Motions

Nobel Prize Winners

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins:

That this council—

1. Acknowledges the Centenary of the 1915 Nobel Prize awarded to father and son recipients, William Bragg and Lawrence Bragg; and

2. Recognises, with appreciation, their contribution to science and their connection to the state of South Australia.

(Continued from 14 October 2015.)

The Hon. T.T. NGO (20:56): It is important to recognise the great scientific achievements in our state's history, and this is why I rise to speak about the Nobel Prize motion that the Hon. John Dawkins introduced. Sir William Henry Bragg and his son Sir William Lawrence Bragg were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1915 for their discovery of the X-ray technique for investigating the structure of crystals. At the age of 25 Lawrence Bragg was the youngest ever laureate.

They were the first of a number of Nobel Prize recipients who worked and studied in South Australia. Their work laid foundations that have been built upon by subsequent generations of scientists around the world. The Nobel Prize is among the highest of international honours presented to the world's greatest minds for work that improves the lives of people everywhere. As we recognise the significance of the contribution William Henry and his son William Lawrence made to science throughout their lives, we must also acknowledge the lasting impression the Braggs made on South Australia.

Sir William Henry Bragg was born in 1862 in Westward, Cumberland, England. He graduated with first class honours in 1885 at Trinity College, Cambridge. Upon William Henry's arrival in South Australia in 1886, he was elected to the Professorship of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Adelaide, South Australia. He also took a keen interest in both science and culture and was involved in the public library, museum and art gallery of South Australia, the School of Mines and Energy and Teachers' Guild. He believed that the greatest work a colonial university could do was to act as 'the centre from which all education radiates' and help to bring all people in touch with the best thinking. After a life of astonishing achievements, Sir William Bragg died on 10 March 1942 in London, United Kingdom.

William Lawrence Bragg was the son of Sir William Henry Bragg. He was born on 31 March 1890 in Adelaide. He was a very clever student from a young age. He studied at St Peter's College and at the age of 15 he entered the University of Adelaide to study mathematics, chemistry and physics. He graduated in 1908 at the age of 18.

Sir William Henry Bragg was offered the Chair of Physics at Leeds University in 1908, which meant that the Braggs had to move back to England. Lawrence also received a major scholarship at Trinity College England in mathematics, despite taking the exam in bed with pneumonia. Lawrence Bragg passed away on 1 July 1971 in Ipswich, the United Kingdom.

We have recognised the importance of the Braggs in the intellectual landscape of this state by naming the transdisciplinary teaching and research facilities at the University of Adelaide 'The Braggs'. In 2012 the university also unveiled a bronze bust of Lawrence. They were honoured with the naming of the Bragg electorate. Hopefully, their achievements will be an inspiration and encouragement to many young people to undertake studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. I commend this motion to the council.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (21:01): I will be brief in summing this up, but I thank the Hon. Tung Ngo for speaking on this motion and for his great interest in, I suppose, developing his knowledge of the history of South Australia. While I remember once having a member of another place criticising their own time and the time of this place being used for motions of this type, I disagree with that; I think it is a way of preserving the history of our state and allowing more people to know about the fascinating achievements of South Australians around the world.

I particularly commend the member for Bragg in another place for bringing this motion to the attention of the Liberal Party in the first place. Both she and I will attend the unveiling of the bust of Sir William Bragg, adjacent to the existing bust of Sir Lawrence Bragg outside the University of Adelaide, to take place on 2 December, followed by a reception at Government House. I know that His Excellency the Governor is very keen and very pleased to be involved in the celebrations of that wonderful achievement of the Braggs 100 years ago.

The Centenary of the awarding of the Nobel Prize is also being celebrated in Manchester at the University of Manchester, and I know that family members of the Braggs, many of whom live in United Kingdom, will be part of that celebration. I am very pleased that the exploits of both men are being celebrated not only here in South Australia but also in the universities they worked at in the United Kingdom. With those few words I commend the motion to the council.

Motion carried.