In the Wild West: 2011 series 1The Harry Butler lecture series 2011 – In the Wild West. A program of lectures by WA Museum staff and associates Foreword by Mr Alec Coles, WA Museum Chief Executive Officer. It is my great pleasure to present the program for Series One of the second year of the Harry Butler Lecture Series: In the Wild West. My sincere thanks go to our partner Chevron Australia for their support, and to WA Museum Fellow Dr W.H. (Harry) Butler who will begin the series with a lecture about how science applies to our lives. Given the success of last year’s lectures, which were part of the International Year of Biodiversity, we decided to expand the 2011 program to encompass all of the Museum’s work, focussing on the broad diversity of research and collections that tell the stories of the great ‘wild west’ state of Western Australia. Some of WA’s most eminent scientists, curators and associates will present on topics ranging from palaeontology, migration, the gold rush, marine biology, rock art conservation, evolution of fauna and marine archaeology. We are also delighted to welcome WA’s Chief Scientist Professor Lyn Beazley as series Patron again. Professor Beazley will be visiting the regions and talking about the fascinating Square Kilometre Array project that Australia hopes to secure in 2012 and locate in WA. I look forward to seeing you at the lectures.