Webinar: From Backbone to breakthrough: recognising core facilities contributions

For over 25 years, institutions worldwide have pooled cutting-edge technologies into shared core facilities. Initially designed to reduce costs and consolidate expertise, many of these facilities have evolved into advanced scientific platforms, hosting unique technologies and managing equipment worth millions.

This shift has transformed how research is conducted. However, traditional measures of academic impact—such as publications and grant success—fail to capture the essential contributions of scientific platforms. In this presentation, we propose new approaches to better assess and recognise their critical role in modern science.

Laurence has been visiting Microscopy Australia for over two months to better understand the Australian research landscape as part of her PhD project.

SPEAKER BIO

Laurence Lejeune, MSc, is a PhD candidate in Science, Technology, and Society at UQAM. With a background in managing scientific platforms in Canada and experience in cytometry, industry, and consultancy, she co-founded and led the Canadian Cytometry and Microscopy Association and co-founded the Canadian Network of Scientific Platforms. She currently chairs the Impact Working Group at Global BioImaging. Her research explores how scientific platforms transform academic research through innovation, governance, and interdisciplinary collaboration.