Tributes flow for Australia's sole Nobel chemist

Minister for Education, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, has today extended his condolences to the family of Australia’s only Nobel prize winner in Chemistry, Sir John Warcup Cornforth. Professor Cornforth, 96, passed away on the weekend after a long and successful research career. In 1975 he was awarded the Nobel prize in Chemistry. In the same year he was also named joint Australian of the Year. He was later knighted and awarded a Centenary of Federation medal for his contribution to society. Professor Cornforth is best known for his work on the stereochemistry of enzyme-catalysed reactions—he determined specifically which cluster of hydrogen atoms in a substrate were replaced by an enzyme to effect a given change in the substrate, allowing him to detail the biosynthesis of cholesterol—it is this research that won him the Nobel Prize. Mr Pyne said Professor Cornforth was an outstanding and inspirational Australian who would be sorely missed in the science and research sector. "Professor Cornforth was an amazing scientist and fought hard to succeed in the face of adversity. "By age 20 he was completely deaf due to a condition called otosclerosis. However, he worked hard studying at the University of Sydney reading textbooks as he couldn’t hear lectures, and teaching himself German as most of the textbooks were in German. "I know he has inspired a number of generations of chemists and will continue to do so for many years to come. His story is inspirational and is an honest reminder that great success can be achieved through hard work, commitment and dedication. "I thank Professor Cornforth for his outstanding contribution to science and research nationally and internationally, and extend my sincere sympathies to his loved ones during this sad time.” 16 December 2013