From left to right: Professional Scientists Australia President Robyn Porter, Minister for Industry, Science & Technology the Hon. Karen Andrews and SmP scholarship recipients Melinda Dean from the Red Cross and Gary Smith from SA Pathology.
Melinda Dean from the Red Cross and Gary Smith from SA Pathology along with President Robyn Porter are attending this year’s Science meets Parliament event on 26 and 27 November with the support of Professional Scientists Australia. Melinda and Gary met with their assigned politicians to talk about, among other things, the need to operate from a cost base that protects quality standards and safety for the community in medical science. Participants heard Professor Fiona Wood, Director of the WA Burns Service of WA, deliver the opening address and from Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel who talked about the crucial role science and technology advocates play in speaking out for the structures that support building evidence and the mechanisms to use when making national policy decisions. They will today attend a networking event led by the Parliamentary Friends of Science and visit the National Press Club to hear the address of Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith, the Australian Government’s Women in STEM Ambassador. Professional Scientists Australia offers annual scholarships to two members to attend SmP and Melinda and Gary were awarded their scholarships as winners of the essay competition on which selection is based. Read about our 6 key messages for decision-makers that Robyn, Melinda and Gary took to SmP as set out in our The Future Starts with Science campaign.
