Make History Speaker Series: The Wizards of Oz
Event description
"Going after the unknown is always fascinating, I think. It becomes part of your life, this desire to know"
- Mark Oliphant
Brett Mason's book Wizards of Oz tells the story of Mark Oliphant and Howard Florey, who emerge as the two most consequential Australians of the Second World War - perhaps of all time. Childhood friends and University of Adelaide alumni, physicist Mark Oliphant and medical researcher Howard Florey initiated the three most significant scientific and industrial projects of the war. Manufacturing penicillin, developing microwave radar and building the atomic bomb gave the Allies the edge and ultimate victory over Germany and Japan. More than just a story of scientific discovery, Wizards of Oz tells a remarkable tale of secret missions, international intrigue, and triumph against all odds.
Facilitated by Brett Mason, this discussion will draw parallels of pandemic and disease control in the past and present day, inviting an esteemed panel of medical research professionals at the forefront of medical research as they tackle pressing issues including pathogen resistance, pandemic response, and environmental threats. From battling antibiotic resistance to confronting the existential risk of climate change, we will discover innovative solutions that promise a healthier tomorrow.