As the year draws to a close, I wish each of you a happy and safe holiday and all the best for the New Year. 

2010 has been declared the International Year of Biodiversity by the United Nations.  It is to be “a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives”.  We are invited to “take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity”.  I look forward to learning with you more about the variety of life on this planet, and seeing the action taken by individuals, local communities, and nations to protect it and the environment on which we all depend.

Although it is summer and snow is the last thing on our minds here in Australia, I thought I would share this photo with you of my recent trip to China.  It has been reported that the snow was brought about by cloud seeding, and represented one of the earliest snowfalls in Beijing in many years.  The snow certainly transformed the Olympic city over night.

Professor Sackett in Beijing following one of the earliest snowfalls in many years.

May you enjoy the last few days of 2009 with friends and family.  I look forward to chatting about science with you in the New Year.