Woodward Medals to Carter and McFadden
[ UniNews Vol. 12, No. 19
20 October - 3 November 2003 ] By Paul Richiardi
The 2003 Woodward Medals for significant contributions to Science and Technology and the Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Melbourne have been awarded to Professor Geoff McFadden (Botany) and Professor Paul Carter (Australian Centre).
Professor McFaddens Woodward Medal for Science and Technology recognises his leadership in research to identify new targets for drugs designed to kill the malaria parasite.
Professor Carters Woodward Medal for the Humanities and Social Sciences recognises his interdisciplinary scholarship and international reputation as a pioneer of spatial history.
The Woodward Medals are awarded yearly to two University of Melbourne staff whose research is considered to have made the most significant contribution to knowledge in their fields in science and technology and the humanities and social sciences and which has been published in the preceding year.
Former chancellor, Sir Edward Woodward, established the awards in 2001 with the support of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor. The Woodward Medals are presented at the Universitys annual Menzies Oration and conferring ceremony.
Nominations are invited from all areas of the University the sciences, applied sciences, engineering and medical and health sciences; and the humanities, the arts, the creative arts and the social sciences. Each medal is awarded by the Council on the recommendation of a committee appointed by the Council.
Professor McFadden leads research using a combination of genomics, molecular parasitology, computational biology and botany, which has enabled a fundamental breakthrough in the understanding of protein targeting in malaria.
His discovery of plant-like genes in the malaria parasite has opened the way to identifying targets for a range of new drugs against the disease.
The research was published in January 2003 in the prestigious international journal Science. It has been widely acclaimed as a work at the forefront of world science addressing a disease that is responsible for two million deaths a year.
Professor Carter has produced an exceptional body of work across a range of disciplines in which he explores and uses public space, including the critically acclaimed Nearamnew, a public space design and artwork he created at Federation Square. A book-length publication about Nearamnew and its significance will be published by Melbourne University Publishing in 2004.
Publications that have helped to establish his international reputation as a pioneer of spatial history include The Road to Botany Bay and The Lie of the Land.
Professor Carters publications and public artworks are recognised as having made a significant contribution to knowledge in academe and in the community at large.
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