This week’s spotlight falls on a climate change research highlight, examinations of organised crime and an array of Adelaide Fringe performances featuring notable Flinders actors, creatives – and alumni.
Study identified as Nature Climate Change research highlight
The work of Flinders University researchers on adaptation to future climate was the Research Highlight of January 2021 in Nature Climate Change, the world’s leading journal in climate change science. The research found that climate change is exposing organisms to physical conditions outside of their expected or even tolerated range, and the journal article includes an interview with Professor Luciano Beheregaray, Research Section Leader of Ecology, Evolution and Environment. The story links to the study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, that investigated the gene expression response of freshwater fish species to upper thermal stress (that is, extreme warm temperatures). In particular, the Flinders researchers sought to better understand how this plasticity might relate to the evolutionary climate context of each species.
Examining organised crime through the lens of networks
Professor David Bright has a new book published by Routledge – Organised Crime and Law Enforcement: A Network Perspective, co-authored with Chad Whelan – which examines organised crime and law enforcement through the conceptual lens of networks. The book takes stock of the many ways in which network theories and concepts, including social network analysis, can apply to studying both organised crime and law enforcement responses to organised crime. It is the first attempt to bring these diverse network perspectives and distinct fields of research together, and Professor Bright will be presenting a talk about this recent work at a Criminology Research event on March 1. Bookings to attend can been made online through Eventbrite.
Compelling new theatre from Flinders cast and creatives
Featuring cast and creatives from Flinders University, a double bill of two new South Australian plays during the Adelaide Fringe will explore love, secrets, and the tragic consequences of avoiding our past.
The pair of one-act plays – Strata, by Peter Beaglehole (winner of the 2016 State Theatre Company of South Australia Young Playwright’s Award), and Forgiveness, by Piri Eddy (winner of the 2020 Jill Blewett Playwright’s Award) – are being presented together in one thrilling night of theatre at the Rumpus venue, at 100 Sixth St Bowden, until February 21.
Muscular and challenging, these entertaining new perspectives on contemporary Australia examine relationships between people and the land we live on. With directors Tiffany Lyndall-Knight, Anthony Nicola and Green Room award winning designer Meg Wilson, Strata and Forgiveness are powerful new works of South Australian theatre. Tickets are now on sale via the FringeTix website.
Goers treads the boards again
Flinders Alumni Award recipient Peter Goers – also an ABC Radio Adelaide host and Adelaide Arts raconteur extraordinaire – is set to tread the boards again in the Adelaide Fringe, presenting his new show Joyful Strains at Holden Street Theatres, Hindmarsh, between February 20 and March 21. Goers has announced this as his sixth Fringe outing laden with gags, yarns and pathos, designed particularly for old people, with special guests joining him on stage, “and really good free parking”. Tickets for the nine shows – all being staged at the friendly afternoon time of 4.45pm – can be made online at holdenstreettheatres.com or by phoning 8225 8888.
Goers is also having a new book released in April 2021 of his collected writing from reviews and newspaper columns – Maddening, self-indulgent Crap: Words by Peter Goers, published by Wakefield Press.