2006 Media Releases
Wednesday, 2 May 2006
Bird flu – and vengeance in international relations
Two global questions – ‘Will bird flu lead to a new pandemic?’ and should we be ‘Avenging evil in international relations’? – will be canvassed at two separate events at La Trobe University’s Institute for Advanced Study on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 May, respectively.
Influenza Forum: Chaired by La Trobe University Professor of Biochemistry, Robin Anders, the speakers will be Professor Peter Colman, Head of Structural Biology at the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, and Mr Alan Hampson, Convenor of the Australian Influenza Specialist Group.
Professor Colman was previously Director of the Biomolecular Research Institute and Chief of the CSIRO Division of Biomolecular Engineering. There he led the team of scientists that solved the structure of the influenza coat protein, neuraminidase, and then used the process of structure-based design to develop Relenza, which has proven successful in treating influenza. This work led him to share the Australia Prize in 1996.
Mr Hampson was for many years Deputy Director of the World Health Organisation’s Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza. He has played an important role in research, influenza diagnosis and as an advisor to the Australian Government and the WHO.
• The forum will be held at 4 pm, Wednesday, 10 May 2006. Further details: Dr Michael Ryan, Tel: (03) 9479 2156 or Ms Margaret Botterill Tel: (03) 9479 2059.
International Relations: A public lecture, ‘Avenging evil in international relations: a reconsideration’, will be presented by Dr Ian Hall, lecturer in International Relations at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. Dr Hall’s research examines the ethics and politics of war, the history of international thought, and contemporary international theory.
He says: ‘We are often enjoined, when faced with an “evil” or injustice, to pursue forgiveness, reconciliation or modes of institutionalised justice and to “stay the hand of vengeance”.
His lecture will provide a reconsideration of the arguments for and against vengeance in the context of international relations, and suggest that, in a realm in which the perpetrators of “evil” often go unpunished, vengeance might, at times, be justified.’
Dr Hall studied Modern History at Exeter College, Oxford, and holds an MLitt in International Security Studies and a PhD from the University of St Andrews. He is author of a forthcoming book, The International Thought of Martin Wight (New York: Palgrave, 2006). Wight, a distinguished British analyst of international politics, was a key figure in what has been described as the ‘English School’ of international relations.
Venue for both events: Seminar Hall, Institute for Advanced Study, (Melways Ref: Map 573, f1).
For further information:
• The lecture will be held at 12.30 pm, Thursday, 11 May 2006. Further details: Ms Julia Anderson, Tel: (03) 9479 3461 or email: j.anderson@latrobe.edu.au