Gippsland ADAPT Climate Adaptation Symposium

Climate Adaptation Symposium

DATE: 16th and 17th of November, 2020
TIME: 9:30am – 12:30pm both days
Lunch is provided and will be delivered to participating schools.

The Gippsland ADAPT Climate Adaptation Symposium will bring together classes of students to learn about how farmers and other agricultural businesses in the region are adapting to climate change.

The interactive, virtual symposium will be run over two days and will give students the opportunity to learn directly from food and fibre producers about the challenges they face due to climate change and how they are adapting their business.

A free lunch will be included on both days for participating classes.

Symposium program

Monday 16th of November 2020

Time	Session
9:30	Introduction and housekeeping – facilitated by CQUniversity
9:35 – 10:00	‘What is climate change adaptation and why does it matter?’ Presenter: TBC
10:00 – 10:30	‘Understanding climate change and its impact in Gippsland’ Presenter: Graeme Anderson, Agriculture Victoria/Climate Kelpie
10:30 – 11:00	Interactive activity
11:00	Morning tea break (food supplied)
11:15 – 11:45	‘How are farmers adapting to climate change in Gippsland?’ Presenters: Trevor Caithness (grain farmer) and Adam Schruers (vegetable farmer)
11:45 – 12:00	Interactive activity
12:00 – 12:30	Day 1 summary session – facilitated by CQUniversity

Tuesday 17th of November 2020

Time	Session
9:30	Introduction and housekeeping – facilitated by CQUniversity
9:35- 10:00	‘Calculating the personal cost of climate change’ Presenter: Simon Johnston – EcoSave
10:00- 10:30	Interactive activity
10:30	Morning tea break (food supplied)
11:00 – 11:30	‘Designing a tool to help farmers adapt to climate change’ Presenter: Dr Maarten Stapper, BioLogic AgFood
11:30 – 12:00	’Why hot cows aren’t happy cows’ Presenter: Dr. Pablo Alvarez Hess, Agriculture Victoria Research Scientist (Dairy)
12:00 – 12:30	Symposium summary session – facilitated by CQUniversity

Keynote speaker

Graeme Anderson, Climate Specialist – Agriculture Victoria

Graeme is an experienced science communicator and extension leader within Victoria’s agriculture sector. He leads a small team who deliver climate risk services (The Break & Soil Moisture Monitor updates, Climate webinars, ClimateDog animations, customised presentations for 140 events/year) which assist farmers and advisors in making sense of emerging issues and how to adapt their local farm systems.

He has a 30 year background in science and policy communication, practice change & adoption, farm planning, catchment, salinity & vegetation management, agriculture industry development, land use change and climate/carbon issues affecting agriculture.