Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Penny D Sackett, will today welcome and congratulate Professor Elizabeth Blackburn at an event to be held at Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre.

• 16 February 2010

The Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd; Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr and Professor Sackett will recognise and celebrate Professor Blackburn’s remarkable achievements including her recent Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine 2009.

“It is a great honour to have Professor Blackburn with us in Australia.  Through her work the world understands better how DNA is protected during replication, how cells age, and new paths to follow for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. 

“Professor Blackburn is an inspiration to all Australian scientists, as well as young Australians considering a science-related career,” Professor Sackett said.

Questacon’s Excited Particles will be working with the Prime Minister, Senator Carr, Professor Blackburn, Professor Sackett and local students to illustrate Professor Blackburn’s pioneering research on how genetic information is protected within cells.  

“It will be great to be able to participate in some fun activities aimed at helping all of us understand Professor Blackburn’s ground-breaking discoveries, which have opened up new areas of research on how cells grow, age and become cancerous,” Professor Sackett said.

Photo and Interview Opportunities

Date: Tuesday 16 February 2010

Time:  9:45am for 10am start

Where:  Questacon, King Edward Terrace, Canberra

Opportunities: Photo opportunities will be available during the event.  At conclusion of the event, Professor Blackburn and Professor Sackett will be available for interview and further photos

Click here to download media release

Media contact: Rebecca Richter, Office of the Chief Scientist, 0410 029 407