Dr Taylor Syme spoke in the Old Boys Lecture Theatre in July. Dr Syme explains diverse rewards of science study Students from Years 7ā12 were given the He also showed the significant relationship between science and opportunity to attend a lecture by Dr Taylor business, explaining the process of both individual or grouped scientific research and how an existing business or startup can Syme, commercialisation officer at the pay you or your group for the use or production of a scientific University of Sydney, who has a background discovery. This opened our eyes to the unseen financial benefits in medical science research. of science and laboratory-based work. The lecture showed the vast variety of scientific fields, and explained where degrees in courses such as biotech and biomed can get you. This includes agriculture, The lecture focused on post-school pathways and opportunities, government and overseas work. The broad opportunities within particularly the biotechnology and biomedicine industries. Dr Syme science were undoubtedly eye-opening and tempting. put great emphasis on the two main ways to approach post-school scientific study, one more academically focused and the other Of all the information Dr Symes gave us, the most important looking towards working in the field or lab with fewer years in uni. was to do what you are most passionate about, what drives you He described the advantages and disadvantages of both pathways: further and is something you want to wake up for. Whatever that an academic focus is useful in relation to extension of knowledge thing is, follow it and chase it without end. After watching the and understanding of the field but its effects beyond school success presentation, I found it most interesting how Dr Syme explained are not as large as they may first seem while those who go into the the relationships between science and business. I loved how field in younger years, with either a postgraduate or masters, still he showed the ways science can be distributed and profited find great success in their specialty. from, a key message Iām sure everyone took from him. Dr Syme spoke highly of taking science as a second or undergraduate Rupert Gillies degree, while focusing on another subject such as business or legal Year 10 studies. He said knowledge of science at a deeper level can be greatly advantageous in all career pathways, especially business, as that knowledge can be applied when investing in a business that involves scientific research. 16 | Service | News Spring 2022 | Stanmore 7ā12