Public speaker series 2024

Distinguished immunology researchers Professor Sharon Lewin and Associate Professor Misty Jenkins explore the significant scientific contributions of Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet OM KBE FAA FRS FRSNZ, recent developments in immunology, and what the field may offer in the future.

Distinguished Professor Brajesh Singh FAA and Dr Zefang Shen will explore the work of Professor James Arthur Prescott CBE FAA FRS, pioneering developments in soil science, and what is next in the field.

This event will focus on the work of Professor Dorothy Hill AC CBE FAA FRS, who was the first woman elected to the Australian Academy of Science. The speakers will explore the significant work of Professor Hill who was a pioneering figure in the field of geology, particularly in the study of coral reefs and the stratigraphy of the Great Barrier Reef. Her contributions were significant not only for their scientific merit but also for breaking barriers for women in academia.

Leading chemistry researchers Professor Rich Payne FAA (University of Sydney) and Associate Professor Rona Chandrawati (UNSW Sydney) will explore the significant scientific contributions of Academy Foundation Fellow Professor Raymond Le Fèvre FAA FRS, how the discipline of chemistry has developed, and how their fields of chemistry are impacting our lives today.

Join the Australian Academy of Science in exploring the remarkable work of Professor Sir Mark Oliphant AC KBE FAA FTSE FRS—one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century and the Academy’s founding President. Professor Nanda Dasgupta FAA and Dr Ed Simpson from the Australian National University (ANU) will dive into Professor Oliphant’s pioneering research on nuclear fusion and learn how his experiments paved the way for our modern understanding of energy release from atomic nuclei. We will discover how his early work laid the foundation for future innovations in nuclear technology.

join the Australian Academy of Science for the final instalment of the 2024 public speaker series, which will explore the work of Professor Sir John Carew Eccles AC FAA FRS Nobel Laureate.