Science

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (14:52): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Science and Information Economy a question about science.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: The Nobel Prize is an international award given yearly since 1901 for achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace. South Australia has a proud history of being home to many who have been given this distinguished award, giving Adelaide the nickname of the Nobel Prize capital of Australia. Can the minister inform the chamber of a recent event that commemorates a significant science success story?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:53): I thank the honourable member for his very good question. Yesterday, the Sir William Bragg bust was unveiled on North Terrace and sited next to the bust of Sir William's Bragg son, Sir Lawrence Bragg. The bust was sculpted by South Australian artist, Mr Robert Hannaford, and the unveiling commemorates the centenary of the Nobel Prize in Physics being awarded to the father and son team in 1915.

I am aware that the Hon. John Dawkins attended the unveiling. I had certainly planned to also be present. I had responded to the invitation that I would attend because of my interest in this, but unfortunately I was caught up with legislation here in this chamber and therefore missed out. But I believe it is an important enough occasion to mention in this place.

Sir William Bragg was the Elder Professor of Physics at the University of Adelaide from 1886 to 1909. His son, Sir Lawrence Bragg, worked with him in the United Kingdom on the analysis of crystal structures by means of X-rays between 1912 and 1914. It was for this work that both Sir William and Sir Lawrence Bragg were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize. Their collaborative work laid foundations that have been built upon by subsequent generations of scientists across the world.

The existing bust of Sir Lawrence Bragg commemorates the centenary of Lawrence Bragg's explanation of X-ray diffraction. The bust was unveiled by his granddaughter, Claire Heath, in December 2012 after the Centenary Symposium on X-Ray Crystallography. It was donated to the City of Adelaide by his daughters Margaret Heath and Patience Thomson, the University of Adelaide, RiAus, and friends of the Bragg family. The new bust was funded through fundraising activities of the Bragg Heritage Committee, I understand, and through the Bragg family members themselves. This project has been over two years in the planning, with copies of the bust being sold to Adelaide and Leeds universities, King William's College on the Isle of Man, United Kingdom, and the Bragg Institute of Sydney (the Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation).

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank RiAus, who organised the event, given the organisation's historical links with the Bragg family. RiAus is an independent, national, no-profit organisation with a mission of bringing science to people and people to science. I understand there are other community of activities also taking place, including a dinner to mark the centenary at Catherwood House on East Terrace, which was the home of the Braggs from 1899 to 1909.

Earlier this year the Department of State Development initiated a Science of Light professional development workshop for primary school teachers based on the work of the Braggs. I also had great pleasure of attending the inaugural workshop to launch the Willy Wonders Why picture book, authored by Mark Thomson—and I should declare that he is also a staff member of mine—and illustrated by George Aldridge, which tells the story of Sir Lawrence Bragg. It is a wonderful book, absolutely delightful, so I certainly suggest that any of you with children or grandchildren get a copy.

The workshop was attended by over 30 primary school teachers and will become an annual workshop delivered by the South Australian Science Teachers Association (SASTA) in conjunction with the University of Adelaide. South Australia has been home to many successful scientists and exciting scientific discoveries, and I look forward to sharing more of these with the chamber in the future.