Cooloola Coastcare
See the Events Calendar
Location of our events is usually the Rainbow Beach Community Hall
The goal of 'Science in the Hall/Pub/Cafe, Afield and Afloat' is to promote understanding of and enthusiasm for science in the general public. This is achieved by getting scientists and the public to interact in a relaxed, social
atmosphere in a community hall, pub or cafe or outdoors in the field or on the water.
Science in the Hall/Pub/Cafe
Scientists conduct a presentation, panel, demonstration or performance in the hall/pub/cafe. If in the pub or cafe, it is usually conducted the main bar/lounge/eating area not a separate function room.
The public are invited to participate and ask questions.
Topics are debated and knowledge is shared.
Science in the Pub is usually pitched at adults but can include the whole family. Science in the Hall or Cafe is pitched at families.
Science in the Hall is also a part of the Cooloola BioBlitz annually.
Science Afield
Field trips and outdoor presentations provide opportunities for education about the environment in situ.
Dr Hilary Pearl
Heathlands
Sam Mitchell & Xadia Kirby
March 2024
in Cooloola 2024
Eva Ford
Field Trip
Frederik Leck Fischer
2023
Dion Dior
Nature Journaling Introduction
Dion Dior
Nature Journaling in the Field
Dr Sandra Tuszynska
Soil Microbes
Randy Orwin & Michelle Neil
Using iNaturalist
Professor Don Sands
Insect Interactions
Randy Orwin
Rainbow Beach Marine Turtles
Greg Muller
Mysteries of the Cherry Ballart
Joel Fostin
Pandanus Problems
Don and Lesley Bradley
Queensland Wader Study Group
As part of the 2019 Cooloola Bioblitz, there were 2 evenings of public presentations by scientists attending the BioBlitz.
Prof Geoff Monteith, curator of major insect collections at the University of Queensland for 16 years and at the Queensland Museum for nearly 30 years, told the story of the discovery of the new order of insects that began with the Cooloola Monster.
All aboard! Portrait of an Environmental Activist
Ian (Longnose) Morris paid tribute to the late Dr John Sinclair AO (1939 - 1919) environmentalist and activist who created the Fraser Island Defenders Organisation (FIDO).
Woman of the Wallum
Fiona Hawthorne paid tribute to the late Maree Prior (1960 - 2019), ecologist, conservationist, diver, botanical artist and previous Coordinator for Cooloola Coastcare.
As part of the 2019 Cooloola Bioblitz, there were 2 evenings of public presentations by scientists attending the BioBlitz.
Robert Whyte, spider expert, delights the audience with tales of the 37 spider discoveries of the 2018 BioBlitz
As part of the 2019 Cooloola Bioblitz, there were 2 evenings of public presentations by scientists attending the BioBlitz.
Dr Don Sands and Andy Young, from Kangaroo Island in South Australia, a Helozelid moth expert spoke about the complex interactions between insects and their host plants.
Speaker, Andy Young also ran a workshop on pinning the tiny Helozelid moths (pictured below with a pencil for scale).
Brian Stockwell
Water Sensitive Urban Design or
"How to do drains better so we can catch more fish"
a world leader in the family of tiny moths called Heliozelidae. A new species was discovered in the 2018 Cooloola BioBlitz.
Technical Officer at Queensland Herbarium, Department of Environment and Science
The importance of preparing proper botanical specimens and field documentation for herbarium deposit.
Professor Susanne Schmidt
University of Queensland
School of Agriculture and Food Sciences
Cooloola’s Soil Ecosystems - The interface of plants and Microbes
Robert Whyte
Spiders of Cooloola
Dr Don Sands OAM
CSIRO (Retired) Honorary Research Fellow
Insect Interactions and Wildlife Conservation
Wildflower Walks
Wildflower Walks
Wildflower Walks
Wildflower Walks