Inspired by his own school days’ experiences, Canning College’s Head of Science, Craig Lyle, has encouraged students to attend the Bayliss Youth Lecture and learn from chemistry experts.

For the past three years, Craig has taken groups of the College students to hear from Professor Mauro Mocerino, Dr Elodie Rousset and Helen Coleman.

His recent experiences, and the thoughts of two recent Canning College students, were recently published in the Journal of the Science Teachers’ Association of Western Australia in 2025.

The article is published with permission.

THE BAYLISS YOUTH LECTURE

The Bayliss Youth Lecture is a free chemistry lecture with a long history. For many years, it has been organised by the Chemical Education Group of the Western Australian Branch of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. This group was formally constituted in 1980 and aims to foster a close and continuing interaction among students, teachers and practicing chemists – both industrial and academic – with the objective of developing interest in and an understanding of the full ramifications of chemical science.

Each year, the Chemical Education Group looks to find an engaging, local presenter; someone who can showcase innovative, relevant and/or exciting chemistry to students to get them potentially interested and engaged in chemistry, its applications and their potential future connection to it. This lecture is initially delivered at university sites across Perth and then subsequently offered to schools in Term 2 to 4 where possible.

A Chemistry teacher’s experience

In 1980, I was a Year 12 student at Busselton Senior High School. I still remember attending my first Bayliss Youth Lecture that year, held in the town of Bunbury. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of attending many more – this time as a chemistry teacher. Each lecture has been a fascinating experience, expanding my understanding of chemistry and showcasing its real-world applications.

Over the past three years, I’ve taken students from Canning College to the Bayliss Youth Lecture at Curtin University. These lectures continue to inspire curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the role of chemistry in our lives.

2023 – Professor Mauro Mocerino – Exploring Chemistry Through Virtual Reality

Students were immersed in the world of virtual reality. Imagine being able to construct, enter and examine the molecular structure of a snowflake. Thanks to work from the School of Molecular and Life Sciences at Curtin University, this is now a reality. The project explored how students of the future might learn chemistry using VR technology.

2024 – Dr Elodie Rousset – Future Energy Storage

As we move away from coal and gas, how will we store and use the energy harnessed from wind and solar power? Dr Rousset addressed the challenges of current storage systems and the urgent need for innovation to support a more sustainable energy future.

2025 – Helen Coleman, PhD Candidate – Sustainable Chemistry and Natural Dyes

This year’s lecture explored how chemistry is helping to develop sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable alternatives to synthetic dyes. With Australia’s rich diversity of flora, could we extract dyes from native plants to replace the often-toxic synthetic ones used in industry? What chemical processes allow us to alter their colour?

Inspired by Helen’s presentation, I found myself doing something unexpected during Easter at the Denmark Fair: I struck up a conversation with a woman selling clothing dyed with natural pigments. This is something I would never have considered doing before.

Presenters who are truly passionate about their work have the power to spark interest and inspiration in students — as Helen did for two of mine this year.