Ian Morgan has had a long career as a biological scientist in the Research School of Biological Sciences at the Australian National University, most recently studying the pathways that control eye growth. Fascinated by the massive increase in prevalence of myopia in East Asia, although it was conventionally regarded as a genetic condition, he became involved in epidemiological studies in Australia which showed that children who spend a lot of time outdoors are protected from the development of myopia. After formal retirement, he has maintained visiting research appointments at the Australian National University and the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China which focus on preventing the East Asian epidemic of myopia. Along the way, he was President of the Australian Council of State School Organisations, which works to promote equitable educational outcomes for children in Australia.