The Keith Roby Memorial Lecture in Community Science is an annual, free public science lecture made possible by the generous support of donors.

The Keith Roby Memorial Lecture was established in memory of Murdoch University foundation member Dr Keith Roby. Dr Roby believed science could make a major contribution towards resolving contemporary issues such as the dilemmas surrounding the environment, energy, resources and genetic engineering.

Watch the lecture live here!

Each year a distinguished speaker is invited to deliver a lecture that builds on Dr Roby's pioneering life's work, of directing science and technology towards satisfying the fundamental needs of humankind.

The 2025 lecture will be presented by: Simon Cherriman, PhD in Conservation Science, Award-winning environmental scientist, Educator and wildlife filmmaker. 'What a Bird's Eye View Tells Us: Past, Present & Future'

Wednesday 15 October 2025 - SOLD OUT

Watch the lecture live at 6pm!

Birds are one of the most prominent groups of fauna on Earth, and have inspired humans for millennia. They have also shown remarkable abilities to challenge the many hard boundaries and barriers humans have carved into the planet, such as their use of flight to cross different land tenures and the use of song to mimic ‘human’ sounds. Furthermore, the everyday occurrence of birds in our lives gives us the opportunity to use them as bioindicators, and look more closely at what different species tell us, as the ‘Canary in the Coal Mine’ often did during historic times.
 
With a focus on his work with Wedge-tailed Eagles for the last  twenty years, Simon will share stories about what a life-long interest in birds has revealed about the relationship between humans and the ancient but extremely fragile environment in Australia; a relationship that now more than ever needs closer examination during an era of climate change and urgent need to prioritise the sustainable lifestyle pioneered and practiced by Aboriginal Australians for thousands of years. 
Professor Peter Newman

Support the lecture

Help support the Keith Roby Memorial Lecture Series by making a donation to Murdoch University. Donations are tax-deductible and will help us continue to hold the event annually in Dr Roby's memory.

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2024 lecture

Sustainability thought leader and academic, Professor Peter Newman recalls key moments from a life dedicated to sustainability, taking time to acknowledge the places, events and people who influenced him along the way, such as Sir Walter Murdoch, Keith Roby, Des O’Connor and Brian Hill.

Previous lectures

Sustainability thought leader and academic, Professor Peter Newman recalls key moments from a life dedicated to sustainability, taking time to acknowledge the places, events and people who influenced him along the way, such as Sir Walter Murdoch, Keith Roby, Des O’Connor and Brian Hill.

   Watch the video

Dr Ledger is an author and research scholar of faith, science, and technology. She explores the themes of the lecture through the question "How are human communities to express their creativity, effectively and compassionately, in a world in crisis?

View recording and transcript of the lecture

Presented by community change facilitator, Dr Louise Duxbury, the lecture examines how, despite the many advances in science, the well-being of people across the globe is variable with an increasing divide between rich and poor and the sustainability of natural systems is under threat.

Presented by animal ecologist and conservation biologist, Dr Denis Saunders AM, the lecture examines the degradation of Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region and discuss whose role it should be to protect the native biota the Wheatbelt has remaining.

   Watch the video

   Listen to the audio

Presented by physicist and climate scientist, Dr Bill Hare, the lecture examines The Paris Agreement’s central aim to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change, looking at the opportunities for Australia and Western Australia, to take advantage of the coming transformation of the global energy system.

  Listen to the audio

Lectures from earlier years are available online via the  Library.
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