WOMADelaide today released the full list of speakers for the 2015 Planet Talks sessions; a line-up of 16 inspirational and stimulating speakers who will converge on Speakers Corner, in Adelaide’s Botanic Park, to discuss a range of topics about our sustainable relationship with the Planet over the WOMADelaide weekend, March 6 – 9.Presented by the University of South Australia, the 2015 Planet Talks will bring three of the world’s greatest environmental thinkers, communicators and activists to WOMADelaide in living legend Marine Scientist Sylvia Earle, seed democracy activist Vandana Shiva and renowned US environmental communicator Simran Sethi, to speak alongside an impressive list of Australian speakers.
Through her exhaustive efforts over six decades exploring and protecting the world’s marine environment, Sylvia Earle is one of the world’s greatest living eco-legends. The famed oceanographer is Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society, Founder of Mission Blue/Sylvia Earle Alliance, Founder of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research and has been leader of more than 100 expeditions, with 7000 hours underwater.
While internationally celebrated writer, activist, philosopher and 2010 Sydney Peace Prize winner, Vandana Shiva has been hailed around the globe as an environmental hero for her work in the area of sustainable land management, biodiversity and seed democracy.
Named one of the planet’s top ten eco-heroes by the UK’s Independent, and lauded as an environmental messenger by Vanity Fair, Simran Sethi is a journalist and educator focused on environmentalism, sustainability and social change.
University of South Australia Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd said this year’s Planet Talks would explore a range of ideas and topics that deal with our sustainable relationship to the planet.
“UniSA is particularly proud to present the Planet Talks because the series provides an opportunity to explore some of the pressing issues of our time,” he said.“Sylvia Earle, Vandana Shiva and Simran Sethi have all made major global contributions in changing the way the people, governments and corporations think, act and create a sustainable future for the planet and we are honoured to have them as part of the Planet Talks program.”
Hosted by renowned ABC Science Broadcasters Robyn Williams and Bernie Hobbs, the Planet Talks will present six panel discussion sessions exploring a range of topics over three days of the WOMADelaide festival.
Joining Sylvia Earle, Vandana Shiva and Simran Sethi on the 2015 Planet Talks program is:
- Former leader of the Australian Greens, Bob Brown
- Australian TV presenter and producer Andrew Denton
- RiAUS Director, educator, ABC TV science journalist and Paleaontologist Paul Willis
- Australian comedy legend, Rod Quantock
- Former Australian institute of Marine Biology Chief Scientist and author of 13 books and 100 scientific papers on reefs and coral, Dr Charlie Veron
- UniSA sustainable science, population geography and ecological economics expert Prof Paul Sutton
- 2003 Australian of the Year, epidemiologist and founding director of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Prof Fiona Stanley
- Environmental scientist, Antarctic adventurer and author, Tim Jarvis
- Founding member of award winning SA based climate body EPICCA, Cecilia Woolford
- Australian comedian and ABC TV presenter, Hannah Gadsby
- UniSA PhD researcher, Science in the Pub founder and 2014 Three Minute Thesis winner, Emily Johnston
- University of Adelaide Professor of Marine Biology and deputy director of the Environment Institute, Prof Bronwyn Gillanders
- Adelaide University food futures expert Peter Langridge
The Planet Talks are generously supported by David & Claire Paradice and presented by the University of South Australia.
The full Planet Talks session topics, panels and times will be released in early 2015
WOMADelaide will be held from 6-9 March 2015 in Adelaide’s Botanic Park. For tickets and more information go to www.womadelaide.com.au
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