Bulletin

Issue: May 2006

News

La Trobe honours retiring Chancellor

A standing ovation, an honorary doctorate – and newly identified bacteria that carry her name …

These were three of many acknowledgements for La Trobe University’s longest-serving Chancellor, eminent biological scientist Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis.

Officially, the University honoured the Chancellor, who retired from her role in late April, with the award of the degree Doctor of Science (honoris causa).

The degree was conferred upon Professor Millis by the new Chancellor, Mrs Sylvia Walton (see March issue). The award recognised Professor Millis’ outstanding contributions to Australian science and her great service to La Trobe University.

Professor Millis also received a standing ovation after presiding over her final graduation ceremony on the Albury-Wodonga campus. Conferring ceremonies – where she has presented degrees and diplomas to an estimated 30,000 graduates during the last 14 years – are the most public role of a University Chancellor.

Coinciding with her retirement, the April issue of the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology reported a newly discovered bacterium named Millisa brevis in recognition of Professor Millis’s contribution to water microbiology (see page 12).

A ‘legend’ in the world of science – she was one of only five Australian scientists recognised on the ‘Australian Legends’ series of stamps in 2002 – Professor Millis has to her credit a string of more conventional scientific and civic accolades, including an MBE and a Companion of the Order of Australia.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian Stoddart, said Professor Millis has been widely acknowledged for strengthening the links between universities, industry, science, and the public.

‘This is not so much a farewell to Nancy Millis, but to mark the end of her formal involvement with us, because no doubt we will still see a lot of her, as she is a very warm supporter of the University. Her long period of service to us has been greatly valued and her impact upon the University will be felt for a very long time.

‘Nancy Millis has presided over a period of major growth and development for La Trobe during what have been extremely difficult times for the sector nationally, and that makes her work on our behalf even more meritorious.’

Professor Millis has been an active supporter of the expansion of research into new areas and welcomed the large growth in international student enrolments both on and off shore. She has taken particular pleasure in the provision and expansion of quality education to regional Victoria, giving communities access to new education opportunities.

A pioneer in biotechnology, Professor Millis’ research in microbial physiology, fermentation technology and waste management has established her international reputation as one of Australia’s leading scientists.

She played a key national role as Chairman of the Monitoring Committee for Recombinant DNA during the 1980s and Chairman of the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee from 1988 to 2001.

An outstanding teacher, her book, Biochemical Engineering, is still a standard text. In 1992 the Victorian Government established the Nancy Millis Research Award to support doctoral researchers working in the agricultural disciplines.