Landmark chemist to speak at UQ

One of the world’s most well known chemists, and a significant contributor to the development of the contraceptive pill, will speak at The University of Queensland during his first Australian visit.

Professor Carl Djerassi, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University, USA, will present the TGH Jones Memorial Lecture on Monday September 5 at 5.30pm in the Raybould Lecture Theatre at the University’s St Lucia campus.

Speaking on Biotechnology: Facts through fiction, Professor Djerassi will explore the gulf between the scientific community and the other subcultures of contemporary society, using biotechnology as an example.

“The research scientist`s culture and mores are tribal. I will speak as a long-term insider of this tribe – as university professor as well as founder, former officer and director, and occasional gadfly of several "biotech" companies,” Professor Djerassi said.

“Rather than just focusing on the academic world, I will address the small, entrepreneurial, research-driven enterprises, sometimes collectively referred to as biotech, that have played an enormously significant role in biomedicine.

“In the guise of fiction stories, I shall illustrate some of the contentious problems arising from the interaction of profit-driven enterprises with non-profit institutions, and individual scientists from academia.”

Professor Djerassi is one of the world`s most well known chemists and one of the world’s first industrial chemists.

He was awarded the National Medal of Science for the first synthesis of a steroid oral contraceptive – “the Pill”, a development that transformed modern society.

A member of the US National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as many foreign academies, Djerassi has received 20 honorary doctorates together with numerous other honours from around the world.

In the 1960s and 70s, he was known as a science entrepreneur, setting up spin-off companies. In recent years, he has become a philanthropic supporter of the arts and has turned to fiction writing, publishing many novels, short stories and plays, mostly in the genre of “science-in-fiction”. Some of his plays have been performed on the London stage.

His fiction stories reflect the human side of scientists and the personal conflicts they face in their quest for scientific knowledge, personal recognition, and financial reward.

Professor Djerassi has been invited to Australia by Australian Science Innovations (ASI), an independent, non-profit organisation that promotes and encourages excellence in science education in Australia.

He will also be presenting a lecture and attending official functions in Canberra during his Australian visit.

The TGH Jones Lecture will be hosted by UQ’s School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, and Queensland Chief Scientist Professor Peter Andrews will present a vote of thanks.

Details on Professor Carl Djerassi’s work can be found on his website: www.djerassi.com

For further information, contact A/Prof Mary Garson, Molecular and Microbial Sciences (07 3365 3605, m.garson@uq.edu.au) or Elizabeth Kerr at UQ Communications (07 3365 2339, e.kerr@uq.edu.au).