In August 2007, Dr Silvia Black wrote:

"After completing my PhD, I returned to work at the Chemistry Centre (WA) as a Chemist and Research Officer in the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory. My first responsibility on my return was to get a cyanide auto-analyser back in working order. The repairs and improvements made on it were numerous, but it is now working reliably again. Now I can concentrate on where I left off 12 months ago, which was setting up research projects in collaboration with the mining industry, universities and other scientific organisations.

My history at the Chemistry Centre (WA) started 22 years ago, working in the Racing Chemistry, Forensic Science and now in the Environmental Chemistry laboratories. Amongst a lot of analytical work in each laboratory I developed new analytical methods and techniques, which were published in scientific journals and presented at national and international conferences. This exposure to scientific innovation and research led me to do a PhD with the Parker Centre, which I thoroughly enjoyed. My wish now is to steer my career towards a lot more research.

When I am not preparing for conference presentations, journal publications or reports, my spare time is devoted to my 16 months-old daughter Jessica, my five-year old son Sebastian and my husband Greg.”