Professor Suzanne Cory to present 2014 Boyer Lecture series

The ABC’s 2014 Boyer Lecture series will be presented by Professor Suzanne Cory AC PhD FAA FRS, a distinguished molecular biologist and former president of the Australian Academy of Science.

ABC Chairman James Spigelman AC explained, “Since 1959 the ABC board has selected a prominent Australian or group of Australians to present a series of radio lectures, expressing their thoughts on major social, cultural, scientific or political issues, and Professor Cory is no exception.”

Professor Cory AC is currently an Honorary Distinguished Professorial Fellow in the Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow of the University of Melbourne. Her research has had a major impact on the understanding of immunology and the development of cancer.

“Drawing on her distinguished career as one of Australia’s pre-eminent scientists, I have no doubt she will stimulate debate and action across a number of scientific issues which are fundamental to the future of our nation,” Spigelman said.

Professor Cory’s lecture series, ‘The promise of science: a vision of hope’, comprises four lectures which will be broadcast on ABC RN, available online and published by ABC Books:

1. Science for life: How research is enabling us to live longer, healthier lives.
2. Science for a healthy economy: Using science and innovation to build a knowledge-based economy.
3. Science for a healthy environment: How science is helping to protect and remediate the environment.
4. People for science: The role of women in science.

“I am delighted to be presenting the 2014 Boyer Lectures and to have the opportunity to contribute to the national discussion about science through such an influential and historically significant platform,” Professor Cory said.

“Via the Boyer Lectures, I hope to raise awareness of great scientific achievements, and of the vital importance of science to the future health and prosperity of Australia.”

The 2014 Boyer Lecture series will be recorded for broadcast on ABC RN on 6, 13, 20 and 27 September at 1 pm. ABC Books will publish the full text of the series on 1 October 2014.