The Italian Embassy and the High Commission of the Republic of Malta, in collaboration with the Australian National University, present:

European Heritage in Marine Science

On how the European heritage shaped the Australian science and how science and specifically marine science may help in preserving cultural heritage

This event celebrates the intertwining of cultural heritage and marine science, two subjects apparently so diverse but that can exploit mutual influences at the deepest level.

Program:

6.00pm – 6.20pm welcome drinks offered by the High Commission of Malta

6.20pm – 6.30pm welcome speeches:

- Mr. Roberto Rizzo Deputy Ambassador of Italy

- Mr. Mario Farrugia-Borg Malta High Commissioner

- Prof. Anne McNaughton, director of the Centre for European Studies

6.30pm – 7.00pm Vanessa Pirotta: Integrating culture through marine science, a respectful way forward.

7.00pm – 7.30pm Round table: Marine science as a tool to preserve cultural heritage

7.30pm – 8.30pm Networking aperitivo (drinks and nibbles) offered by the Italian Embassy

Vanessa Pirotta:

Integrating culture through marine science, a respectful way forward

Vanessa Pirotta is a wildlife scientist whose passion and dedication to science arise directly from her Mediterranean cultural heritage, half rooted in Italy and half in Malta. Her personal story and her most important scientific achievements will be the subject of her speech.

Vanessa’s cross generational focus in her research sees her work locally and internationally, to empower communities through wildlife. She leads the Wild Sydney Harbour citizen science program, which is learning more about marine life in Sydney Harbour, Australia. Together with local First Nations rangers, the Gamay Rangers, they combine Indigenous Knowledge and scientific knowledge to learn more about marine mammals in their blue backyard. Vanessa has also conducted whale research in the Kingdom of Tonga, working together with Government to better understand whale swim tourism interactions with humpback whales.

Vanessa Pirotta is an Australian wildlife scientist, science communicator and author. Her research uses innovative technologies, like drones and AI, for wildlife conservation. Pirotta is the founder and chief scientist of Wild Sydney Harbour, a scientific and citizen science program which is learning more about marine life in Sydney Harbour, Australia. She has published children's books about whales.

Vanessa Pirotta is the recipient of 2025 New South Wales Woman of Year Award.

Discussion panel in conversation with Vanessa Pirotta:

Marine science as a tool to preserve cultural heritage

Taking inspiration from the overall collaborative approach which combines scientific and traditional knowledge and characterize her approach to her research, we will engage in a discussion with Vanessa Pirotta and ANU experts on some fundamental aspects such as:

How the European values are shaping how we collaborate and engage stakeholders in research
Can science be an opportunity to be more respectful, embrace a cultural change and celebrate heritage in Australia
How to exploit science as a powerful tool toward Cross cultural connections and respectful understanding
How the field experience can be an example for other to follow

With:

Katarzyna Kwapisz William is the Deputy Director at the Centre for European Studies at the Australian National University. She was an Assistant Professor at the University of Lodz in Poland and has held visiting fellowships at various international universities. Her research focuses on migrant cultures and diaspora, especially life narratives, displacement, transcultural experiences, and the politics of memory.

Ana M. M. Sequeira is a Portuguese marine ecologist based at the Australian National University. She is the founder, Lead Coordinator and Research Director of MegaMove, a U.N. endorsed project focused on marine megafauna conservation, based on a global scientific effort and involving local communities. Not surprisingly, the motto of the project is tracking our global heritage.

Chennupati Jagadish is an Indian-Australian physicist and academic, a Distinguished Professor of Physics at the Australian National University Research School of Physics and the President of the Australian Academy of Science. Since 1954, the Academy has represented Australia on the international context and plays an active role in the internationalization of Australian Science.