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Reminiscing about world health breakthroughs

Tuesday, 15 August 2006

Two of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide's most distinguished graduates - both known for their breakthroughs in world health - will meet at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s Barr Smith Library tonight, Tuesday 15 August, to launch a book and reminisce about life in the health sciences and world-changing research.

CMG MBE AC is credited with overseeing the eradication of smallpox and controlling ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s rabbit plague through the introduction of myxomatosis.

The Hon AC made a difference to the lives of millions with his discovery in the 1960s that iodine deficiency was the cause of severe brain damage among Papua New Guinean highlanders. The global prevention of this problem became his life's work.

Both men are medicine graduates of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide and Dr Hetzel is a former Professor of Medicine at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥.

At the , Education and Children's Services Minister the Hon will launch Professor Frank Fenner's latest book, , and ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor Professor James McWha will welcome the two back to the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥.

The book is about Professor Fenner and his father Charles, also associated with the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥. was South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Director of Education from 1939 to 1946 and integral in establishing geography studies at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥.

Distinguished by numerous awards, Professor Frank Fenner won the Japan Prize for preventative medicine in 1988, the Prime Minister's Science Prize in 2002 and just this year was named ACT Senior ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n of the Year.

He had an outstanding career as a microbiologist and world expert on pox-virus. He was Chairman of the Global Commission for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication and, in 1980, he announced the eradication of smallpox to the .

The book launch, followed by a conversation between Professor Fenner and Dr Basil Hetzel will take place at 6.00pm-7.15pm in the Reading Room, Barr Smith Library, on Tuesday, 15 August. All welcome.

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