Tassie’s Wild Weather Up Close

Name: Tassie’s Wild Weather Up Close
Start: 2025-08-14T18:00:00+1000
End: 2025-08-14T19:30:00+1000
Location: Sir Stanley Burbury Theatre

Thu, 14 Aug, 6pm - 7:30pm AEST

Sir Stanley Burbury Theatre

Sandy Bay TAS, Australia

· Accessibility info

University of Tasmania

1104 followers · Contact host

Event description

In Tasmania, talking about the weather isn’t just small talk. It’s a shared obsession. We joke about four seasons in a day, check three fine forecasts and still pack a jacket, and know that a sunny morning can end in a soaking.

But what’s behind these wild swings? How rare is a so-called 1-in-100-year storm? And what happens when the patterns we’ve relied on start to shift?

This talk brings together experts in meteorology, climate science and agriculture to explore what drives Tasmania’s most extreme weather events and what they mean for our land, livelihoods and future.

Attend online

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The experts

Dr Paul Fox-Hughes is a research meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology in Tasmania, specialising in high-impact weather events such as severe storms and heavy rainfall. With over 30 years of experience, he leads the High Impact Weather team within the Bureau's Research Program, focusing on improving forecasting models to better predict extreme weather conditions. His work aims to enhance community preparedness and response to weather-related hazards.

Dr Annette Stellema is a climate scientist and research engineer at CSIRO in Hobart. She holds a PhD in Climate Science from the University of New South Wales, where her research focused on ocean circulation and climate variability. Her expertise includes analysing climate extremes and developing models to assess the frequency and impact of extreme weather events, contributing to a better understanding of climate risks.

Professor Steve Curnin is an Associate Professor at the University of Tasmania where he is co-director of the Disaster Resilience Research Group. His research explores strategic decision making and foresight in the context of disasters. Prior to commencing a career in academia, Steve worked as a practitioner in disaster management with several state and federal government agencies and in the not-for-profits sector.

Hosted by Corey Peterson, Chief Sustainability Officer, University of Tasmania. Corey has worked at the University of Tasmania since 2010, charged with advancing a holistic organisational sustainability agenda. He has been on the board of Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability since 2012, serving as President from 2018-2024, and is a director at TasWaste South. Corey also spent 16 years supporting science in Antarctica before immigrating to Tasmania.

Pre-event refreshments

Head to the venue early and enjoy complimentary refreshments from 5.30pm.

Parking

Free parking, including accessible spaces, is available at the venue.

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Find out more

Want to learn more about the University of Tasmania's Island of Ideas public talks series? Catch-up on past events, register for upcoming talks or get in touch with us via our Island of Ideas webpage.

Event partner
This event is brought to you in partnership by the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society and the University of Tasmania for National Science Week.

Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity

Hostinformation

University of Tasmania

1104 followers

Contact host

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Welcome to the University of Tasmania

Changing the world is not simple. It takes thought, time, persistence, and insight. But most of all, it takes something extraordinary. So at the University of Tasmania, we’ve made the pursuit of the extraordinary a never-ending commitment. It influences everything we do. The way we teach. The way we research. The way we learn. And the way we live.

An environment made for learning

Welcome to one of the world’s most spectacular natural environments. Framed by beaches, snowfields and wilderness, from our stunning island home in Tasmania we’re free to think on a bigger scale. Whether it’s in our teaching, research, or even student lifestyle, this unique landscape has prepared us to connect to the world. We’re also fortunate to be right in Tasmania’s vibrant cultural heart. From our MONA inspired arts boom to our established food, wine and coffee culture, Tasmania’s towns and cities are as cosmopolitan as anywhere in Australia. Friendly, vibrant and always changing, Tasmania’s as good a place to live, as it is to learn.

From the bottom of the world, to the top

Our ranking in the top two per cent of universities worldwide reflects our willingness to constantly challenge ourselves. We’ve never been afraid to take on the world – something we pass on to each of our more than 29,000 local, national and international students. Throughout their careers, this underpins the success of the 130,000 alumni we have spread across more than 120 countries.

Internationally recognised teaching programs and research institutes like the Australian Maritime College (AMC), Menzies Institute and Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies have built our reputation. With their vision and success, we’re standing out as an educational beacon and a global voice of learning.

Our commitment to the extraordinary tells the world one thing. Wherever you’re from – and wherever you’re headed – at the University of Tasmania you have the opportunity to use education to become whoever or whatever you want.