Lumen Winter 2014 - Flipbook - Page 24
1990s
Exceptional research
expertise
The early 1990s was a time of intensive preparation for the
University’s merger with Roseworthy Agricultural College and
the SA College of Advanced Education. The relationship with
Roseworthy dated back to its foundation in 1883 when it was
Australia’s first agricultural college, while the merger with
SACAE saw new disciplines of drama and dance included in
an expanded Elder Conservatorium to become a Faculty of
Performing Arts. The University successfully lobbied to be
included in the Group of Eight research intensive universities on
the grounds of its exceptional record, routinely ranking first or
second both nationally and regionally in terms of competitive
research income per capita.
Professor of Mathematical Physics Paul Davies won the 1995
Templeton Prize for progress in religion, the world’s largest
prize for intellectual endeavour. Little did Davies know that he
was continuing a dialogue between science and religion that
the University’s founding father, Augustus Short, had already
addressed publicly as early as 1876.
Dr Andy Thomas
Working side-by-side
In 1992 the University, the State Government and
the CSIRO formally agreed to support more than $80
million of new developments at the Waite campus
in the 1990s to create a research and education
precinct with the largest concentration of expertise in
the southern hemisphere in agricultural and natural
resource sciences. Scientists from the University
and partner organisations were located together in
buildings based on their research interests to further
enhance collaborations. The new Plant Research
Centre, with its futuristic glasshouses, was opened in
1995 as part of the redevelopment.
Passion for politics
Natasha Stott Despoja is among a distinguished group of graduates
from the University of Adelaide who have carved successful political
careers in Canberra. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1991,
Natasha went on to become the youngest woman at that time to
enter the Australian Parliament after being elected as a Senator
for South Australia at the age of 26. She was the longest serving
Democrat Senator in the party’s history before leaving in 2008 after
almost 13 years. In 2011, she was made a Member of the Order of
Australia (AM) for her service
to the Australian Parliament,
education and as a role model
for women.
For the past six years Ms
Stott Despoja has funded an
undergraduate scholarship
to support a financially
disadvantaged female student
of academic merit to study
humanities full-time and in 2013
she was appointed Australia’s
Ambassador for Women and
Girls by the Federal Government.
Helping those in need
The Cowan Grant Trust was established by Marnie Cowan and
her son Bob in 1994 to help University students experiencing
financial hardship. The Cowan family’s longstanding connection
with the University of Adelaide spans three generations—
starting with Bob’s father, Bill Cowan, who was the University of
Adelaide librarian for 31 years from 1933 to 1964. The Cowan
Trust supports Music students through the Marnie Cowan Elder
Conservatorium of Music Scholarship, postgraduate students
through the Bill Cowan Barr
Smith Library Fellowship
and has also provided up to
six scholarships per year for
rural students living at the
Roseworthy campus.
In 2014, the trust is also
supporting travel grants
to encourage financially
disadvantaged students to
undertake an overseas study
experience for one semester.
Natasha Stott Despoja AM
From left: Bob and his wife Gayle Cowan
(front) with Cowan Grant recipients
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