Lyn Beazley

{{short description|Australian neuroscientist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Lyn Beazley | office = Chief Scientist of Western Australia | order = 2nd | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AO|FAA|FTSE}} | alt = | image =  | caption = | predecessor = Bruce Edward Hobbs | successor = Peter Klinken | birth_name = Lynda Dent Beazley | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1944|07|03}} | birth_place = Gravesend, UK | death_date =  | death_place = | profession = Neuroscientist | website = | education = University of Oxford }}

'''Lynda Dent Beazley''' (born 1944) is a neuroscientist and educator based in Perth, Western Australia. She is currently an Honorary Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Western Australia,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://directory.uwa.edu.au/view?dn=cn=Lynda%20Beazley,ou=Institute%20of%20Advanced%20Studies,ou=Office%20of%20the%20Deputy%20Vice-Chancellor%20(Research),ou=Central%20Administration,o=The%20University%20of%20Western%20Australia|title=Directory Search Results|last=The University of Western Australia|website=directory.uwa.edu.au|language=en|access-date=2019-08-18}}</ref> and the Sir Walter Murdoch Distinguished Professor of Science at Murdoch University.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.murdoch.edu.au/news/articles/former-wa-chief-scientist-is-new-murdoch-university-ambassador|title=Former WA Chief Scientist is new Murdoch University Ambassador|website=www.murdoch.edu.au|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref> Among other awards, she has been named an Officer of the Order of Australia for her contributions to medical science<ref name="Officer"/> a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering<ref>{{Cite web|title=Changing lives one at a time|url=https://www.atse.org.au/news-and-events/article/changing-lives-one-at-a-time/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=ATSE|language=en}}</ref> and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.<ref name="FAA"/>

==Education== Beazley studied zoology at the University of Oxford before completing a PhD at the University of Edinburgh on the development of vision and its recovery after injury.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

==Career== She set up her research group as a National Health and Medical Research Council research fellow at the University of Western Australia in 1976, which she held until 1994 when she was appointed professor. Research stemming from a collaboration with Professor John Newnham led to changes in clinical practice around administration of corticosteroids to women at risk of pre-term delivery with prematurely mature fetal lungs, improving respiratory function in pre-term infants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://labonline.com.au/content/life-scientist/article/ambassador-for-science-980247987|title=Ambassador for science|website=labonline.com.au|language=en|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref>

Beazley was Western Australia's Chief Scientist from 2006 to 2013, advising the State Government on science, innovation, and technology.<ref>{{cite news|title=Neuroscientist Lyn Beazley named WA's Australian of the Year|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-15/neuroscientist-lyn-beazley-is-was-australian-of-the-year/5894122|website=ABC News|date=15 November 2014|access-date=30 March 2015}}</ref> Her work included setting up a nationwide hotline for laboratory technicians in schools, working for healthier waterways across the state by establishing Dolphin Watch,<ref>{{Citation|title=Western Australia's first female Chief Scientist|date=2019-05-28|url=https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/western-australias-first-female-chief-scientist/11155868|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref> and she was successful in securing Western Australia as the host of the low frequency part of the telescope of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA-low) at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in Western Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.industry.gov.au/strategies-for-the-future/astronomy/co-hosting-the-square-kilometre-array|title=Co-hosting the Square Kilometre Array|last=Department of Industry|first=Innovation and Science|date=2018-10-19|website=Department of Industry, Innovation and Science|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref> She was a Mission Leader for the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce (WA) mission to Israel in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ict-industry-reports.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2013/10/2008-WA-Israel-High-Tech-AIIA-May-2008.pdf|title=WA Innovation & Business Development Mission to Israel Report}}</ref>

Beazley is also known as an educator and education advocate, spanning lecturing at university level, and working to encourage school child engagement in science,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://labonline.com.au/content/life-scientist/article/ambassador-for-science-980247987|title=Ambassador for science|website=labonline.com.au|language=en|access-date=2019-08-18}}</ref> and is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators.

Beazley is a current or former{{which |date=March 2022}} board member of the Royal Perth Hospital Research Foundation,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rphresearchfoundation.org.au/about-us/our-board|title=RPH Research Foundation Board}}</ref> the Western Australian Art Gallery Foundation, the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tern.org.au/Governance-pg17723.html#board|title=TERN - Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network: Governance|website=www.tern.org.au|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> and the Ear Sciences Institute of Australia. She is a patron of the Reflections Through Reality Foundation,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reflections.org.au/get-involved/about/our-patron/|title=Our Patron {{!}} Reflections|date=2017-07-03|website=Reflections Through Reality|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref> the Western Australian Naturalists' Club,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wanaturalists.org.au/about-us/|title=About Us {{!}} Western Australian Naturalists Club|website=www.wanaturalists.org.au|access-date=2019-08-18}}</ref> and Vice-Patron of the Western Australia Royal Society. She is a current or former{{which |date=March 2022}} Advisory Board member for Monash Vision Group for Bionic Vision,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/bright-new-eyes-for-monash-vision-group|title=Bright new eyes for Monash Vision Group|website=Monash University|date=15 May 2012 |language=en|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref> and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brainfunction.edu.au/about/our-board/|title=The Brain Function CoE Advisor Board is chaired by Lyn Beazley|date=2016-09-25|website=Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-08-18}}</ref> Beazley is also a member of the Technology and Industry Advisory Council of the Western Australian Government. She was a Trustee of the Western Australian Museum from 1999 to 2006. She helped establish the Brightwater Lyn Beazley Scholarship for research into acquired brain injury rehabilitation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201309036022/events/young-brain-injured-people-benefit-new-scholarship|title=Young brain-injured people to benefit from new scholarship|website=News {{!}} The University Of Western Australia|language=en|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref>

==Recognition and awards== In 2009, a new species of sponge discovered in the Perth Canyon off Rottnest Island was named ''Manihinea lynbeazleyae'' after Beazley.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/new-sponge-named-after-wa-chief-scientist-20110909-1k166.html|title=New sponge named after WA chief scientist|last=Trenwith|first=Courtney|date=2011-09-09|website=WAtoday|language=en|access-date=2019-08-18}}</ref>

* 2009 Awarded Officer of the Order of Australia for her services to medical science<ref name="Officer">{{Cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1139647|title=Australia Day 2009 Honours List Extract|website=honours.pmc.gov.au|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref> *2009 Fellow of Australian Academy of Technology & Engineering<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.applied.org.au/our-fellows/meet-our-fellows/|title=Meet our Fellows|website=Applied|language=en|access-date=2019-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401141658/https://www.applied.org.au/our-fellows/meet-our-fellows/|archive-date=2019-04-01|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2011 Western Australian Women's Hall of Fame<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wawomenshalloffame.com.au/index.php/2011-inductee-biographies/|title=2011 Inductee Biographies – WA Women's Hall of Fame|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref> * 2012 Governor's Award for Giving *2013 Inducted into WA Science Hall of Fame<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jtsi.wa.gov.au/what-we-do/science-and-innovation/science-award-programs/wa-science-hall-of-fame|title=WA Science Hall of Fame|website=www.jtsi.wa.gov.au|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref> * 2015 WA Australian of the Year<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/lyn-beazley/1245/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927023501/https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/lyn-beazley/1245/|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2020|title=Professor Lyn Beazley AO|website=www.australianoftheyear.org.au|access-date=2022-02-21}}</ref> *2015 RiAus Honorary Bragg Membership<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.murdoch.edu.au/news/articles/lyn-beazley-wins-honourary-membership-of-riaus|title=Lyn Beazley wins {{as written|hono|urary [sic]}} membership of RiAus|website=www.murdoch.edu.au|access-date=2019-08-18}}</ref> * 2014 Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International<ref>{{cite web | url=http://rotaryoutwest.blogspot.com/2014/11/265-rotary-club-of-east-perth-our.html | title=Rotary out West }}</ref> * 2018 Honorary Doctor of Science ANU<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/honorary-degree-professor-lyn-beazley-ao|title=Honorary degree: Professor Lyn Beazley AO|date=2018-12-13|website=ANU|language=en|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref> *2019 Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science<ref name="FAA">{{cite web |title=Professor Lyn Beazley |url=https://www.science.org.au/fellowship/fellows/professor-lyn-beazley |website=Australian Academy of Science |access-date=10 October 2019}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beazley, Lyn}} Category:1944 births Category:Living people Category:Australian neuroscientists Category:Australian women neuroscientists Category:Officers of the Order of Australia Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science