04 August 2023
We were fortunate to have old scholar Dr Andrew Thompson (FLL 2009) speak to the Year 10 Medical Research class (via Zoom from Melbourne) about his impressive career in science.
Dr Thompson uses X-ray crystallography to determine the three-dimensional structure of biological molecules. This knowledge is then used to help discover new medicines for important and hard to treat diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr Thompson discussed how his time at St Peter’s College and The University of Adelaide helped launch his career first at Oxford University and, now the Walter and Eliza Hall Research Institute – one of Australia’s eminent medical research institutes. The class also investigated how the pioneering work of another former scholar, Sir Lawrence Bragg – awarded the Nobel prize the development of X-ray crystallography – still impacts modern day medical research and solving some of the most challenging health problems facing humanity.
Dr Steven Polyak
Teacher – Senior School