A Queensland scientist, who worked for The University of Queensland for 20 years without pay, celebrated his 99th birthday by donating money for a new computing facility named in his honour.
Dr Alf Howard, AM, is best known for being the last survivor of Sir Douglas Mawson`s Australasian expeditions to Antarctica. In 2000 he was awarded the title of Senior Australian of the Year for his service to science through Antarctic exploration.
The educator and adventurer worked as a research fellow in UQ`s School of Human Movement Studies, where he designed computer programs and provided statistical advice to assist students with their research.
He generously donated $80,000 to fund the new Alf Howard Computer Laboratory, following his birthday on April 30.
Dr Howard said he got a kick out of helping students with their projects.
“I`ve always thought that the University needed support from the public,” he said.
“From my point of view this was the area in which I was primarily interested in so if I could do anything to help students working in human movement, OK.”
Although Mr Howard retired from UQ in late 2003, the University is yet to find a replacement able to fulfil his duties.
Head of the School of Human Movement Studies Professor Doune Macdonald said Mr Howard was irreplaceable and described him as a living treasure.
“We are indebted to Alf for his patient and committed service to the school as a computer programmer and statistics consultant from the late 1970s until recently,” she said.
“Alf worked with us full-time without pay for over 20 years as an honorary research fellow - a perfect staff member whose position is still vacant.”
A photographic portrait of Mr Howard, who gained his PhD in psychology from UQ in 1968, will hang in the new laboratory.
He said he hoped the laboratory would not only help students with their studies but would also remind them of the scientific work done by previous generations.
Dr Howard was part of the Antarctic expedition from 1929 to 1931 when Sir Douglas Mawson claimed 42 percent of Antarctica as Australian territory.
“Our expedition accomplished a lot. We collected an enormous amount of data considering the limited means at our disposal and we opened a lot of doors,” he said.
“But I think our greatest achievement lay in pointing to areas where research was inadequate or non-existent, such as determining exact Antarctic currents. We showed what still needed to be done.”
Media: For more information, contact Chris Saxby at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2479, email: c.saxby@uq.edu.au).
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