Following her induction into the WA Science Hall of Fame, Professor Lyn Beazley AO will launch the Western Australian Museum’s 2014 In the Wild West lecture series with a captivating presentation on sight at the WA Maritime Museum this Wednesday, 4 June.

The former Chief Scientist of Western Australia’s lecture Seeing with eyes ancient and modern: how we and other animals see the world, will examine the evolution of the human eye, revealing colours that are invisible to humans, investigating the future potential of bionic vision and exploring the world of radio-astronomy.

“Eyes are just fascinating organs – it’s simply incredible to think that the colour spectrum we see with the human eye today is actually a legacy of the most ancient fish that existed millions of years ago,”

Professor Beazley said.

“As technology improves and we learn more about vision now and in the past, we can look to the future where ideas such as bionic vision restoring a person’s sight may actually be achievable. This is a really exciting time.” 

Professor Beazley’s lecture is the starting point of a six-month lecture series featuring expert presentations from some of the State’s leading scientists, curators and associates, covering regionally relevant topics such as local shipwrecks, conservation of rock art and birds of the Indian Ocean.

“With exciting scientific discoveries and interesting cultural developments occurring across the State, the In the Wild West lecture series allows us to share important and relevant stories with Western Australian communities,”

WA Museum CEO Alec Coles said.

Thanks to support from Rangelands Natural Resource Management Western Australia, the 2014 In the Wild West lecture series will visit Kununurra, Port Hedland, Karratha and Carnarvon, with lectures repeated at WA Museum sites in Geraldton, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Perth, after launching at the Maritime Museum.

“Taking the In the Wild West lecture series regionally allows us to engage communities that may not typically be able to visit WA Museum sites and participate in all we have to offer,” Mr Coles said.

“This lecture series aligns with the WA Museum’s mission of inspiring people to explore and share their identity, culture, environment and sense of place, and it also underpins the themes supporting the New Museum redevelopment by providing an opportunity to showcase unique biodiversity of our State and to share the incredible stories of our people, all presented by our own curators and researchers.”

Lectures will be recorded throughout the series and made available for viewing on the WA Museum’s website.

Seeing with eyes ancient and modern: how we and other animals see the world commences at 7pm on Wednesday 4 June.  Entry is a gold coin donation; bookings can be made on 1300 134 081 or http://museum.wa.gov.au/whats-on/maritime.

Jane Rosevear
Media and Communications Officer
Western Australian Museum
(08) 6552 7805
jane.rosevear@museum.wa.gov.au