Otways Ecological Research Forum
All science needs to be collaborative. But in ecology, we take our lead from the ecosystems we study, where all components of the natural environment are interlinked and contribute to each other’s survival.
Ecological research and conservation science are key to mitigating the biodiversity crisis that Australia is currently facing, and we’ll only do it by taking the whole community with us.
Our landscapes need Traditional Owners and biocultural knowledge-holders, our scientists and research communicators, public land managers and agencies, private land stewards, and community biophiles to be working together like never before.To do this, we need timely, accessible, and generous sharing of information. In the Otways, we’ve devised the perfect place to bring all the eco-activity together to be digested, discussed and celebrated. It’s the Otways Ecological Research Forum.
Date: 13 August 2024, 9am – 5pm
Venue: Colac Performing Arts & Cultural Centre, 95-97 Gellibrand Street, Colac VIC 3250
Street parking available and V-Line trains travel to Colac from Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Warrnambool.
Registration: Book here
The Otways Ecological Research Forum was established in 2016 by the Conservation Ecology Centre, who were frustrated by the barriers to freely sharing ideas, energy and resources. Since then, it has grown considerably because it provides a unique scientific collaboration and communication opportunity for individuals who share the same passion for a landscape.
If you research fauna, flora or whole ecosystems of the Otways, if you’re a Traditional Owner with biocultural understandings of Western Vic landscapes, if your government agency manages Otways landscapes, if you’re a private landholder interested in land stewardship, or community member dedicated to assisting or championing local environmental causes, this event is for you!
In 2024, we’re pleased to pair with National Science Week to reach further into the community and highlight this model of landscape-scale generosity and connection to the rest of the country. Please feel welcome to join us for this year’s Otways Ecological Research Forum, where you’ll learn about all the fascinating, brave, and wind-swept science that is being undertaken in and around the Otway Ranges for the benefit of our extraordinary wildlife and landscapes.
This is a whole community event, please join us.
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL, book your ticket here.
The Forum is a free event, but in 2024 we’ve decided that enabling a whole audience networking lunch is important. Your ticket price of $28.50 allows our non-profit organisation to bring a caterer to the COPACC foyer for this convenience. Please specify your dietary requirements when booking your ticket.
The 2024 Otways Ecological Research Forum is supported by the Australian Government as part of National Science Week, Beacon Ecological, Cassinia Environmental, Wildlife Wonders, and the Colac-Otway Shire.
If you can’t make the event in-person, don’t worry! We’ll be recording all the presentations and making them available for you to view at your leisure on our YouTube channel.
View past presentations of the Otways Ecological Research Forum (OERF):