GeoNight 2024

GeoNight 2024 - Order of Events

4.30pm Introduction & Welcome Dr Tod Jones (Curtin Uni) and Leo Conti (GAWA)

4.40 – 5.10pm Mobile lives: How running shapes the diffusion, adoption, and adaptation of health, tourism, and technology at the local and global scale. (Linked to UNIT 2 Depth study 2).

How humans move through space has been central to the development of Human Geography. Traditional technologies of road, rail, and air travel dominate our mental models and have shaped how we understand globalisation. In this presentation, we explore a primordial movement – running – and consider how the practice shapes our understanding of human geography. We address the recent “running boom” and reflect on the role running plays in public health campaigns (such as couch to 5k, parkrun), tourism events (like adventure races, big city marathons) and new technologies (smart watches, mapping apps, super shoes), to provoke a critical question over what is moving? We then zoom out and open discussion regarding differences between the “drivers” and “facilitators” of globalisation. 

Facilitated by:

• Dr Shaphan Cox (Senior Lecturer)
• Peter Hallahan (PhD Candidate)
• School of Design and the Built Environment
• Curtin University

5.15 – 5.45pm Bees, Beekeeping and Honey – a unique perspective on biodiversity challenges and solutions in the southwest of WA (Linked to Unit 3 Depth Study 1 and 2)

The commercial migratory beekeepers of Western Australia provide food security through crop pollination and honey production, yet their livelihoods are impacted by land cover change, climate change and biodiversity loss. This presentation explains the importance of beekeepers knowledge of pollination ecology in the southwest, and how strategic engagement can improve environmental resilience and industry sustainability into the future.

Facilitated by:

• Linda Wilson (PhD Student)
• Geography Department
• University of Western Australia
• Cooperative Research Centre for Honey Bee Products

5.45 – 6.10pm Break for refreshments – coffee, tea, juice and subway platters

6.15 – 7pm Topic 3 Honey Terroir & Tasting with Mikey Cernotta from the Pemberton Honey Company.

Mikey Cernotta, owner of the Pemberton Honey Company and board member of the Bee Industry Council of WA (BICWA) will convey his knowledge and understanding of links between honey’s taste and its origins and production, using tastings from his array of monofloral honeys and honey products. The flavour complexity, sweetness and texture varies between varieties of monofloral honeys, making them much like good wine. As a result, Mikey will introduce us to the diversity of the honeys from the southwest region of Western Australia.

Facilitated by:

• The Pemberton Honey Company (Phone: 0418 229 252)

7pm Conclusion and thanks Dr Tod Jones (Curtin Uni) and Leo Conti (GAWA)

Optional Dinner at conclusion of GeoNight evening …. (Additional cost-separate to ticket cost)

For more information contact Tod Tod Jones T.Jones@curtin.edu.au or Leo Conti leo.conti@education.wa.edu.au