Professor Lyn Beazley AO

Professor Beazley was Western Australia’s Chief Scientist from 2006 to 2013 and the State’s Australian of the Year in 2015. A neuroscientist, her research at the University of WA focused on recovery from brain damage, emphasising the role of appropriate training regimens for recovery from neurotrauma and helping change clinical practice in the treatment of preterm babies. She is currently Sir Walter Murdoch Distinguished Professor of Science at Murdoch University. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2009.

What scientific or medical breakthroughs or discoveries are you most excited to see within your lifetime? – Milena, year 11 student from Springbank Secondary College, SA

I’d like to see the breakthrough where we stop using plastic or discover how to get rid of plastic. I think it’s one of the biggest banes on our community, on the environment, and it’s certainly something that I can see with a bit of effort shouldn’t be that hard to do. However, there doesn’t seem to be the drive to do it yet. Who’s going to accept the responsibility when I end up with plastic in my shopping trolley? Where does it go, what happens to it? I know it’s quite mundane, but I think it’s really important for the future of the planet to see plastics banned, solved or at least recycled properly.

Ask Away… The Science Detectives

Do your students have a STEM related question they would like to see put under the magnifying glass?

Why not ask them to challenge our COSMOS newsroom team to find and interrogate the experts and discover an answer through our SCIENCE DETECTIVES Podcast Series?

The crack COSMOS science journalists will leave no stone unturned as they open a case file; find evidence and witnesses; and finally produce a podcast episode that provides the detail needed to close a case of “uncertainty.”