The celebrated scientist and Emeritus Professor is a former Chancellor of the University. Her ground-breaking research into water quality and long association with the water industry has helped improve water treatment, a field critical at a time of reduced supply.
‘So it is very fitting,’ says Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dr Julie Jackson, ‘that she has agreed to lend her name to the Albury-Wodonga campus building that houses the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre.’
The University earlier this year dramatically boosted its research capability in freshwater ecology, trebling staff and forging broader alignments at its Albury-Wodonga and Mildura campuses for the benefit of the Murray-Darling Basin area.
A second building on the campus, housing the administration and academic offices, will be named after former Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Michael Osborne, a distinguished scholar recognised internationally for his contributions as a classicist and Hellenist and for his research in China.
During his time as Vice-Chancellor, he oversaw the development of La Trobe University’s regional mission. Dr Jackson notes: ‘The naming of a building on the Albury-Wodonga campus is an important recognition of Professor Osborne’s contributions to higher education in regional Victoria.’
The naming ceremony – where both Professor Millis and Professor Osborne will unveil the plaques for their buildings – will be held from 2.30pm Friday 22 June, La Trobe University’s Albury-Wodonga campus, University Drive, Wodonga.
Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis was Chancellor of La Trobe University from 1992 to 2006. Among the many honours bestowed on Professor Millis was selection as one of five 'Australian Science Legends' for a series of postage stamps in 2002.
A specialist in microbiology and biochemistry, she was only the fourth woman appointed as a professor of the University of Melbourne. She has played an important role as Chair of the Commonwealth Government Recombinant DNA Monitoring Committee and on boards of management including Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital, the Australian Water Resources Advisory Committee, the CRC for Freshwater Ecology, the Council of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and the National Commission for UNESCO.
Professor Millis has been a strong supporter of research on the Albury-Wodonga campus, and was especially pleased to see the location of the MDFRC on this campus, to strengthen collaborative research on the environmental, social and management issues around fresh water.
Professor Michael Osborne was Vice-Chancellor and President of La Trobe University from 1990 to 2006. Professor Osborne’s academic achievements have been well recognised and honoured internationally. He is a Laureate of the Belgian Royal Academy; a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities; a Member of the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton); a Member of the Academy of Athens; an Alexander Onassis Research Fellow; and has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece).
Additionally, in 1998 the Government of Greece awarded him the Aristotle Award for services to Hellenic Studies, in 2000 the Republic of Cyprus awarded him an Honorary Distinction for his contributions to the understanding and promotion of Hellenism, and in Australia he has been awarded the Centenary Medal and the Niki Award. During his Presidency of La Trobe University, Professor Osborne also played a key role in the internationalisation of higher education.
With a strong commitment to equity of access to higher education for regional as well as metropolitan students, during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor the regional mission of the University flourished, with campuses being located in six regional Victorian centres. In this time, the Albury-Wodonga campus grew from fewer than 200 enrolments to its current size of more than 1,100 students.
The campus now offers a wide range of undergraduate and post graduate programs from all five faculties of the University and boasts research strengths in environmental science, freshwater ecology and water management, as well as the recently announced John Richards Research Initiative into Aged Care in Regional Communities.
Wednesday, 20 June 2007La Trobe names buildings to honour leadership in science and the arts Albury-Wodonga this Friday will forge a permanent link with legendary Australian scientist, Nancy Millis, when La Trobe University names one of its main buildings in her honour.For further information please contact Dr Julie Jackson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Albury Wodonga) Tel: 02 6024 9782; Email: julie.jackson@latrobe.edu.au