Topics
Draft topics for discussion. This is based on a subset of the UIS Commissions.
Most of the Commission’s focus is on Australasia in the most general sense, however some speleologists are contributing to these topics internationally.
Physical Sciences
This includes for example chemistry, biology, geology, physics, meteorology, surveying, & cartography.
- Biology
- Cave Mineralogy
- Glacier, Firn and Ice Caves (Australasia includes NZ)
- Karst Hydrology & Speleogenesis
- Materials & Techniques (Also works with Survey & Mapping Standards Commission)
- Physical Chemistry & Hydrogeology of Karst
- Pseudokarst
- Volcanic Caves
Social Sciences
This includes for example history, sociology, anthropology, archaeology.
- Archaeology and Paleontology in Caves
- Education
- History of Speleology
Not included
The following UIS commission topics are not included here as they have their own specialist commissions and organisations within the ASF and elsewhere:
- Artificial Cavities (Should it be included? Is this part of NPWS or Dept Mines? e.g. mine adits are a significant microbat habitat)
- Arts and Letters (part of Library & Archive Commission)
- Bibliography (Bibliography Commission)
- Cave Diving (Cave Diving Commission)
- Cave Rescue (Australian Cave Rescue Commission)
- Informatics (Cave & Karst Numbering Commission and others)
- Karst & Cave Protection (Conservation Commission)
- Long, Deep & Large Caves (part of the Karst Index Database)
- Speleotherapy (not a feature in Australia)
- Management of Show Caves are generally the realm of ACKMA