Talking about Ballarat’s innovators

THE innovative minds and products of the local area are set to be put under the microscope during the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute’s September series of Twilight Talks.

Set for 5.30pm each Wednesday until 28 September the talks with cover people like invertor Henry Sutton to sustainable architect Talina Edwards, highlighting historic and current innovators, their research, and idea development.

“The topic of innovation creates an opportunity for the BMI to tell the story of all the ground-breaking work that has continued in our region, despite the pandemic,” BMI board director Paula Nicholson said.

“It is so encouraging to hear about resilient individuals and organisations and so exciting to understand how our community contributes to the global picture of development across so many sectors.”

The first talk on Wednesday, 7 September will see historian and retired electrical engineer Graeme Hood speak on the life of inventor Henry Sutton, and Associate Professor Peter Vamplew from Federation University’s School of Engineering will discuss the potential of artificial intelligence.

Climate and ecology is the theme for Wednesday, 14 September, with Federation University’s Dr Savin Chand set to give attendees a look at how data is influencing international communities’ understanding of changing global weather patterns, and University of Melbourne PhD candidate Sandra Penman speaking about Victoria’s microbats.

Medical innovations of the next generation will be discussed on Wednesday, 21 September, with Ballarat surgeon Dr Luke Spencer in to talk about robotics in the operating theatre, and Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute’s Dr Rodney Luwor local cancer research progress.

The final Twilight Talk on Wed, 28 September will be presented by Gaia Enviro’s Luke Brennan on bio-energy, and architect Talina Edwards on the importance of sustainable design.