The core of this event is Dr Pucci’s presentation of her new book Arguably Prescient: Occasional Writings of a Parallel Life, 1990-2025. It’s a kind of memoir that shows overall how much this country can offer in terms of freedom and opportunity. The writings cover many subjects, all scientific yet adapted for the general public. Given their time span of 35 years, they also carry historical relevance and show a certain knack for anticipating the evidence that is still not in.
The 19 pieces reveal the author’s interests, as varied as her career choices: research scientist, biotechnologist, government adviser, analyst and commentator. They also reveal the main causes she has taken up: the need to carry science over to industry, so that it doesn’t stay in ivory towers; the must to divulge scientific knowledge to the wider world; and lately, the exploration of the tension between science and technology, as is being shown in the problems of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence.
But all this will only be heard in the third act of our event. First, and most eminent, is to be the intervention of Professor Emerita Carolyn Geczy AM, who had professional associations with Dr Pucci in all of her crucial moments, as well as a longstanding friendship. Then Federico Pucci, her son, who conducted the interviews contained in the book, and was responsible for the title. A lawyer and now an academic, you’ll see in his talk that he’s been able to maintain a certain objectivity vis-à-vis his mother, using humour as the main tool, and a gentle weapon.
Biographical Notes
Alessandra (Alex) Pucci has been a scientist for more than fifty years. After taking science degrees from the Italian Universities of Pisa and Florence, she obtained a PhD in Immunology from the Medical Faculty of The University of Sydney.
Alex has written scientific articles while working in medical research. Later, she took up courses in journalism and published scientific articles, speeches and essays for the general public. A selection of the latter is now published under the title Arguably Prescient: Occasional Writings of a Parallel Life 1990-2025.
Alex is based in Sydney, Australia, but has also lived elsewhere: in Eritrea (Africa), where she was born from Italian parents; in Italy, in Pisa and Florence; in France, in Nice and Paris. Alex also spent several months in the USA as a 1987 Eisenhower Fellow (Multinational Program). In Australia, Alex founded two Biotech companies: in 1981, the first in Australia, and another in 1996. In 1986 she was made The Bulletin/Qantas ‘Businesswoman of the Year’.
Over two decades in Australia, Alex has been appointed to various government advisory roles, including membership of the Australian Science and Technology Council that advises the Prime Minister and Cabinet. She was made an Officer of the Italian Republic and an Officer of the Order of Australia. She was also awarded the Centenary Medal. All for services to Science and Industry. Alex is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences. Her story is recorded in The National Library of Australia and in the book Profiles: Australian Women Scientists by Dr Ragbir Bhathal.
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