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About Susan Greenfield
Susan Greenfield - Program in Adelaide

Baroness Professor Susan Greenfield: Brainwaves - Science, Society and the Future

Baroness Greenfield’s 16 week appointment spanned two visits, the first in July-August 2004 and another in July-August 2005.

• First visit: 17 June 2004 to 19 August 2004 (nine weeks).
• Second visit: 9 July 2005 to 19 August 2005 (six weeks).

Through her residency, Susan informed and influenced the future of science in South Australia.

Susan shared her extraordinary insights into the human brain, from how it works, to the degenerative diseases of ageing and the effects of common drugs.

She brought particular attention to neuroscience research and bio-science innovation in our State, building on and promoting our strengths and capabilities in these areas.

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About Susan Greenfield

Baroness Professor Susan Greenfield is a pioneering scientist, an entrepreneur, a communicator of science and policy adviser.

Susan has achieved a reputation as one of the most influential and inspirational women in the world. She has long been regarded as a world-leading expert on the human brain, widely known for her research into the areas of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, and has received a life peerage and a CBE in the United Kingdom.

Susan is the first woman to lead the prestigious Royal Institution of Great Britain and holds the positions of Senior Research Fellow, Lincoln College, Oxford and Honorary Fellow at St Hilda's College, Oxford.

Baroness Greenfield is an outstanding communicator and a significant contributor to the public understanding of science – best selling author of ‘The Human Brain: A Guided Tour’, ‘Brain Story’ and ‘Tomorrow's People: How 21st Century Technology Is Changing the Way We Think and Feel’, among others. Susan has presented numerous television and radio programs, including a major six part series on the brain and mind, 'Brain Story' broadcast on the BBC.

Further Information about Susan Greenfield
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Susan Greenfield - Program in Adelaide

The key objectives of Baroness Greenfield’s residency were:

1. Promotion and Influence
Provide Susan Greenfield with opportunities to influence key decision-makers and leaders in South Australia

2. Science in Society
a. Promote science in the community and with stakeholders:
to increase awareness of its importance to the community and the economy
to increase community awareness of the functioning and development of the mind/brain and of associated research
to increase the interest of young people, particularly women and girls, in science education and careers in science

b. Develop strategies to increase the capacity of education, health and community service professionals to incorporate practices which are congruent with the latest understandings of how the mind and the brain work.

3. Neuroscience and Bioscience Strategy
a. Develop strategies to:
identify South Australia’s competitive strengths in neuroscience
promote these strengths within the State, nationally and internationall
build on our capability in neuroscience, such as through an Institute for Neuroscience

b. Develop strategies which will increase the commercialisation of public sector
bioscience research for the economic benefit of SA

During her 2004 visit, Baroness Greenfield undertook a range of public, government and media engagements. Working with health professionals, educators, students and community groups, Susan promoted science literacy and the importance of science to the community and the economy.

Susan was briefed by the South Australian Neuroscience Institute (SANI) on the current research programs, facilities, postgraduate teaching, health care delivery and commercialisation undertaken by South Australian neuroscientists. She met with neuroscientists and health professionals from the three universities and affiliated hospitals to develop an understanding of the state’s capabilities and challenges in neuroscience.

Susan also spent time at Bio Innovation SA, the University of Adelaide and Flinders University, working on commercialising public sector bioscience research and offering her intellectual input in the area of neuroscience industry development, international marketing, and informed planning.

Susan saw that this State had a fantastic opportunity to implement some of her ideas to strengthen the position of science in our economy and cultural life.

A 12-month position titled ‘Project Catalyst’ was established on Susan Greenfield’s recommendation to the July 2004 meeting of the Premier’s Science and Research Council. The role of this position is to pursue implementation of initiatives and maintain momentum until Baroness Greenfield returned to Adelaide this year.

The practical implementation of these initiatives was the focus of Susan’s second visit in 2005.

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Projects in the Susan Greenfield program include:

Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC)
Adelaide is establishing a national independent media centre based on the successful Science Media Centre in the UK. The AusSMC will respond when a major science news story hits the headlines, increasing the degree and accuracy of reporting about science in Australian media. The goal is to increase informed public debate on scientific issues based on the best information available. The Inaugural National Board is Chaired by Peter Yates (ex PBL CEO).

Twinning Program
The Twinning Program aims to enthuse and upskill the teachers of science in this State. It is an on-line program that enables scientists to be linked or ‘twinned” with teachers of science from Reception - Year 12. The website www.sciencetwinning.org.au is hosted by the Australian Science and Maths School. Over 120 scientists in Adelaide registered their interest in participating. An evaluation process will be built into the Twinning Program in collaboration with the participating universities’ Schools of Education.

Science Outside the Square
A topical, controversial, entertaining and educational series of nine science-themed events that will take place between July 2005 and September 2005. The events provided a platform to showcase local, national and international scientific talent – making their knowledge more accessible to our community.

The series “Kicked Off” on Saturday 23 July 2005 with an event at AAMI stadium. 30 000 spectators witnessed a science performance on the big screen during half time, staring Adam Spencer, Che Cockatoo-Collins and Matthew Primus. For further information see the Science Outside the Square website, www.science.sa.gov.au.

Neuroscientists, Educators and Learning
A series of projects have been developed between the SA Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS) and the South Australian Neuroscience Institute (SANI) to establish professional development environments and working links between researchers of learning (scientists) and facilitators of learning (educators).

SANI is working with the three local universities to develop a Graduate Certificate in Neuroscience specifically for teachers. DECS has committed to fund 45 SA teachers to participate over the next 3 years. Further courses will be developed, based on the same principle of adapting existing courses to the needs of adult professionals involved in aspects of education.

The Young Brain
It is vital that our professionals in health, welfare and education understand the latest research on the brain. A number of projects and seminars linked the South Australian Neuroscience Institute with professionals in social services and health. These were organized by the Department of Health.

Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Careers
The Office for Women utilised Susan’s skills and knowledge to develop a report on how to attract and maintain women in science and technology, based on the recommendations of the SET Fair Report - a report prepared by Baroness Greenfield to the UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, November 2002.

The Bragg Initiative
Named after South Australians William and Lawrence Bragg, the Bragg Initiative consists of a number of initiatives that share and exchange facilities, skills, programs and expertise between the Royal Institution of Britain and Adelaide.

The Braggs, a father and son, were educated and raised in SA. They invented X-ray crystallography and later facilitated the discovery of the structure of DNA in the laboratory Lawrence Bragg headed. This work has driven the biological revolution of today, one of the current strengths (and priorities) in South Australian science. The Braggs were awarded the Nobel prize, and were Directors of the Royal Institution, UK. This initiative will serve to both highlight the role of these talented South Australians and garner the benefits of association with the Royal Institution for our State.

Projects included the Bragg Exhibition at the SA Museum. This was an exhibition of historical artifacts from the Bragg family currently held at the Royal Institution in the UK will be matched with local material and exhibited at the SA Museum from 12th August to October 2005. Visitors will be able to walk through three dimensional protein structures in the Virtual Reality Lab used for research at the University of Adelaide as part of their visit to the exhibition.

The Ri’s History of Science expert, Professor Frank James, will accompany the exhibition and will give a seminar with John Jenkin on 9 August in conjunction with the Royal Society of SA and National Science Week. The seminars will be held in recently heritage-listed Bragg House (originally designed and built in East Terrace by William Bragg whilst he was in Adelaide). See Public Events below.

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Partners

The Adelaide Thinkers in Residence program for Baroness Professor Susan Greenfield has been developed by the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the following partners:

Bio Innovation SA
Flinders University
University of Adelaide
University of South Australia
Department of Education and Children's Services
Department of Human Services
Department for Families and Communities

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