University Of Melbourne: Art And Science Converge In Lionel Gell Foundation Residency Program

Study in Australia: Lionel Gell Foundation Art in Science Initiative has been introduced at the University of Melbourne.

The University of Melbourne’s Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) has launched the Lionel Gell Foundation Art in Science Initiative in collaboration with the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute).

The Lionel Gell Foundation Art in Science Initiative is an innovative residency program binding science and art.

"Lionel was a firm believer in the power of both science and art to improve lives globally. By combining this with his passion for nurturing artistic talent, we have created an exciting new platform that encourages reflection and creative engagement among scientists and artists, sparking new ways to communicate, collaborate and deepen our work," said Doherty Institute Director, Professor Sharon Lewin.

VCA Director, Professor Emma Redding said, "We're excited to launch this groundbreaking program that fosters a dynamic exchange between art and science, made possible by the generous support of the late Lionel Gell and inspired by his passion for interdisciplinary exploration. By bringing alumni artists from the Victorian College of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts and Music into the Doherty Institute, we're creating a space where creative artists and world-leading researchers in infectious disease and immunology can engage. We anticipate seeing exciting, boundary-pushing works emerge."

Lionel Gell Foundation Art In Science Initiative Details

From 2025 to 2028, this initiative will support five residencies, each awarded to a VCA-trained visual artist who is well-established. The artists will get $50,000 each to develop new works.

“Lionel was always inspired by the potential for art to offer new perspectives on the world and he found it rewarding to see how the Doherty Institute adapts and changes to the new and emerging health concerns both in Australia and globally. He would have been proud to see this initiative unite those two fields in a unique and novel way,” said David Satori, Trustee of the Lionel Gell Foundation.

New Chemistry Chair Honours Legacy Of Professor Richard Robson

To recognize his leadership in his subject and pioneering research, the university's Professor Paul Donnelly has been awarded the inaugural Richard Robson Chair of Chemistry.

Dean of Science, Professor Moira O’Bryan commented, “In delivering the University’s mission of research and teaching excellence, we have been fortunate to work with some exceptional people. This includes Professor Richard Robson. Right here at the School of Chemistry, Richard laid the groundwork for an entire field of chemistry. It is a field that has revolutionised materials in areas as diverse as catalysis, gas storage and separation, capture of pollutants, magnetism, ion exchange, water adsorption and ionic and electrical conductivity. This chair is bestowed upon a Professor of Chemistry within the Faculty of Science with the skills and personal leadership to emulate the groundbreaking work delivered by Richard and his team.”

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