Scientist, 102, wins battle to hold on to university post
AUSTRALIA: A 102-year-old scientist has won a battle to keep working on campus at an Australian university amid concerns his presence was a ‘‘safety risk’’.
Edith Cowan University, in Perth, had told ecologist Dr David Goodall that he would have to work from home from 2017 as it was concerned about his ‘‘general wellbeing on campus’’.
Goodall, who was born in London and received his PHD from Imperial College in 1941, has an unpaid position as an honorary research associate, but typically attends the campus at least four days a week to review academic papers and supervise doctoral students.
The journey to his office involves a 90-minute commute, including catching two buses and a train.
Following a public outcry over the proposed eviction of Australia’s oldest scientist, the university has said it will renew Goodall’s position this month and has found him a new office at another campus, which will halve his travel time.
‘‘It is better in many ways,’’ the university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Steve Chapman, said.
‘‘First of all, it’s closer to his residence. Secondly, there’s an office very close that’s manned all the time, so we will be able to keep an eye on him to ensure he’s OK. Thirdly, he’s agreed to inform us when he comes in so that if he didn’t arrive, we could check what had happened.’’
Goodall, who has worked at the university for two decades, said he was sad to be leaving his old office.
‘‘Given that I had to move, this is satisfactory,’’ he said.
’’I prefer to be on campus because there are other people around and people who potentially are friends.
‘‘I hope to continue with some useful work in my field in so far as my eyesight permits. But I still think the emphasis on safety was unnecessary.’’
The university said Goodall’s position will be renewed for three years.
Goodall, who holds three doctorates, has worked in Ghana, Britain and the United States, and has published more than 130 scientific works.
He has four children from three marriages and has lived in Australia since 1948, when he took up a position as a botany lecturer at the University of Melbourne.
He lives alone and belongs to a group that performs poetry readings around Perth.
’’I know most of the people in my office corridor and it’s very nice to be able to go and talk to them from time to time.’’
Karen Goodall-smith, Goodall’s daughter, said. ‘‘He is a very intelligent, bright man, sharper than many people a quarter of his age.
‘‘All of us are going to get old. Does that mean that we are not expected to contribute if we can?’’
- Telegraph Group