Queensland Chief Scientist Emeritus Professor Peter Andrews, AO will be guest speaker at a free public lecture at UQ St Lucia campus on Thursday, May 19.
Professor Andrews will discuss Making money from molecules: the role of scientists in knowledge-based economies at the lecture in the IMB Auditorium, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, 306 Carmody Road, at 5.30pm.
The lecture will examine United States, Japanese and European projections which suggest a looming shortage of scientists and engineers.
It will be followed by the School of Biomedical Sciences Awards and prizes ceremony for undergraduate students
“Australia faces similar shortfalls, but the proportion of students enrolling in year 11 and 12 science is falling, as is the percentage of university graduates majoring in science,” Professor Andrews said.
“Queensland’s Smart State Strategy is seeking to address these problems at a State level, but they are ultimately national and international issues.
“There is also a perception problem. Many in the community view science as too difficult and too poorly paid.
“In fact, the situation is often the reverse. Over the past 50 years, economic growth in developed nations has been driven by knowledge-based industries, and the ‘rich lists’ of the 21st century are increasingly populated by scientists and engineers.”
The Queensland Government established the position of Queensland Chief Scientist in 2003 and Professor Andrews was appointed in December 2003.
Professor Andrews is an eminent Queensland scientist and bio-entrepreneur with extensive understanding of the policy and economic development issues associated with science, research and innovation.
He has led multifunctional scientific teams at research institutions in Victoria and Queensland, and is the author of more than 100 publications and inventor of two patents.
Since 1985, he has founded, or co-founded, and been a director on more than 10 scientific companies. He now serves as a director on three Australian and two New Zealand companies.
The lecture will be chaired by Professor David Adams who is Head of UQ’s School of Biomedical Sciences.
People wishing to attend should contact Ms Gabrielle Pascoe, School of Biomedical Sciences by Friday, May 13, telephone: (07) 3365 1950 or Email: gabrielle@uq.edu.au
Media: For further information on Professor Andrews, please contact Jason Steinberg, telephone (07) 3235 4346., Email: jason.steinberg@qld.gov.au
