Museum Launch & Medical Research Expo
| Monday 5th December heralded the second visit in just a little over 12 months of a NSW State Minister to the campus for an event related to a Museum of Human Disease activity. Following on from Minister Frank Sartor’s launch of the neuroscience exhibition for National Science week in August 2004, came Health Minister John Hatzistergos to launch of the newly relocated Museum, its “Gutsy Stuff” exhibition and a SOMS Research Expo in December 2005. Both events have brought the Museum and research activities of the School of Medical Sciences into the limelight and evoked interest from press and other sources. Leaders and workers from the School’s four major research groups attended and supported the event with postgraduate and postdoctoral students answering questions about their current work. | 
Health Minister John Hatzistergos opening the new Museum with Chancellor David Gonski and Professor Denis Wakefield |
UNSW Chancellor David Gonski and his father, Sir Alex Gonski | In addition to the Minister, the Museum and School of Medical Sciences were privileged to have UNSW’s Chancellor, David Gonski and the ABC’s Robyn Williams present to offer inspiring words about the positive contributions of Museums, their volunteers and their special exhibitions. The School of Medical Sciences was extremely honoured to have special guests, Dr Alex Gonski, father of the Chancellor and a former member of the Anatomy Dept, and Dr Grace Higgins, former curator for over 30 years at the Museum and Department of Pathology. Members of the U Committee, who are major Museum sponsors, joined the School for its celebration as well as Museum volunteers, members of the Sydney museum community and state and local government bodies, members of the University executive as well as architects and builders. |
Posters and PowerPoint presentations on display were contributed by all research groups in SOMS and proved to be a popular focus for guests including gifted and talented students from several local schools. Special presentations from gifted and talented students from Cranbrook school and the new Medicine Course were a draw for the huge 250 strong crowds. Teachers from over 90 high schools were present, some from as far away as Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains.
Following in the footsteps of “Deathstyles of the Rich and Famous”, “New Parts for Old” and “Getting on My Nerves”, the Museum launched “Gutsy Stuff”. This exhibition explores a number of questions about the ills and spills of our digestive system. A guts and all expose of bellyaches, blockages, food, fibre and flatulence, strangulated hernias, motions and potions from gullet to guts, are all on the agenda in this exhibition. This exhibition provides education about the unspeakables! | 
Denis Wakefield with 13 year old Ben Tait, a year 7 student from Cranbrook High School |
Looking at the gamut of conditions ranging from appendicitis, gallstones, bowel tumours, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal worms, infections such as typhoid and cholera, ulcers, pancreatitis, diverticultis, Crohn’s Disease and coeliac disease through to conditions like bulimia, anorexia and obesity, this exhibition has something of interest for everyone.
Academic and researcher Associate Professor Hazel Mitchell, who worked with UNSW’s Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Adrian Lee, on the discovery of the role of the Helicobacter Pylori bacteria and its role in the development of stomach and duodenal ulcers, was present to appraise the latest exhibition. She acknowledged that people like silent film star era actor, Rudolph Valentino, might not have died so prematurely with today’s treatments of stomach ulcers. Rudolph unfortunately contracted peritonitis infection which caused his demise after surgery for a perforated ulcer.
Head of the School of Medical Sciences Professor Denis Wakefield and Museum Manager Jenny Horder | Many guests made inquiries about bringing groups to the Museum for health and education purposes and many of the teachers, who have been regular visitors with their HSC students, were pleased to see it back in action and where it now resides in a prominent position at ground floor level on the UNSW campus. They were excited by the proliferation of new models and outreach kits which will support the Museum’s school and community programs and assist people who request more information on the nature of illnesses that are the subject of medical research.
The general consensus was that the event was a success on many fronts with everyone who attended agreeing that it had been a worthwhile experience and a great way to move forward for the Museum and the School of Medical Sciences. |