Laurie Hammond Oration, Dr Alan Finkel Chief Scientist of Australia

The tragic and destructive bushfires of the 2019-2020 Black Summer across south-eastern Australia pose a range of challenges for the nation’s scientists. In the face of the combined forces of nature, climate, demographics, and limited resources, can science make a real difference? What sort of research do we need to do now to prepare us for the natural hazard impacts of tomorrow?   

The value of research in solving such national problems is the focus of an annual oration next month, to be delivered in a live webinar by Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel.

The free public talk – Fire, flood, storm and cyclone: applying science to the challenge - was held on Wednesday 19 August from 4pm AEST and was presented by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC as part of National Science Week. 

Dr Finkel drew on his extensive experience in research, academia and public policy when speaking on how science and technology can make a meaningful difference, and how public benefit research, in particular, can play a role.

The webinar was recorded is now available to watch above or on the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Hazard Channel.

For any questions about the event, please contact Vaia Smirneos, vaia.smirneos@bnhcrc.com.au or 03 9412 9630.