Alumni Profiles

Professor Lance Leslie's Story

Professor Lance Leslie, one of the world's leading authorities on Environmental Modelling and Prediction, is a University of Sydney Graduate and an ISS Alumnus (1962).

"When I attended the first ISS in 1962, I was fifteen years old and lived in rural New South Wales. The teachers at our country school usually stayed for the required two years and then went straight back to the city. I was a very bright kid and found it very frustrating not to have a school that would push you as far as you wanted to go.

I was thrilled to attend the International Science School. I had never seen a university before and, suddenly being in the academic environment and seeing the brilliant scientists teaching us, made me realise that scientists were real people and that achieving in your field of interest was not out of reach.

The ISS had a huge impact on me. As I sat surrounded by over one hundred like-minded students - most of whom have gone on to great achievements too - I realised I could achieve my dream of a career in science."

Professor Leslie maintains, "There is a need to learn from the failures of the past and unite the private and academic sectors. This has already begun in a number of areas and in my field of expertise (weather) alone those improved partnerships currently benefit such industries as: Agriculture, Aviation, Air Quality, Emergency Response Groups, Energy, Fire Services, Forestry, Insurance and Reinsurance,
Public Health, Sport & Leisure, Transportation and Water Supply.

"The importance of maths and science in future technologies right across the board requires people to be taught and trained in those fields. The ISS is a program that encourages future scientists to pursue such careers and, as such, is worth supporting."