Remaking the land - 'Views of Tower Hill'
Australia was often presented as a cornucopia of scientific delights
and novelties. But such novelty also made the environment seem
alien and forbidding, unsuited to European settlement. Scientists
have been integrally involved in attempts to remake the land to
suit the needs of European settlers - whether it be by introducing
songbirds to soothe their spirits, or diverting rivers to power
their homes and irrigate their farms. But while scientists attitudes
towards the land have been shaped by their European preconceptions,
they have also transcended them, drawing attention to the limits
of the remaking process. What are the consequences for the environment?
How can a balance be achieved? By remaking, science has also been
remade. |