• A Charles Sturt Professor in Veterinary Parasitology will deliver a free public lecture on Australia’s parasite predicaments
• The lecture will be held at the Riverina Playhouse, Wagga Wagga, on Wednesday 28 February
• The presentation forms part of the Charles Sturt Provocations Public Lecture Series

A Charles Sturt University researcher’s free public lecture will delve into the origins and implications of Australia’s growing parasitic predicaments.

Professor in Veterinary Parasitology in the Charles Sturt School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences Shokoofeh Shamsi (pictured, inset) will deliver a presentation titled ‘Parasites, Australia’s silent threat - Coincidence, nature’s hand, or policy complacency?’ on Wednesday 28 February.

The presentation forms part of the Provocations Public Lecture Series, in which Professor Shamsi will lead the discussion on Australia’s surge of parasitic incidents making news headlines and why action is needed.

“We’ve seen headlines such as ‘Australia gives up the fight against eradication of bee mites’, ‘Oyster farms are under siege from deadly parasites’, and ‘Native fish fall victim to gut-burrowing invaders’, just to name a few,” Professor Shamsi said.

“The country’s unique native wildlife is also facing the deadly threat of cat-borne parasites and perhaps most shockingly, a python worm was recently extracted from a human brain.

“Despite this growing wave of parasitic challenges, Australia’s tendency to downplay their significance is surprising.”

Professor Shamsi’s free lecture will explore the heart of this issue and consider the possible human factors contributing to the spread of parasites.

“We need to be considering if these occurrences are mere coincidences, driven by forces of Mother Nature or whether they serve as a stark reminder of complacency within the policymaking domain,” she said.

“Regardless of the causes of Australia’s ongoing struggle with parasites, there is an urgent need to address this silent threat.”

The audience will have the chance to ask questions as part of a facilitated 30-minute Q&A session, as well as a reception and drinks to follow the lecture.

Charles Sturt University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Mark Evans said the lecture series is evidence of the University’s commitment to achieving research excellence and fostering impactful partnerships.

“Our research at Charles Sturt consistently delivers tangible benefits for local communities, industry, government, and businesses, driven by a genuine passion for creating meaningful change.

“The University’s research initiatives aim to have a positive impact on a regional, national and global scale through our dedication to contributing to the sustainability and well-being of the communities we serve.”

The event will be held at the Riverina Playhouse in Wagga Wagga from 6pm to 8pm on Tuesday 28 February. Tickets are available for free online though Humanitix.

The Provocations Public Lectures Series showcases Charles Sturt research with the aim of presenting new ways of thinking and investigating how concepts from the past can merge with those of today.

ENDS