Murdoch University's premier public lecture was inaugurated in 1974 to mark
the centenary of the birth of the University's namesake, Sir Walter
Murdoch. A respected academic, Walter Murdoch successfully bridged the
gap between academe and the wider community - thereby establishing a tradition
for the University which was named in his honour just days before his death in
1970.
Murdoch University annually invites a person of national or international standing to deliver the
Sir Walter Murdoch Memorial Lecture on a topic of their choice. The only criteria are that it must
be thought-provoking, topical and of significant interest. The Lecture
provides a valuable forum for the Presenter to express passionately-held
views, in a setting free from many of the usual constraints which surround
them. This freedom has led to some memorable addresses. Previous Murdoch
Lecturers have included WA Premiers the Hon John Tonkin and Dr Geoff Gallop, Mr Michael Kirby - Justice of the High Court of Australia, Mr William Hutton - Editor of The Observer, Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Bolton, AO - Historian and Chancellor of Murdoch University, the Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser - former Prime Minister of Australia, and Nobel Laureate and Professor of Immunology Professor Peter Doherty.
- 2011 Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
"Creativity - balancing fear and success" – by Mr Todd Sampson, Chief Executive Officer of Leo Burnett advertising agency (Sydney office) (transcript not supplied)
- 2010 Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
"Leadership at the bottom of the Earth…where no one hears you scream" – by Rachael Robertson, Station Leader of the 58th Australian Antarctic Research Expedition (transcript not supplied) (Audio)
- 2009 Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
"The Businesses of Science" - by Catherine Livingstone AO, Chairman of Telstra Corporation, Director of Macquarie Group Ltd and WorleyParsons Ltd (transcript not supplied)
(Audio)
- 2008 Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
"The 21st Century Mind" – by Baroness Professor Susan Greenfield CBE, Director of the Royal Institute of Great Britain (transcript not supplied)
(Audio)
- 2007 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
No lecture
- 2006 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
“Science and the Public Intellectual” - by Professor Peter Doherty FAA Nobel Laureate (1996) and Professor of Immunology
- 2005 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
"Diplomacy in the 21st Century: Dinosaur or Vital Force?" - by
His Excellency Dr Hans Sondaal, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Australia
- 2004 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
"A Passionate Journey: From Grass Roots Activism to International Governance"
- by Wendy McCarthy, AO
- 2003 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
"Living with a Difference: Does Multiculturalism have a Future?" - by Dr Geoff
Gallop
- 2002 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
"What Do We Want to Be?" - by Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser, AC, CH
- 2001 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
"Political Pinball's: The Plight of Child Refugees in Australia" - by Moira
Rayner
- 2000 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
"Crossroads: The Future of University Education in WA" - by Emeritus Professor
Geoffrey Bolton, AO
- 1999 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
"Millennium Dreaming: Indigenous People in Australia in the Era of Reconciliation"
- by Senator Aden Ridgeway
- 1998 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
"The Integration of High and Low Tech Medicine" by Dr Wu Jieping.
- 1997 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
"Government that works for everyone - New ideas for changing times" - by Will
Hutton - Editor of "The Observer" newspaper
- 1996 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
"Ecologically Sustainable Development: Strategy or Snake-oil?" - by Professor
Ian Lowe
- 1995 Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
"Headline/Deadline/Bottom Line: The Case for Good Journalism" - by Michelle
Grattan
- 1994 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
"Culture through Chemistry" - by Professor Ben Selinger
- 1993 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
Democracy and the Rule of Law - by Brian Burdekin
- 1992 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
The Pursuit of Trivia: Is it Damaging the News Media? - by Ranald MacDonald
- 1991 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
Ageing: Everybody's Future - by Dr Don Edgar
- 1990 Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
Staining the Wattle: Issues of Violence in Australia - by Pat O'Shane
- 1989 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
Lecture cancelled
- 1988 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
Back to the Drawing Board: Reflections on the idea of a University in Australia - by Dr Davis McCaughey
- 1987 Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
Here Come the Yuppies: The Greedy Society or the Intelligent Society - by Robyn Williams
- 1986 Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
The Marks of a Good Society - by Rt Rev Peter Hollingworth
- 1985 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
The Changing Family and in a Changing World - Anne Summers
- 1984 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
Health for All by the Year 2000 - by Professor Stephen Leeder
- 1983 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
Morality and Law: Old Debate, New Problems - by Justice Michael Kirby
- 1982 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
God's Experiment: Australian Religion - by Dr Barbara Thiering
- 1981 Sir Walter Murdoch
Lecture
Science and the Suburban Spirit - by Dr Lloyd Evans
- 1980 Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
Reality, Risk, Relevance: A Choice Path for the Eighties - by Sir Rod Camegie
- 1979
Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
Islands of Yesterday: The Growth of Literary Ideas - by Professor Leonie Kramer
- 1978 Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
As I Remember Him: Reflections of an Academic Life - by Sir Zelman Cowan
- 1977 Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
Education for the Improvement of Human Welfare - by The Hon. John Tonkin
- 1976 Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
Aboriginal Australians: 1967-1976 - by Dr H. C. Coombs
- 1975 Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
Science in the Development of Western Australia: The Richest Harvest - by Professor E. J. Underwood
- 1974 Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture
A Century Tribute - by Professor J. A. La Nauze, Professor of History at the Australian National University
Mhe Keith Roby Memorial Lecture in Community Science is a lecture funded by the Keith Roby Trust, established in memory of Dr Roby.
Keith Roby was a foundation member of Murdoch University and a pioneer in the area of “Community Science”, the phrase he coined to reflect the ideal of science and technology directed towards human fulfillment, social well-being and satisfying the fundamental needs of humankind. He believed science could make a major contribution towards resolving major contemporary issues such as the dilemmas surrounding the environment; energy; resources and genetic engineering.
With a deep commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and research, he initiated research and founded courses in the areas of Science, Technology and Society and Energy Studies.
Dr Roby’s work, his life and the way he lived, are an inspiration to many and the vision he illuminated continues. Every second year a distinguished speaker is invited to deliver a lecture that builds on Dr Keith Roby’s life's work.