UQ celebrates 50 years of microbiology

This week UQ is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of a Department of Microbiology, with an alumni dinner to be addressed by an eminent scientist working on polio – a remerging disease.

Lectures in bacteriology were introduced to the UQ medical course in the late 1930s, the time of a polio epidemic in Australia.

The post-war years saw the evolution of teaching and research from clinical bacteriology to the wider discipline of microbiology.

Victor Skerman was appointed in 1950 and became the foundation professor of microbiology in 1962, heading the new Department of Microbiology.

The Department prospered over succeeding years, eventually moving from the University’s Herston campus to a purpose-built building at St Lucia in 1972.

The building was renamed the Skerman Building in 1988, in honour of the man who led the departments of bacteriology and microbiology for 32 years.

Today, microbiology at UQ continues to prosper as part of the School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences.

Professor Ralph Tripp of the University of Georgia, USA, will present the annual Skerman Lecture on 5 July at Hillstone St Lucia.

He will speak on the development of enhanced vaccine cell lines for the eradication of poliovirus and other vaccine preventable diseases.

Despite a cessation of poliomyelitis in most areas of the world, outbreaks continue in nations where polio is endemic and in countries previously free of polio.

Past students and staff of microbiology at UQ are invited to attend dinner and drinks to hear Professor Tripp and reminiscences of the past 50 years.

Emeritus Professor Lindsay Sly, who worked in microbiology at UQ for 40 years to 2010 and was curator of the UNESCO World Data Centre for Microorganisms based at UQ, will speak on the history of the department.

Historical photos and other materials will be on display.

Media: For more information, contact Ms Rosalind Boulton, phone (07) 33654043, email r.boulton@uq.edu.au.