Thursday 13 August 2026 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Deception Bay Environmental Hub | 7 Joseph Crescent Deception Bay Qld 4508
Here's your chance to meet Lawrence Scheele — author, marine biologist, underwater photographer, filmmaker and musician, hear more about his book — A Field Guide to the Marine Life of Magnetic Island, Great Barrier Reef — and view his latest film — Hidden Treasure Magnetic Island — an incredible journey exploring the hidden underwater world of the Island, narrated by his colleague, Dr. Leon Zann.
Thursday 20 August 2026 | 7:00PM - 9:00PM Deception Bay Environmental Hub 7 Joseph Crescent Deception Bay QLD 4508
Our presenter, Dr Lucy Goodridge Gaines is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC).
UniSC is involved in multiple restoration projects looking at shellfish and seagrass restoration efforts primarily designed to offset nutrients in coastal waterways.
Through ongoing monitoring projects and support from industry, UniSC seek to deliver projects to bring back these important ecosystems and maintain healthy waterways for communities to enjoy.
Lucy will be joined by two fantastic students; Erin Osborne and Tia Drysdale, both of whom are involved in the seagrass and shellfish projects.
NOTE: THIS EVENT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE.
Register and the Microsoft Teams meeting link to join online will be provided in your 'Registration Confirmation' email.
The rapid growth of cloud computing and AI is driving demand for data centres. AI data centre growth has ignited debate over power, water and infrastructure demands; community and environmental impact; and who bears the costs.
Data centres need electricity to run the IT equipment, the infrastructure that supports the IT equipment, the backup power system and the cooling system.
Every computation done by a CPU, GPU, memory chip, switch, or storage device converts a share of its electricity into heat - and that heat must be carried away. Electricity runs the machines; water (or its evaporative equivalent) carries the heat out.
Water is used overwhelmingly for cooling. Data centres cycle it through cooling towers, chillers, adiabatic units, and direct liquid loops that absorb heat from servers and reject it to the atmosphere. About 70%-85% of water that enters an evaporative cooling tower leaves as vapor and never returns to the liquid supply. Evaporative cooling is the most energy-efficient heat removal method but the thirstiest; air-cooled systems save water but cost electricity; direct liquid and immersion cooling can cut both.
Fire ants are one of the most dangerous invaders Australia has faced. They deliver painful, sometimes life-threatening stings, swarm pets and livestock, damage crops and infrastructure, and can devastate native wildlife. Left unchecked, they could reshape the way we live outdoors — from backyards to sporting fields to farms.
For the first time in decades, Australia is gaining ground in the fight against fire ants. However, the current national funding agreement is due to expire in 2027. This is exactly the moment governments can't afford to slow down. If they hesitate or cut corners again, we could lose the momentum we've fought so hard to build. Now, we're finally clawing back ground — and governments must provide the long-term funding needed to finish the job.
The Invasive Species Council is calling on the Commonwealth and every state and territory government to fund the next crucial phase of eradication to finish the job. We've come too far — and invested too much — to stop just as we're beginning to win.
