Alessandra Pucci
Alex (Alessandra) Pucci obtained degrees in science from Pisa and Florence universities, a PhD. (medical research) from The University of Sydney; Biotechnology pioneer and entrepreneur; Business Woman of the Year 1986; AO for services to Science and Industry; Centenary Medal; Member of Science and Technology Councils, including the one attached to the PM&C; Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering; Author of “The Scientist: A short Essay and Two Stories (2012), “DEVOLUTION: The Young Self in the Face of Technology” (2018) and “Arguably Prescient” (2024).
Alessandra's recent articles
20 February 2025
The Grandmother Effect, an evolutionary lesson for housing policy
Evolution works by conserving traits that carry value for the species, but more often it is perceived as “survival of the fittest” or in “social darwinism”. These are literary licences: scientifically, they are close to misinformation. A look at the Grandmother Effect will show you why.
27 October 2024
Scientific discovery, Nobel Prizes and AI
Marie Curie discovered radioactivity, Alexander Fleming found penicillin: in the 20th century, their merit was clear when they received the Nobel Prizes. In 2024, the Physics and Chemistry Nobels are unusual, and show that the nature of discovery is changing with the advent of AI. How?
7 February 2024
Technology regulation for the public good
While global governments ponder on how to regulate ever evolving new technologies, it may be useful to draw a parallel view of two crucial developments of the last 130 years: radioactivity and digitalisation.
16 September 2023
From Biotech to AI
Can regulation of Biotechnology provide clues for the regulatory measures now required to limit risks in the use of AI?
6 December 2021
Is science a new driver for policy making?
What governments call science is only one part of it. With COVID-19 and climate change, the government picks and chooses which science it listens to.
14 December 2020
Higher Education Bill: Disrupting human potential
The Higher Education Bill is one of those policies that strike their targets but carry behind a tail of undeclared impact. Here my aim is to define some of its hidden problems and to show why this law is ill-advised and dangerous.