Science & Mathematics

While Christian communities had no problem engaging positively with the sciences of astronomy, physics and chemistry, they had difficulty engaging with the emerging geology and biology of the 19^th century. The ancient earth and evolutionary models of geology and biology respectively were seen as a direct attack on the biblical Genesis model of a young earth and a creation that took place over the period of a week. Some Christian apologists used Baconianism and the Scottish Common Sense philosophy to suggest that geology was not a real science. Geology was characterised as consisting of wild speculation, hypotheses and theories and lacking in solid factual evidence. In both Britain and North America Christian respondents to the new geology were classified as harmonizing geologists or scriptural geologists. This paper considers the nature of these respondents, their philosophical positions, and how these positions took form in the succeeding centuries in terms of different cognitive geological styles. The implications for the science education and science in society context will be discussed.

Coal seam gas (CSG) extraction is set for expansion in New South Wales. However, controversy accompanies its introduction in that the present law grants miners access to private lands for the purposes of exploration and production. The NSW Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991 regulates compensation for land access, and a number of questions have been raised about the adequacy of its compensation provisions. Additionally, compensation for coal seam gas poses a challenge for the valuation profession in that valuation theory has yet to be developed in this emerging sphere of practice. This paper compares the legal and physical impacts of coal seam gas infrastructure on private lands with the current provisions of the NSW Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991 and questions if the present compensation provisions match the injury inflicted upon the holders of private land by coal seam gas occupation. The paper reviews the NSW legislation and case law relating to coal seam gas acquisition to identify the legal affects, whilst field observation and remote sensing techniques identify physical effects. The physical effects are then categorised according to the heads of compensation that apply to the compulsory taking of parts of property in Australia. A comparative analysis determines if all of the various “harms” that result from coal seam gas occupation are compensable under the current law. The research indicates that “severance” and “injurious affection” are key issues for landholder compensation where CSG plant occupies parts of land; however, the right to claim for “injurious affection” is unclear in the present legislation.

Different levels of damage and repair to eu- and heterochromatic DNA from the livers of rats receiving a dose of 10 mg/kg N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) were apparent. Preincorporated ³H~thymidine was lost rapidly from euchromatic DNA but persisted in the heterochromatic fraction. Persistent damage, determined as single-stranded regions binding 10 benzoylated DEAE-cellulose (BD-cellulose), was evident in heterochromatic DNA for up to three months. By subjecting rats treated with NDMA to partial hepatectomy, generation of single-stranded regions in the newly synthesized heterochromatic DNA could be demonstrated. Such structural defects were evident when hepatectomy was performed two months after administration of the carcinogen. These findings indicate that structural damage to non-transcribed DNA is one of the most persistent molecular lesions following exposure to nitrosamines.

According to Lavoisier the physical sciences embody three important ingredients; facts, ideas, and language. Ideas had to be consistent with the facts generated from experiment and observation, and language needed to be precise and reflect the known chemistry of substances. Lavoisier had no time for what he termed theoretical speculation about the fundamental nature of matter and avoided the use of the atomic hypothesis or Aristotle’s elements in his Elements of Chemistry. In the preface to this famous work he claims he has good educational reasons for this position. This paper examines the extent to which Lavoisier kept to this agenda in his famous experiment on the composition of air and the implications of this for chemistry education are considered.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the pre- and intra-event nutritional practices of participants in the City to Surf community run (14 km) match the guidelines provided on the website.

This chapter tracks the fascinating and unexpected changes of fortune which have attended the scientific notion of uniformitarianism since its emergence in the early nineteenth century at the hands of geologists such as Sir Charles Lyell. The key role played in this narrative by Price is noted and the changing manner in which this story has been told by Adventist and other recent creationist authors is described.

The important Flood concepts enunciated by Ellen White in Spiritual Gifts III and other publications/articles, together with those presented by other nineteenth-century Adventist pioneers such as Uriah Smith and Alonzo Jones are reviewed. The sources from which these ideas may have been derived are also explored. It is noted that most, if not all, the extra-biblical material can be found in works, often by then somewhat discredited, leading up to the period.

George McCready Price was the major Seventh-day Adventist spokesperson on matters of geology and the Flood for about the first sixty years of the 20^th century. While some of his pronouncements on geology were changed by later more experienced and qualified Adventist scientists, the dominant Adventist position is still committed to the literal historical understanding of the Genesis text and the global extent of the Genesis Flood. Some within Adventism have found this position to be untenable given their understanding of the biblical text and scientific evidence. A constructive open dialogue between these divergent opinions should be encouraged if the church is to fulfil its broader mission of offering both information and authority to a world in need.

This paper discusses the creation perspective on economics, ecology and the environment and looks at the problems of species extinction, habitat destruction, land degradation, and pollution of the waters and the atmosphere.

Coal seam gas (CSG) extraction is expanding in eastern Australia. However, while the body of knowledge relating to compensation for partial taking is well established, the theory concerning the valuation of landholder compensation for occupation by CSG infrastructure is in an embryonic stage. In order to further the development of theory in this important area, this research investigates the harms that are inflicted upon landholders and their property by CSG occupation. As indicated in the Queensland mining case of Peabody West Burton Pty Ltd & Ors v Mason & Ors [2012] QLC 23, the assessment of compensation begins by enquiring as to the acts or events that occasion loss.

In order to identify and assess the relevance of harms that may be inflicted upon landholders, this introductory research analyses key judgments relating to compensation for CSG and mining projects and takes advantage of the material created by the 2011, NSW and Australian Senate inquiries into matters related to CSG.

Some aspects of CSG occupation are unusual. In land affected by CSG works, the property occupied is handed back to the landholder at the cessation of extraction: moreover, the actual term of occupation is difficult to determine at the outset of occupation. The research concludes that the harms inflicted by CSG occupation depend upon the interaction of the CSG project with the property occupied, its uses and its topography. Importantly, the “harms” caused by the occupation by part of land can extend outside the land occupied by the CSG work. The potential loss in value to “balance lands”, disturbance costs and potential for longer term blight are issues that need close consideration in assessing compensation.