University marks life of medical pioneer

THE life of an Aberdeenshire farmer's son who was hailed as the founding father of tropical medicine is to be celebrated with a series of events at his alma mater.

Sir Patrick Manson, who graduated in medicine from Aberdeen University in 1865, is acknowledged as one of the most significant figures in the history of research into parasitic diseases. He is credited with one of the most important medical breakthroughs in the history of tropical medicine when he was the first to suggest that malaria was transmitted by mosquitoes.

Next week, to mark the 150th anniversary of his enrolment at the university, two lectures devoted to him are to be staged as part of Aberdeen's festival of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. On Monday, Anthony Hedley, professor of community medicine at Hong Kong University, will give a talk on Sir Patrick's research, and on Friday, Professor Michael Barrett, from Glasgow University, will explain the impact of his findings.