Adelaidean (Winter 2015 edition) | Page 2

>ADELAIDEAN INSIDE THIS EDITION OF ADELAIDEAN 04-05 08-09 10-13 20-21 Professor Philip Weinstein is famous for his work showing how degrading ecosystems harms human health, plus he has a cockroach named after him! Professor Julie Owens has spent much of her life in the lab, now the medical scientist is working to connect researchers right across the University. Dr Michelle Wirthensohn is nuts about almonds, creating new varieties uniquely suited to South Australia. Professor Mobo Gao grew up in a poor Chinese village but now the Confucius Institute head is a worldrenowned scholar of the country’s transformation. He explains to Adelaidean how education changed his life. From IVF to LGBTIQ rights, society changes faster than the law can keep up – a University research institute is fixing that. Dr Ian Musgrave worries about the side effects of herbal medicine, but that does not stop him searching for a plant to treat Alzheimer’s Disease. And here comes the sun. Meet the team who built our solar racer from concept to car. To view online versions of current and past editions of Adelaidean visit adelaide. edu.au/adelaidean 2 ADELAIDEAN >CONTENTS 03 Leadership comes from within 14-15 A tradition of reform 04-05 Almonds blossoming 16-17 Creating new knowledge 06-07 What the doctor didn’t order 18-19 From peasant to professor 08-09 Making a difference – 20-21 Here comes the sun Economics fuels passion for policy 22-23 Beating the bad Aussie mozzie 10-13 It takes a Village ... Established in 1991, Adelaidean is the University of Adelaide’s free magazine. Circulation:10,000 Cover photo: Professor Philip Weinstein. Subscription Enquiries: For free print and online subscriptions Phone: +61 8 8313 0814 Email: [email protected] Mailing address: Adelaidean, Marketing & Communications, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. CRICOS 00123M 2365-4 Winter 2015