Bayliss Youth Lecture 2026 - Curtin University

Join us for the excitement of the 2025 Bayliss Youth Lecture, Polymers, 3D Printing and Innovation in Healthcare

Presented byDavid Morrison, BSc (Hons), PhD, MRACI CChem from East Metropolitan Health Service (Royal Perth Hospital) and the University of Western Australia (Perth Biodesign).

Abstract: Western Australia has a proud history in medical innovation and technology. In this lecture, you’ll hear how polymers have played key roles in WA medical innovations including the world’s first artificial cornea, pioneering in-hospital 3D printing for patient-specific medical devices, manufacturing emergency personal protective equipment during the COVID pandemic and more.

Speaker Bio: David completed a B.Sc (Hons) in Industrial Chemistry and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University Of NSW. David started his career working for a medical device start-up, working on a novel polymeric ophthalmic medical device that was commercialised and acquired by a Fortune 500 company. Since joining Royal Perth Hospital in 2006, David has worked on the design and manufacture of medical devices, specialising in patient-specific medical devices for neurosurgery, maxillofacial, spinal, orthopaedics and more. David is the co-inventor of “Living Bone”, which is currently in neurosurgical human clinical trials and was a finalist in the WA Innovator of the Year awards. David has extensive experience with biocompatible polymers and has published in peer-reviewed polymer, tissue engineering and medical journals.

In addition to his role at Royal Perth Hospital, David currently works two days per week for Perth Biodesign where he teaches and mentors the next generation of innovators, as well as working on projects involving infrastructure development, particularly with respect to biomedical engineering

About the Lecture:

The Bayliss Youth Lecture is a free lecture 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.

This lecture is particularly suited to Year 10 - 12 students studying Chemistry and undergraduates but will be of interest to a broader audience including those interested in health sciences, medicine and engineering.