One
of Australia's greatest scientists, Nobel Laureate
Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet's centenary was celebrated
as part of the Tall Poppy Campaign during 1999. Early Life
Macfarlane Burnet was born in Traralgon, Victoria
on 3 September 1899. As a young boy, his science career
started with a keen interest in beetles and the bush
around his home.
After attending
Geelong College, Burnet studied medicine at the
University of Melbourne
and graduated in 1922. In 1924 he began a long association
with the Walter
and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in
Melbourne. Burnet became Director of the WEHI in 1943,
and held this position until his retirement in 1965.
Burnet's Science
Burnet's scientific expertise lay in the areas of
virology and immunology. He perfected techniques for
growing animal viruses in the laboratory, and used
these to study poliomyelitis, influenza, herpes simplex,
psittacosis, Q fever and other diseases. The quality
of Burnet's work on viruses was so outstanding that
he was twice nominated for the Nobel Prize for this
work.
Subsequently Burnet became interested in the body's
response to infection —the immune response. He
studied the way in which the body can differentiate
between infection or foreign objects and its own tissues.
From these studies, Burnet developed a theory for
the cellular basis of immunology; this theory proved
to be the key paradigm for immunology, and Burnet
received the Nobel
Prize for this work in 1960. Later Life
Late in his career, Burnet took an active part indiscussions
affecting public health, ecology and sustainable development.
He became an early advocate of the dangers of cigarette
smoking and radiation exposure.
Macfarlane Burnet received many honours for his
distinguished work, including a knighthood in 1951
and the Order of Merit in 1958. He was made a Fellow
of the Royal
Society in 1942, receiving the Royal Medal in
1947 and the Copley Medal in 1959. Burnet received
the Lasker Award in 1952 and, jointly with Peter Medawar,
the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1960. In honour of
Burnet's lifetime achievements, the Macfarlane
Burnet Centre for Medical Research was established
in Melbourne.
Burnet died on 31 August 1985. Emeritus Professor
Frank Fenner, himself one of Australia's great scientists,
has said of Burnet that, "he was without doubt the
most original and productive scientist that Australia
has produced". In addition, Sir John Maddox, long-time
editor of the prestigious scientific journal Nature
nominated Burnet as one of the 10 greatest scientists
of the 20th century.
Macfarlane Burnet Centenary celebrations
In 1999, the Australian Institute of Policy & Science
celebrated the centenary of Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet
as part of its Tall Poppy Campaign.
In addition to celebrating Burnet's life and achievements,
these celebrations aimed to:
raise the profile of health and medical research
in Australia and, in particular, educate the general
community (especially school-aged children) about
the importance of health and medical research and
the contribution of Macfarlane Burnet and other
eminent Australians;
draw attention to excellence in health and medical
research in Australia;
identify and acknowledge centres and individuals
that contribute to excellent research in Australia;
encourage and stimulate private participation
in, and support for, health and medical research.
The Macfarlane Burnet Centenary Year was officially
launched in Traralgon, Victoria (Burnet's birthplace)
on 3 September 1998 by The Hon Robert Knowles, the
Victorian Minister for Health.
The launch was held at the newly opened LaTrobe Regional
Hospital. To mark the occasion, the Minister officially
named The Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet Library of the
Hospital.
The following events were held to celebrate Burnet's
centenary:
Florey and Macfarlane Burnet Tram
1999 Tall Poppy Dinner
Q
Fever Symposium
National Portrait Gallery Exhibition
In addition, a special insert on Burnet appeared
in the CSIRO's
Helix
magazine. You can order a copy of this insert by contacting
the AIPS.
As part of the Tall Poppy Education Program, a Learning
Activity Topic for primary schools was produced on
science and the work of Burnet and other great scientists.
