Tertiary Catalogue

Photosynthesis supplies all oxygen for life, and it began in the sea. Amazingly, it all relies on one basic kind of chemical reaction that was achieved over two billion years ago by cyanobacteria, and cyanobacteria living as endosymbionts in plants and phytoplankton still produce almost all our oxygen. This programme tells the story of the cyanobacteria, how they changed our planet and are involved in supporting its many life forms. We look at the four major groups that photosynthesise in the sea: cyanobacteria, eucaryote phytoplankton (microalgae), seaweeds (macroalgae), and seagrasses. These groups are responsible for supplying around half the oxygen we breathe—so in terms of understanding the processes that keep us alive, this is a very important story. Show Less

We often ask ourselves, how can I contribute to a more sustainable society? What’s the best thing I can be doing? Eat, Grow, Love travels across the globe to find that permaculture could well hold some of the answers. Six individuals living in very different climates each prove that designing systems that use permaculture principles really can be a solution. Show Less

Objective: To learn about how changes in the pH affect plants and animals. Learning outcomes - students will be able to: 1. Identify the changes in the pH value of soil and its effect on the plants. 2. Recognise the changes in the pH value of soil, caused by acid rain, and the effects of this change. Show Less

Australia is the driest inhabited continent on the planet. Drought in many parts of this nation is a fact of life. At just about any point in time, somewhere in Australia will be experiencing drought. It poses challenges to many areas of society and the economy, particularly the agricultural sector. This program looks at drought in Australia. Featuring interviews with environmental scientist Dr Terry Walshe, together with vegetable farmer Peter Schreur and Mildura-based farmers Bob McCarthy and Neil Bennett, it explores the nature of drought in Australia, the climatic causes of drought, the environmental, social and economic effects of drought and strategies to manage drought. This is an excellent resource for middle to senior level students of Geography, Environmental and Agricultural Sciences. It is an interesting and informative resource for students of Geography and environmental studies. Show Less

Join us on a whirlwind tour of Australia's diverse natural and man-made environments. We kick off with the Great Dividing Range's impact on rainfall and human habitation, and then dive into the Great Barrier Reef, revealing the impact of global warming on this fragile ecosystem. Next we explore the indigenous connection with Kakadu National Park and Uluru, before examining the significance of the Murray-Darling Basin as Australia's food bowl. We conclude with the gradual erosion of the Twelve Apostles and two of Australia's most significant urban environments - Canberra, the nation's capital, and Sydney, the international face of Australia. Show Less

This program presents 4 case studies of sustainable agriculture: - Whole form planning: inputs, outputs, erosion control, soil management, tree planting, water management, and salinity control. - Landcare: Communities banding together. - Permaculture. - Inner city gardens. Show Less