This Sounds Like Science: Ecosystems In a Warming World

City Recital Hall and Inspiring Australia invite you to explore music on a different level in our free lunchtime series This Sounds Like Science.

Back in Darwin’s time, people thought that evolution moved slowly—with species adapting over geological timeframes. Recent work has found that evolution can happen within just a few years. But can plants and animals adapt fast enough to keep up with the current pace of climate change? Be amazed by stories that show how adaptable plants and animals are and contemplate the future of Australia’s changing ecosystems with Professor Angela Moles, a plant ecologist at UNSW Sydney. Discover what you can do to help and be motivated by beautiful classical music.

Professor Angela Moles is a plant ecologist at UNSW Sydney. Her research interests include: understanding how Australian plants are responding to climate change; studying rapid evolution in introduced species; and quantifying global patterns in how climate shapes the way plants grow, reproduce and interact with animals. Angela is a member of the NSW government Biodiversity Conservation Advisory Panel and is the director of the Evolution & Ecology Research Centre at UNSW Sydney. She loves teaching and sharing her enthusiasm for science with the public and is passionate about Australia’s beautiful ecosystems. Angela has won several major research awards, including the Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the year, the Eureka Prize for Outstanding Young Researcher, and the NSW Science and Engineering Award.

This Sounds Like Science is supported by and co-curated with Inspiring Australia, the national strategy for public engagement with the sciences.