The scent of wattle in the air, the sunrise before 7 am, the slow hibernation of winter fog – yes, spring is upon us. At the other end of the 21st century, spring-time in the capital was an awkward transition between the now-fabled snow season and the beach-going pleasures of tolerably hot summers. We have known for years now that spring ceased to be this transient go-between, and has become the window of opportunity for anyone seeking a dose of nature, authentic or otherwise, in our great republic. Whether you have an unquenchable thirst for the latest VR technology or yearn for something other than the urban syth-gardens, are searching for an internship in water farming or seeking something slightly more unlaxing, read on. We have you covered.
The Impending Graduate
Now is the ideal moment to join the post-industrial farming movement. Following the environmental fallout from industrial agricultural, the shift to techno-agriculture has been heralded as a boon for world food and nutrition quotas. Techno-ag circumvents soil degradation and produces fortified GE hyperponics 4 times faster than millennial-generation methods. Similarly, water harvesting has become a significant industry since the drought cycle emerged. Industry leaders in the post-industrial farming movement, including The Hyperponics Enterprise and Tasmin Rainwater Inc., offer a range of opportunities to final-year students and recent graduates. Contact ANU Careers for more information.
The Intellectual
For the techno-enthusiasts among us, Ersatz Pty Ltd – industry leaders in virtual reality hard-and-soft-ware – are unveiling their latest computerised garden interface, CGI (the Canberra Botanic Experience), on the eastern base of Black Mountain at the edge of ANU campus. The creative force behind similar instalments around the world, Ersatz has reinhabited the former National Botanic Gardens with their interactive VR technology. The CGI allows visitors to experience the National Botanic Gardens as they were 80 years ago. Augmented with tactile synth-gardens, the Canberra Botanic Experience offers a tantalising cocktail of quasi-nature and technology.
Discounted tickets are available for the grand opening on the first day of spring: 15 credits (12 credits with student-concession status).
[clear-line]
The Changing Seasons exhibition also opens this month. A collaboration between the ANU School of Art and the National Gallery of Australia, the exhibition is ANU’s latest instalment in a series of celebrations for this year’s sesquicentenary. Both institutions have plundered their archives to assemble a vibrant collection of vintage digi-pics, capturing the evolution of Australia’s landscape. From the First Great Drought (formerly known as the Millennium Drought) to the more recent flooding of the airports at Sydney and Brisbane, the exhibition is stunning, shocking, and perfectly thought-provoking.
Opening night: September 19, with the exhibition running till the end of October. Tickets may be purchased through the School of Art interface.
The Thrill Seeker
If your spirit yearns for something more active and authentic, experience the real thing before the summer climate quarantines kick in. Those looking to escape to the coast for an adventure could scuba at Barrier Reef Minor, a classic and sentimental option. For those looking for something more contemporary, however, consider joining the urban snorkelling vogue. The rise of this phenomenon over the last year or two is attributed to a handful of entrepreneurs investing in inundated coast-side residential neighbourhoods and parkland. Reinforcing these once-eerie land-and-city-scapes with levies, these visionaries have repurposed them into burgeoning urban snorkelling parks for marine explorers.* As an option for quick a weekend away from Canberra, check out Botany Bay Urban Snorkelling in Sydney.
*While not prohibited at the time of writing, independent snorkelling outside designated parks is not recommended. Please snorkel responsibly.
[clear-line]
Image from https://news.usc.edu/86794/usc-dornsife-doctoral-program-deals-with-well-being/
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Woroni, Woroni Radio and Woroni TV are created, edited, published, printed and distributed. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We acknowledge that the name Woroni was taken from the Wadi Wadi Nation without permission, and we are striving to do better for future reconciliation.