Broadcaster Kim Hill takes on the role of grand inquisitor once again in the Lincoln Hot Science public seminar series which opens in Christchurch Town Hall tonight (23 July) with the topic “Water Wars - the challenges for town and country”.
Five specialist speakers will be quizzed by Kim in her role as chairperson. Members of the audience will then be invited to put questions to the panellists through the chair.
Issues of water availability, the size of the resource, management decision making, impact of usage on town and country, and resource management law implications will all be covered.
The panel members are - Dr John Bright, Managing Director, Aqualinc Research Ltd.; Ben Dingle a Principal of Synlait; Dr Bryan Jenkins, Chief Executive, Environment Canterbury; Professor Ali Memon of Lincoln University, Professor of Environmental Planning and Management; and Dr Andy Pearce, Chair of Stage 3 of the Canterbury Strategic Water Study.
Kim is looking forward to the new Lincoln Hot Science series and says that last year’s audiences in Christchurch were “hugely intelligent and well informed”.
“There seems to be a great public appetite for community dialogue with scientist on important local issues,” she says, and believes it could be explained by the public becoming “more healthily sceptical of experts”.
She sees the Canterbury water issue as a microcosm of problems faced by the rest of the country.
Monday’s “Water Wars” event is in the James Hay Theatre at the Christchurch Town Hall. It runs from 7.00 – 9.00pm. Members of the public are invited and entry is by gold coin donation.
The Lincoln Hot Science series is presented in association with MAF and organised by the Lincoln Resource, comprising AgResearch, Crop and Food Research, Foundation for Arable Research, Lincoln University, Landcare Research, Selwyn District Council, Lincoln Ventures and Plantwise.
Chris Coughlan, organiser of the event for the Lincoln Resource, says that the combination of Kim Hill, five expert panellists, the public and a contentious issue will make an entertaining and informative evening.
“Climate Change - who are the winners and users under changing land use patterns in Canterbury” is the next Lincoln Hot Science topic, on 30 July, and “Our Land of Milk and Honey - are we food producers or polluters?” closes the series on 6 August.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Ian Collins, Journalist
Lincoln University, Canterbury
Tel: 64 3 325 2811 ext 8549
Email: Ian Collins