The Australian Museum and the Science Teachers Association NSW have teamed up to present to you Virtual Friday Night Drinks as part of 7 Decades in 7 Days, a week-long celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Science Teachers Association for NSW in and around National Science Week.  

Pull on your best 70s clothes (we will be) and join us online for a fun evening exploring science education in Australia - where we have come from, where we are at, and where to next.  Our keynote address will be delivered by Federal Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley, we’ll hear from Kris Helgen, Director of Research at the Australian Museum and later be entertained by Australia’s most loved Dr Karl.

Whilst a 70s Dinner Party in person would be much more fun, we’re recreating as much as we can in this virtual world, so with your 70s threads on, come join us at the end of the evening for guess that 70s’ tune.  

Speaker

Dr Foley commenced as Australia’s ninth Chief Scientist in January 2021. 

Dr Foley was appointed to the role after a lengthy career at Australia’s national science agency, the CSIRO; she was appointed as the agency’s Chief Scientist in August 2018, the second woman to hold that role. 

Dr Foley’s career in physics began with her PhD at Macquarie University on the semiconductor indium nitride. She and her colleagues were one of the first groups to carry out pioneering research that examined the properties of indium nitride in light-sensitive devices, the best-known application being white light emitting diodes used for household low energy lighting.

Dr Foley’s scientific excellence and influential leadership have been recognised with numerous awards and fellowships, including being elected to the Australian Academy of Science in 2020, along with an Order of Australia for service to research science and to the advancement of women in physics. She was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering in 2008 and was elected as an honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics in 2019. 

 Dr Foley has a passion for advancing scientific research and has held various roles, including member of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, President of the Australian Institute of Physics, President of Science and Technology Australia, Editor-in-Chief of Superconductor Science and Technology journal and Council Member for Questacon. 

Dr Foley is an inspiration to women in STEM across the globe and is committed to tackling gender equality and diversity in the science sector. Throughout her career she has strived to create an environment that embraces the full human potential of both men and women for wellbeing and economic benefit and for equality.