Significant Dot: The 1769 transit of Venus - a tale of astronomy, medicine and empire

This article places the 6 June 2012 transit of Venus in the context of James Cook’s voyage from England to the South Pacific to observe the 1769 transit of Venus. A description is given on how to use a computer program called Stellarium to ‘observe’ the 1769 transit of Venus exactly as Cook saw it from the island of Tahiti in the South Pacific

Universalising and Spiritualising Christ\u27s Gospel: How Early Quakers Interpreted the Epistle to the Colossians

This article examines seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Quaker methods of biblical interpretation, comparing them to Puritan and Spiritualist methods. The focus is on verses from the Pauline epistle to the Colossians frequently cited by early Quakers. In contrast to John Calvin and four seventeenth-century Puritan Biblical commentators, but similar to seventeenth-century Spiritualists such as William Erbery, Quakers argued strongly for a form of mystical universalism closely akin to Arminianism in their interpretation of this epistle. Quakers (especially John Woolman) resembled medieval Catholics in their willingness to interpret Col. 1.24 to assert that Christ\u27s \u27mystical\u27 body, which could include contempora1y Christians, was somehow involved in the redemption of humanity. Early Quakers tended to reserve the eschatological promise of the \u27hope of glory\u27 in Col. 1.27 for those who had fully experienced redemption, or \u27convincement\u27. Quakers and Puritans resembled each other in their arguments for a spiritualist interpretation of Col. 2.14-17, and both, somewhat inconsistently, tempered spiritualist principles with pragmatic acceptance of certain outward ecclesiastical practices in their attempts to preserve church order

Description of the Fifth Instar of \u3ci\u3eApache Degeerii\u3c/i\u3e (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea: Derbidae)

(excerpt) Apache degeerii (Kirby) ranges from Maine south to Florida and west to Iowa and Texas; it has also been recorded from British Columbia and Washington (Metcalf 1945. Wilson and McPherson 1980). This derbid has been recorded from oak, beech, maple, and hickory (Swezey 19(4); otherwise no information on its biology is available

A Survey of the Aquatic Macrobenthos of Waller Creek

This report characterizes the mouth of Waller Creek, while also providing the results of a 10 month research period focusing on macrobenthic life. 876 individuals were collected, and details regarding their collection are included inside the report.Waller Creek Working Grou

The Changing Dimensions of Japanese Security Issues

Presentation on post-Cold War security issues and international relations in Japan. Delivered to the Japan Industry and Management of Technology Program (JIMT) at The University of Texas at Austin on August 11, 1999.IC2 Institut

Description of the Fifth Instar of \u3ci\u3eEpiptera Opaca\u3c/i\u3e (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea: Achilidae)

(excerpt) Epiptera opaca (Say) ranges from Quebec south to Georgia and west to Ontario and Mississippi; it has also been recorded from British Columbia (Beirne 1950, Wilson and McPherson 1980). This achilid has been associated with pines (Hepburn 1967); otherwise no information on the biology of this species is available. Based on observations of E. fusca (Walker), Hepburn (1967) noted that the immature stages of all species of Epiptera probably live beneath the loose bark of dead trees, presumably feeding on fungal hyphae

A new kind of first year physics prac

In 2008 the first year units of the restructured SC01 applied science program were introduced. One of these new units is SCB110 Science Concepts and Global Systems, which covers a very broad range of subjects such as the history of philosophy, geology, physics, climate change etc. A practical exercise to compliment the physics component of the course was required. The purpose of this practical assignment was to introduce students to some fundamental aspects of experimental science that included topics such as hypothesis testing, statistics, experimental error, referencing, visual display of results etc. Due to logistical problems of providing a single hands-on physics experiment for approximately 250 students, an activity was devised which involved students viewing a 14-minute video of an experiment to measure the speed of light in two blocks of glass using a laser beam. The video was placed on Blackboard in Podcast and QuickTime formats and a DVD was placed in the Gardens Point and Carseldine libraries. Students were given a document (via Blackboard) which included data collected from the experiment shown in the video and instructions on how to analyse the data and write a short scientific report with a 200-word abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion and reference sections. The document also included a photograph and diagram of the experimental set-up for students to include in their reports. Students were required to work in teams of two or three although an allowance was made for students who couldn’t manage to find a partner or who were intent on writing the report on their own. A survey was included in the document on Blackboard. Of the 242 enrolled students, 191 (78.3%) performed the prac and 112 (58.6%) of these students responded to the survey. The survey results are presented in this poster