Audiences at the Wellington and Auckland events in recent weeks have made the most of their opportunity to grill Otago academics on the topics of the future of work and the dominance of our largest city.
Perhaps they have taken a leaf out of the book of master of ceremonies Joe Bennett, who has certainly not been reticent when given a chance to question more deeply what the academics were saying.
The Queenstown symposium, on Tuesday 8 August, promises to be just as edgy. Panellists Associate Professor Brent Lovelock (Tourism), Dr Sarah Mager (Department of Geography), Dr Marc Schallenberg (Zoology) and Associate Professor Nicola Wheen (Faculty of Law) will be discussing the topic “There’s something in the water”, an entirely appropriate subject for a tourist hub whose future is inextricably linked with the state of the alpine lakes it sits among.
This final symposium is expected to address a wide range of issues, including water quality, lake snot, the degradation of the alpine lakes, the over-dairying of the South Island, how to balance growing the economy while also protecting the environment, tourism pressures and whether international tourists should be levied on arrival to help pay for conservation work and visitor infrastructure.
With just weeks now until the general election, the symposium has been designed to appeal to anyone interested in the future of New Zealand and those who want a better idea of some of the real issues facing the country.
Symposium organisers deliberately picked controversial topics to ensure lively debate from panel members and equally lively questioning from the audience. In Wellington and Auckland, attendees left with some important messages and ideas to mull over between now and the election.
The university’s inaugural Winter Symposium, entitled “Why Should You Care?”, is being run in association with the Otago Daily Times and in Queenstown is also supported by the Catalyst Trust.
For many years the university ran its successful Winter Lecture Series around the country, which gave academics a chance to share their research work and results.
The revamped format, however, allows a wider range of university experts to discuss and consider issues in their specialist fields during the three events.
The feedback on the events in Auckland and at Parliament has been overwhelmingly positive. And Joe Bennett’s quick wit and ability to keep the event moving and on track will again be a drawcard in Queenstown.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, Professor Richard Blaikie, will be the host of this last symposium, which should provide much food for thought over the future of our supposedly clean and green image.
Queenstown – Tuesday 8 August 2017
Something in the water – water quality, tourism and the economy vs the environment
Start: 7:00pm
Venue: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakefront, Conference Room 1
Please email wintersymposium@otago.ac.nz with the following code: QN Winter Symposium, to show your interest.
