Rotorua's U3A hosts talk by speaker no stranger to controversy

Dr Jacqueline Rowarth. Photo/Supplied

No stranger to controversy, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth is U3A's guest speaker at its next community forum.

In her talk, Jacqueline will discuss the question, 'How can we sort fact from fiction when there's so much information available through TV and radio channels, mainstream Internet and social media?'.

She will consider the issues, discuss the facts, and present some unintended consequences that might arise from picking solutions without considering implications.

The forum is being held on Wednesdayat the Bridge Club Rooms, Neil Hunt Park.

For 30 years Dr Jacqueline Rowarth has been involved in agribusiness, teaching at Massey and Waikato universities.

In October 2016 she was appointed chief scientist for the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), hired for her expertise in explaining science to the wider community – like U3A members.

She left this position in early 2018 and now focuses on speaking and writing as a science advocate and agri-environmental analyst.

Rotorua U3A president Peter Wood says he thinks what she will have to say will be interesting and a great listen for all.

"We try and pick speakers who keep the brain cells ticking over.

"I think it's a great idea for everyone to listen to these."

He says Rotorua's U3A is a big organisation, with 370 people involved in Rotorua, and it caters mainly to retired or semi-retired people.

Peter says they have four community forums a year and have 27 activity groups running through Rotorua's U3A at the moment.

The details
- What: U3A Community Forum with guest speaker Dr Jacqueline Rowarth
- When: Wednesday June 20, 10am. Doors open 9.30am with refreshments
- Where: Bridge Club Rooms, Neil Hunt Park
- Cost: Visitors welcome with gold coin entry