The Graeme Clark Oration - Australia's most prestigious free public science event

  • The Graeme Clark Oration celebrates advances in health and medical research that impacts people around the world.
  • It showcases world leaders in health and medical research and initiates a community-wide discussion around exciting developments in convergence science - where the life, physical and engineering sciences come together.
  • 2024 Orator Dr Robert Langer ScD from MIT - 12 November - Register Now
  • The Oration emphasises the importance and value of gender diversity in science, inside and outside of the laboratory.
  • The oration was established in honour of Graeme Clark who discovered how to code speech with electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve and brain pathways

The Graeme Clark Oration brings some of the world’s leading researchers and thought leaders from around the world to Melbourne to inform, inspire and excite the community about advances in the biomedical sciences shaping the future of healthcare.

 

The Oration honours the pioneering effort of Laureate Professor Emeritus Graeme Clark AC FAA FRS Lasker Laureate in developing the world’s first successful multi-channel cochlear implant that has restored hearing to over 700,000 people around the world.

 

Graeme Clark

Professor Graeme Clark was the first person to develop the multi-channel cochlear implant and to have successfully performed the world’s first implant procedure on Mr Rod Saunders in August 1978, at Melbourne’s Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. Over 5,000 people in Australia and over 200,000 people around the world have received the multi-channel cochlear implant and the gift of hearing. Having restored hearing to adults, many who had once had hearing, Graeme’s attention turned to restoring hearing to children born deaf and never exposed to sound.

Why we established the Oration

The Convergence Science Network is Australia’s first and only network that engages the public with developments and advances in the biomedical sciences.

We established the Graeme Clark Oration in 2008 as our annual showcase event. We are for public good and not-for-profit. We are supported by local universities, research institutes, businesses and not-for-profit organisations.

 

Bridging disciplines, breaking barriers:

Robert Langer is one of 8 Institute Professors at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has written over 1,600 articles, which have been cited over 434,300 times; his h-index of 327 is the highest of any engineer in history and the 3rd highest of any individual in any field. His (over 1,495) patents have been licensed or sublicensed to over 400 companies; he is a cofounder of over 40 companies including Moderna.

 

Come and hear how applying chemical engineering approaches to medicine paved the way for nanotechnology, novel biomaterials, and new ways to address global health challenges.

 

Read more and Register for free

Engage with us

We engage with the community to share the rapidly moving developments in health and medical science and technology innovation.  In a period when health and medical research is delivering new knowledge and hope for the diagnosis, treatment and cure for many diseases, it is even more important for scientists to engage with the community so that public trust in science and scientists remains strong.

 

The Graeme Clark Oration performs an important and valuable role in bringing world leaders in health and medical research to Australia to share developments and inspire school students and the population more widely about the new possibilities offered by this research.

A network of inspiration

The Convergence Science Network is Australia’s first and only network that engages the public with developments and advances in the biomedical sciences.  Since our establishment in 2008, we have held over 90 events and attracted an audience of over 30,000 attendees.

 

We established the Graeme Clark Oration in 2008 as our annual showcase event. We are for public good and not-for-profit. We are supported by local universities, research institutes, businesses and not-for-profit organisations.

 

Our events provide an opportunity for the public to be inspired by the rapid advances in the biomedical sciences by inviting leading scientists and thought leaders to share their ideas and work. If you want to learn more about the range of events we offer and you want to join our network by subscribing at no cost, please visit the Convergence Science Network website here.

 

 

WHAT ATTENDEES SAID ABOUT THE GRAEME CLARK ORATION

  • Engaging presentation style and inclusive language was ideal for a public and research specialist audience. The onstage acceptance speeches by the winning science schools was a stroke of genius!
  • Thanks for bringing such high-profile speakers and open the opportunity for the general public and schools to participate.
  • It appeals very well to a lay audience each time and the speakers manage to keep the science at a level that impresses and informs all attendees
  • Fantastic event and one not to miss in the Melbourne Calendar!
  • It was an inspirational evening and one that my school, its principal and students will remember vividly

The Graeme Clark Oration

The Graeme Clark Oration is delivered by global leaders in health and medical science in honour of Prof. Graeme Clark’s pioneering work in developing the bionic ear in Melbourne in the 1970’s.  It is recognised as Australia’s most prestigious free public science event and is attended by secondary school students.