent cinema by cultivating a new poetic idiom designed to document the subjective vision of the eye behind the camera. Committed to an inclusive account of the lived visual experience, he augmented the cinematic vocabulary by including components such as hallucination, dreams, closed-eye images and optical feedback, capturing these ephemeral elements using a wide variety of ‘home-made’ modifications to the filming process, including erratic hand-held camera movement, distortion of focus and changing camera speeds. Although most of his projects are silent, he corresponded with composer James Tenney to explore intersections between cinema (“moving visual thinking”) and music (“sound equivalent of the mind’s moving”). When employing a soundtrack, Brakhage gravitated towards musique concrète, which he regarded as an audio analogy for cinematic montage, and he devised a unique brand of audiovisual counterpoint based on the rhythmic interplay of the psychophysiological processes of sight and sound.
Audiovisual Dissonance in Found-Footage Film
Authors: Rogers Holly
Published: August 2017

Drawing on ideas of the Surrealist automatic and filmic détournement, artists working with found footage are able to construct new meanings and aesthetics by deconstructing completed audiovisual texts. When original music is retained, or replaced by a new sonic collage, the disjointed sonic flow problematises and enhances the collage aesthetic by extending the possibilities for juxtaposition not only in a linear fashion, but also in a vertical, audiovisual direction, a process that highlights the materiality and artifice of the new combination of images. Here, pre-used footage can be collaged in such a way as to bring to the fore the conventions of mainstream cinematography and the languages of mass media. The result is not audiovisual synchronicity, but rather collision, or dissonance. Through the close reading of several found-footage films, this chapter traces the evolution of an activated form of audiovisual consumption that arises from a process of alienated listening.