Adaptation in South Australian Biodiversity and Spotlight on Researching the Giant Australian Cuttlefish - Educator Professional Learning

Professional learning for educators with Professor Steve Donnellan and Professor Bronwyn Gillanders

Tuesday 14th August, 4:30 pm – 7pm (arrive at the Museum from 4:20 to check in - session will start at 4:30 in the foyer)

Take a walk through an ecological transect of South Australia, from the hot, dry northern deserts to the deep oceans of the south in the Biodiversity Gallery and unravel the unique story of our state’s diverse wildlife and environmental regions: arid, temperate, coastal and marine. Prof Steve Donnellan will share details of some of the unique adaptations animals use to survive in these different conditions.

After a short time for networking and a glass of wine, Prof Bronwyn Gillanders from Adelaide University will present the Sprigg public lecture and share some of the scientific detective work that she and her team have done to discover some of the biological mysteries of the enigmatic Giant Australian Cuttlefish and how its recent history contrasts with global cephalopod abundance trends.

This session will focus on content aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Biological Sciences Years 4-7 and will also be of interest for secondary science and biology educators.

This session will account for 2.5 hours of Professional Learning addressing AITSL standards

Professor Gillanders is a Professor at the University of Adelaide, where she runs the Gillanders Aquatic Ecology Lab, and has previously held ARC Fellowships. She completed her BSc at the University of Canterbury (New Zealand), her MSc in Marine Science at the University of Otago (NZ) and a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Sydney (Australia). She uses calcified structures of aquatic organisms as innovative tools to understand past environments and biological processes, such as age, growth and movement patterns. Her broader interests include integrated management and understanding cumulative environmental impacts.

Professor Donnellan is Head of Research and Collections and Principal Researcher at the South Australian Museum and Professor at the University of Adelaide.
An evolutionary biologist with broad interests in the discovery and understanding the history of the biodiversity of Australia and our near neighbours to the north. Steve uses molecular genetic technology to discover new animal species and to reconstruct their evolutionary history, with a particular emphasis on reptiles and frogs. His research has taken him on marine and terrestrial field work in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, collecting specimens and their tissues for DNA analyses. This field work is often in exotic locations on remote coral reefs or in isolated corners of the Australian deserts.

There is no need to print a physical ticket. Museum staff will check off your name at the door.

As places are strictly limited please cancel your Eventbrite booking if you are unable to attend so we can secure a place for others.

For booking enquiries, please email education@samuseum.sa.gov.au