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Abstract

The Royal Society of Queensland has an honourable history as the senior scientific institution in the state. It was established in 1884, with royal patronage continuing unbroken from 1885. Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young PSM, Governor of Queensland, is the present Patron.The Society seeks to increase respect for intellectual enquiry. It encourages original research and the application of evidence-based methods to policy development and decision making. The Society provides a forum for scientists and lay people to involve themselves in the progress of science in society, with 'science' defined broadly. As a non-partisan, secular, learned group, the Society is committed to the Enlightenment tradition of curiosity-led, knowledge-based enquiry that arguably was born with the Royal Society in London in 1660.The centrepiece activity of the Society is the production of the annual scientific journal Proceedings of The Royal Society of Queensland, supplemented from time to time with Special Issues on specific themes. Proceedings of The Royal Society of QueenslandThe Proceedings publishes original scholarship and investigation in natural history relevant to Queensland, including the biodiversity, conservation, use, management and economic significance of natural resources. All aspects of the natural sciences, including astronomy, geology, hydrology, botany and zoology, biomedicine, introduced species and dynamic land and water processes, are considered. The journal will also publish papers on general science, including science-related history, policy, education and philosophy. Papers written from within the social sciences, such as sociology, culture and heritage that deal with the use or management of a natural resource, are welcome.