Media Release

11 March, 2010

Genomics pioneer Dr J Craig Venter to deliver Graeme Clark Oration

As a key sponsor of the annual Graeme Clark Oration, NICTA takes great pleasure in welcoming genomics pioneer Dr J Craig Venter to Melbourne to deliver this year’s address, From Reading to Writing the Genetic Code.

“Dr Venter is a pioneer in the development of genomics and arguably one of the most important biologists in recent times,” said NICTA Victoria Research Laboratory Director, Professor Rob Evans.  “NICTA has several exciting biomedical and life sciences research activities, so his work is of special interest to us. We are delighted to jointly sponsor the Graeme Clark Oration, which is the only public lecture Dr Venter will be delivering on this trip to Australia.”

Dr Venter successfully mapped the first complete, six billion letter genome of an individual from his own DNA sequence. He then went on to be the first to sequence and publish the first complete human genome in 2007. Dr Venter’s address will describe his past breakthroughs and how he is attempting to create artificial life forms to create new sources of energy and address global warming.

A half-hour press conference will follow the Oration.

Where:  Melbourne Convention Centre, 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf
Date:  Wednesday, 17th March, 2010
Time:  6-7 pm. Refreshments from 5.15 pm.

Press conference:  7-7.30pm

Spaces are limited, so please remember to register online at: http://ict4lifesciences.org.au/

NICTA is a proud sponsor of the Graeme Clark Oration and is also a founding sponsor of the ICT4Life Sciences Forum, a partnership founded in 2008 to support ICT and life sciences research communities in Victoria.

The other Forum sponsors are: the University of Melbourne’s School of Engineering and commercialisation company Melbourne Ventures Pty Ltd; the Bionic Ear Institute; Florey Neurosciences Institutes; Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick; the Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing (VPAC) and the Victorian eResearch Strategic Initiative (VeRSI).

About NICTA

National ICT Australia Ltd (NICTA), Australia’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Research Centre of Excellence, is developing technologies which will meet the current and future needs of the community in fields which will lead to large economic, social and environmental benefits for Australia. NICTA has five laboratories around the country. Since NICTA was founded in 2002, it has created four new companies, developed a substantial technology portfolio of patent applications and continues to supply new talent to the ICT industry through the NICTA-enhanced PhD program.

NICTA is funded by the Australian Government as represented by the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and the Australian Research Council through the ICT Centre of Excellence program. In addition to federal funding NICTA is also funded and supported by the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland and Victorian Governments, The Australian National University, Griffith University, University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales, University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology and The University of Sydney.

For further information:

Dorothy Kennedy

Communications Specialist, NICTA

Ph: 02 9376 2098 or 0488 229 687