Professor Lyn Beazley AO

Scientist

2015 WA Australian of the Year

For Professor Lyn Beazley, science is a lifelong passion.  After graduating from Oxford and Edinburgh, Lyn has dedicated over 30 years to neuroscience, researching recovery from brain injury and changing clinical practice in the treatment of premature infants.  As Western Australia’s Chief Scientist from 2006 to 2013, Lyn advised governments on science and innovation, worked closely with industry and was a science ambassador in Australia and internationally. Lyn has been determined to demonstrate that science is not just a theoretical exercise, but a practical one too.  She helped establish a nationwide ‘hotline’ for school laboratory technicians, worked for healthier waterways by establishing Dolphin Watch, spearheaded a program supplying microscopes to over 450 primary schools and introduced the international science communication competition Famelab to Australia. Lyn was also part of the negotiating team that ensured Australia would co-host the Square Kilometre Array of radio-telescopes, the world’s largest science endeavour. Lyn’s goal is for every Australian child to learn and love science.