The Keith Roby Memorial Lecture in Community Science is an annual, free public science lecture made possible by the generous support of donors.
The Keith Roby Memorial Lecture was established in memory of Murdoch University foundation member Dr Keith Roby. Dr Roby believed science could make a major contribution towards resolving contemporary issues such as the dilemmas surrounding the environment, energy, resources and genetic engineering.
Each year a distinguished speaker is invited to deliver a lecture that builds on Dr Roby's pioneering life's work, of directing science and technology towards satisfying the fundamental needs of humankind.
The 2024 lecture will be presented by sustainability thought leader and academic Professor Peter Newman, who was a Foundation Lecturer at Murdoch.
Professor Newman will share how his life was influenced by his foundation academic colleague Keith Roby and the essays of Sir Walter Murdoch, discuss the rise of sustainability from powerful idea to profession, and explore how the economy of tomorrow is being shaped by sustainability and the values required to guide us well into the future.
Previous lectures
Dr Ledger is an author and research scholar of faith, science, and technology. She explores the themes of the lecture through the question "How are human communities to express their creativity, effectively and compassionately, in a world in crisis?
View recording and transcript of the lecture
Presented by animal ecologist and conservation biologist, Dr Denis Saunders AM, the lecture examines the degradation of Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region and discuss whose role it should be to protect the native biota the Wheatbelt has remaining.
Presented by physicist and climate scientist, Dr Bill Hare, the lecture examines The Paris Agreement’s central aim to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change, looking at the opportunities for Australia and Western Australia, to take advantage of the coming transformation of the global energy system.
