Australian Nobel Prize Winner to Visit South Korea
27 February 2006
Australian Nobel Prize winner, Dr Barry Marshall, will visit South Korea from 7 to 12 March.
Dr Marshall jointly won the Prize for Medicine in 2005 with fellow-Australian Dr J. Robin Warren in recognition of their ground-breaking work on stomach ulcers. Dr Marshall infected himself to prove his controversial theory that the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, not stress, caused stomach ulcers. He then took antibiotics to cure himself.
South Korea will be one of the first countries Dr Marshall will visit on his inaugural world tour as a Nobel laureate.
South Korea has one of the highest ulcer rates in the world. Over 70 per cent of South Koreans are infected with Helicobacter pylori.
Dr Marshall is well known in South Korea for his relationship with Korea Yakult for whom he appeared in a television commercial for their flagship product ‘Will’. He advises the company on the development of products to better resist Helicobacter pylori.
On 9 March, he will deliver a special lecture for the Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, entitled ‘Helicobacter pylori; Eradication, Usage and Natural Control in the 21st Century’, sponsored by the Korea Yakult Company Ltd.
During the visit, Dr Marshall will also meet South Korean ministers, including Deputy-Prime Minister Mr Kim Jin-pyo, and key government, academic and industry representatives. He will discuss strengthening scientific, research and educational ties between Australia and South Korea.
During the visit he will also:
• Hold a press forum at the Korea Press Foundation in the Foreign Correspondents Club, 18th floor, Korea Press Center Building (10 am Wednesday 8 March)
• Discuss joint research projects with the Korea Yakult Company and plant a commemorative tree at its R&D Centre (8 March) and visit the company’s headquarters for a commemorative ceremony (10 March);
• Participate in an Eminent Scientists Roundtable at Seoul National University to discuss Australia-Korea scientific collaboration (10 am Thursday 9 March); and
• Deliver a speech and plant a tree at Nobel Garden at Postech University (10 March).
Dr Marshall will arrive at Incheon Airport at 3:15 pm on Tuesday 7 March on SQ886.
Media Contact: Irene Kim, Australian Embassy, tel. 2003-0189
The Australia-South Korea Connection
Australia and South Korea have well established scientific networks and research collaboration.
• Australia and South Korea have a bilateral treaty-level Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation and a range of other formal agreements with government bodies and science bodies.
• The two countries have many areas of complementarity, for example South Korea has strong market-oriented R&D and expertise in patenting and Australia has advanced university based science.
Currently, 26,000 South Koreans students are enrolled in Australian education institutions.
• Nevertheless, many South Koreans are still unaware of Australia's world class higher education and research capabilities.
• Dr Marshall’s visit will help highlight the unique qualities of the Australian education system, which in all sectors - including higher education, vocational and technical education and schools - encourages innovative, creative and independent thinking.
In total, Australia has produced 9 Nobel Prize winners, 8 in science and 1 in literature.