University of Melbourne Events Calendar

Episode 2: Strengthening multiculturalism in a time of conflict.

The second in a new series by the University of Melbourne to encourage informed respectful discussion around the critical issues of our times.

Please join us in person or online where a panel of experts will have an informed and considered discussion around the critical issues of our times.

Australia’s modern history of multiculturalism, especially after the Second World War, has been held up as one of the success stories of Australia’s democracy but in recent times it appears to be under significant strain.

What can we do to repair and resume the previous cordial relations and cultural and religious exchanges? What are we going to do about the significant increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia?

Hosted by broadcaster and Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow Jon Faine the series will invite experts in their fields across a range of areas to discuss the important global issues facing our society.

The 2024 School of Chemistry Public Lecture

Modern farming practices require nitrogen fertilisers, and their use is projected to increase by 70-100% by 2050. Unfortunately, approximately 50% of nitrogen fertilisers applied to agricultural systems is lost into the environment. These losses are not only expensive for farmers and consumers but, more importantly, the environmental impact is substantial: ammonia in nitrogen fertilisers is a precursor for particulate matter (PM2.5), while nitrate leaching causes excessive surface water eutrophication and groundwater pollution. Microbial processes also play a role, converting nitrogen fertiliser into gases including nitrous oxide, which has 300 times higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide. Thus, to lower the greenhouse gas footprint of agriculture, reduction of nitrogen losses has become an important goal. This seminar will present a selection of strategies to improve nitrogen management in soils to increase agriculture’s sustainability.