P000279 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

These key entries are listed separately below with other indexes and lists.

 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human Gavan McCarthy; Ken McInnes updated 2026-05-18 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000279b.htm person Burnet Frank Macfarlane AK KBE Kt OM FAA FRS FRSNZ AACR2 3 September 1899 31 August 1985 Place of Birth Traralgon, Victoria, Australia Medical scientist Biologist Nobel laureate Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet was Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne 1944-1966. In 1960 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, jointly with Peter Brian Medawar, for discovery of acquired immunological tolerance. His work influenced the later developments of DNA sequencing. 1922 1922 Education - Bachelor of Medicine (MB) and Bachelor of Surgery (BS), University of Melbourne 1924 1924 Education - Doctor of Medicine (MD), University of Melbourne 1925 1927 Career position - Beit Memorial Fellowship, Lister Institute in London 1928 1928 Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of London 1928 1931 Career position - Bacteriologist, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) 1932 1933 Career position - National Institute of Medical Research funded work in London 1934 1943 Career position - Assistant Director of WEHI 1935 1935 Award - Stewart Prize, British Medical Association 1938 1938 Award - Walter Burfitt Prize, Royal Society of New South Wales 1939 1939 Award - Cilento Medal, Australian Institute of Anatomy 1942 1985 Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS) 1944 1965 Career position - Director of WEHI 1947 1947 Award - Royal Medal, The Royal Society, London 1949 1949 Career position - President, Section I & N (Medical Science, National Health and Physiology), Australian and New Zealand Associaiton for the Advnacement of Science 1951 1951 Award - Knight Bachelor (Kt) - for services to biological research 1953 1953 Award - Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953 1953 Career event - Petitioner for the Australian Academy of Science 1953 1953 Award - Charles Mickle Fellowship, University of Toronto, Canada 1953 1953 Award - Lasker Award, American Public Health Association 1954 1954 Award - James Cook Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales 1954 1954 Award - Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences 1954 1954 Award - Von Behring Prize for 1952, University of Marburg 1954 1985 Award - Founding Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 1957 1957 Award - Foreign member, Royal Swedish Academy of Science 1957 1957 Award - President, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) 1958 1958 Award - Order of Merit (OM) - winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1960 1958 1958 Award - Galen Medal, the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London 1959 1959 Award - Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science 1959 1959 Award - Copley Medal, The Royal Society, London 1959 1960 Career position - President, Australian Society for Microbiology 1960 1960 Award - Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (jointly with Peter Brian Medawar) - for discovery of acquired immunological tolerance 1960 1960 Award - Honorary member, Royal Society of New Zealand 1961 1961 Award - Second Order of the Rising Sun (with Double Rays) 1962 1962 Award - Doctor of Laws (LLD), honoris causa, University of Melbourne 1962 1962 Award - New York University Medal 1962 1962 Award - Mueller Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science 1963 1963 Award - James Spence Medal, British Paediatric Association 1965 1969 Award - President, Australian Academy of Science 1966 1977 Career position - Writer and elder statesman of science, University of Melbourne 1967 1967 Award - Silver Medal, l'Institut de Microbiologie et d'Hygiene de l'Université de Montreal, Canada 1967 1967 Award - Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene Medal 1969 1969 Award - Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) - President of the Australian Academy of Science 1971 1971 Award - First International Congress of Immunology Award 1973 1973 Award - Distinguished Service Award, International Association of Allergy 1974 1974 Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa, University of Newcastle 1 Aug 1977 11 Aug 1977 Award - Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal 1978 1978 Award - Knight of the Order of Australia (AK) - for extraordinary and meritorious service to medicine and to science particularly in the fields of microbiology and immunology Ward, Hugh Kingsley (1887 - 1972) Wood, Ian Jeffreys (1903 - 1986) Mackay, Ian Reay (1922 - 2020) Freeman, Mavis (1907 - 1992) Wallaby Club (1894 - )

President 1945 - 1946

 Nobel Laureates, Australia (1901 - ) Advisory Council - CSIRO, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1950 - 1986)

Member CSIR Council 1947-1949; Member 1950-1956

 CSIR Council, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (1926 - 1949)

Member 1947-1949; Member CSIRO Advisory Council 1950-1956

 Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) (1930 - )

President, Section I & N (Medical Science, National Health and Physiology) 1949

 Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science (1971 - )

The Medal has been awarded by the Australian Academy of Science since 1971

 James Cook Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales (1954 - )

Awarded the Medal 1954

 Burnet Prize, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (1987 - )

The Prize has been awarded by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research since 1987

 Australian Society for Microbiology (1959 - )

President 1959 - 1960

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Petitioner for the Academy 1953, Founding Fellow 1954 - 1985; President 1965 - 1969

 Australian Institute of Anatomy (1931 - 1985)

Awarded the Cilento Medal 1939

 The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (1915 - )

Director 1944-1965

 Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science (1957 - )

Awarded the Medal 1959

 Mueller Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (1904 - 2006)

Awarded the Medal 1962

 Walter Burfitt Prize, Royal Society of New South Wales (1935 - )

Awarded the Prize 1938

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Burnet, Macfarlane (18990903-19850831)

Trove

 'Burnet, Frank Macfarlane', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Burnet, Frank Macfarlane Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource Section: Macfarlane Burnet - research on antibodies and the immune system Macfarlane Burnet - research on antibodies and the immune system 1997 The 1997 Australian Science Festival Journal Article: 150 Years, 150 Stories: Frank Macfarlane Burnet Flesch, Juliet and McPhee, Peter 150 Years, 150 Stories: Frank Macfarlane Burnet 2003 Uni News 12 15 4 Journal Article: Selfhood, Immunity, and the Biological Imagination: TheThought of Frank Macfarlane Burnet Crust, Eileen; Tauber, Alfred A. Selfhood, Immunity, and the Biological Imagination: TheThought of Frank Macfarlane Burnet 2000 Biology & Philosophy 15 4 509-533 Book Section: Frank Macfarlane Burnet Beale, R Frank Macfarlane Burnet Sydney ABIE Australian Business and Investment Explorer 2004 Australia's Nobel Laureates - Adventures in Innovation 44-53 Resource Section: Career Outline McCarthy, Gavan Career Outline Melbourne Australian Science Archives Project 1993 Guide to the Records of Frank Macfarlane Burnet Resource Section: Burnet, Frank Macfarlane - Ms 98 Burnet, Frank Macfarlane - Ms 98 Australian Academy of Science 1994 Listing of Adolph Basser Library holdings Resource: Frank Macfarlane Burnet Guide to Records McCarthy, Gavan; Manhal, Oscar; O'Sullivan, Lisa; Tropea, Rachel; Sherratt, Tim Frank Macfarlane Burnet Guide to Records Melbourne Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre 2001 Journal Article: Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet, OM, FRS, Nobel Laureate, 1899-1985 Nossal, Gustav Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet, OM, FRS, Nobel Laureate, 1899-1985 1999 Eureka Street 9 7 22-27 Book Section: Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet, 1899-1985 Mazumdar, Pauline M. H. Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet, 1899-1985 Oxford Oxford University Press 2004 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Resource Section: Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet - Biography The Nobel Foundation Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet - Biography 1996 Nobel e-Museum The Nobel Foundation Journal Article: The 'Burnet Era' of Immunology: Origins and Influence Mackay, I. R. The 'Burnet Era' of Immunology: Origins and Influence 1991 Immunology and Cell Biology 69 5 301-305 Article: From Beetles to a Nobel Prize: Macfarlane Burnet Sherratt, Tim From Beetles to a Nobel Prize: Macfarlane Burnet 1994 Australasian Science Autumn Journal Article: Frank Macfarlane Burnet, 1899-1985 Fenner, Frank Frank Macfarlane Burnet, 1899-1985 CSIRO Publishing 1987 Historical Records of Australian Science 7 1 39-77 Resource: Guide to the Records of Frank Macfarlane Burnet McCarthy, Gavan; Manhal, Oscar; O'Sullivan, Lisa; Tropea, Rachel; Sherratt, Tim Guide to the Records of Frank Macfarlane Burnet Original online Melbourne Australian Science Archives Project 1993 Journal Article: Appreciation of Frank Macfarlane Burnet Wood, I. J. Appreciation of Frank Macfarlane Burnet 1965 Australian Journal of Experimental Biology and Medical Science 43 327-336 Journal Article: Burnet and Nossal: the Impact of Immunology on the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Marchalonis, John J. Burnet and Nossal: the Impact of Immunology on the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute 1994 Quarterly Review of Biology 69 53-67 Journal Article: Sir Frank MacFarlane Burnet (1899-1985) Nossal, G. J. V. Sir Frank MacFarlane Burnet (1899-1985) 1985 Nature 317 108 Book: The Seeds of Time: the Life of Sir Macfarlane Burnet Sexton, Christopher The Seeds of Time: the Life of Sir Macfarlane Burnet Melbourne Oxford University Press 1992 Resource Section: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1960 'for discovery of acquired immunological tolerance' The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1960 'for discovery of acquired immunological tolerance' 1996 Nobel e-Museum The Nobel Foundation Journal Article: From Plaques to Pocks: Carrying over Bacteriophage Assay Techniques to the Study of Influenza and Other Animal Viruses. Sankaran, Neeraja From Plaques to Pocks: Carrying over Bacteriophage Assay Techniques to the Study of Influenza and Other Animal Viruses. Cambridge University Press 2026 Medical History 70 1 89-93 Book Section: Burnet, Sir Frank Macfarlane (1899-1985), medical scientist Nossal, G. J. V. Burnet, Sir Frank Macfarlane (1899-1985), medical scientist Melbourne Melbourne University Press 2007 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 17: 1981 - 1990 A-K Diane Langmore 160-164 Journal Article: An Australian chemist just won the Nobel prize. Here's how his work is changing the world D'Alessandro, Deanna An Australian chemist just won the Nobel prize. Here's how his work is changing the world Melbourne The Conversation Media Group Ltd 2025 The Conversation Journal Article: Mutant Bacteriophages, Frank Macfarlane Burnet and the Changing Nature of 'Genespeak' in the 1930s Sankaran, N. Mutant Bacteriophages, Frank Macfarlane Burnet and the Changing Nature of 'Genespeak' in the 1930s Springer 2010 Journal of the History of Biology 43 3 571-599 Resource: Honorary degrees University of Newcastle Honorary degrees University of Newcastle 2023 Resource: Honorary degree holders University of Melbourne Honorary degree holders University of Melbourne 2023 Journal Article: Burnet Oration: Auto-immunity, Paradigms of Burnet and Complexities of Today Mackay, I. R. Burnet Oration: Auto-immunity, Paradigms of Burnet and Complexities of Today 1992 Immunology and Cell Biology 70 159-171 Book: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, 1915-1965 Burnet, Macfarlane, Sir Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, 1915-1965 Carlton, Victoria Melbourne University Press 1971 Journal Article: Section I & N - Medical Science, National Health and Physiology. The nature of immunity Australia [presidential address] Burnet, F. M. Section I & N - Medical Science, National Health and Physiology. The nature of immunity Australia [presidential address] 1949 Report of the 27th meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science 106-12 Conference Proceedings: Radiation Biology: Proceedings of the Second Australasian Conference on Radiation Biology held at the University of Melbourne, 15-18 December, 1958 Martin, J.H. Radiation Biology: Proceedings of the Second Australasian Conference on Radiation Biology held at the University of Melbourne, 15-18 December, 1958 New York Academic Pres Inc. 1959 Book: Changing Patterns an Atypical Autobiography Burnet, Frank Macfarlane Changing Patterns an Atypical Autobiography Melbourne Heinemann 1968 Book: Influenza: a survey of the last 50 years in the light of modern work on the virus of epidemic influenza Burnet, F. M.; and Clark, Ellen Influenza: a survey of the last 50 years in the light of modern work on the virus of epidemic influenza Melbourne Macmillan 1942 Journal Article: Changes of twenty-five years in the outlook on infectious diseases Burnet, F. M. Changes of twenty-five years in the outlook on infectious diseases 1939 Medical Journal of Australia 1939 1 23-8 Book: Self and not-self : cellular immunology, book one Burnet, Macfarlane Self and not-self : cellular immunology, book one Carlton, Vic.: Cambridge Melbourne University Press: Cambridge University Press 1969 Book: Endurance of Life: the Implication of Genetics for Human Life Burnet, Macfarlane Endurance of Life: the Implication of Genetics for Human Life Carlton, Victoria Melbourne University Press 1978 Book Section: The Production of Antibodies Burnet, Frank Macfarlane; Fenner, Frank The Production of Antibodies London Science Tech 1988 Milestones in Immunology: A Historical Exploration Debra Jan Bibel 181-184 Journal Article: Derrick and the story of Q fever Burnet, F. M. Derrick and the story of Q fever 1967 Medical Journal of Australia 1967 2 1067-8 Book Section: Kellaway, Charles Halliley (1889-1952), medical scientist Burnet, Frank Macfarlane Kellaway, Charles Halliley (1889-1952), medical scientist Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1983 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 9: 1891 - 1939 Gil-Las Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle 546-547 Journal Article: David Orme Masson Burnet, Frank Macfarlane David Orme Masson 1958 Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute 25 530-532 Book Section: The Clonal Selection Theory af Acquired Immunity Burnet, Frank Macfarlane The Clonal Selection Theory af Acquired Immunity London Science Tech 1988 Milestones in Immunology: A Historical Exploration Debra Jan Bibel 185-187 Journal Article: Cameron, Burnet and Willis - three Australian pathologists Gault, E. W. Cameron, Burnet and Willis - three Australian pathologists 1971 Indian Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology 14 53-67 Book: A Guide to the Records of Frank Macfarlane Burnet McCarthy, Gavan; Manhal, Oscar; O'Sullivan, Lisa; Sherratt, Tim A Guide to the Records of Frank Macfarlane Burnet Melbourne Australian Science Archives Project 1993 Resource: Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture Australian Academy of Science Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture Australian Academy of Science 2025 Resource: Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture Australian Academy of Science Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture Australian Academy of Science 2022 Journal Article: A Seminal Monograph: Mackay and Burnet's Autoimmune Diseases Roberts-Thomson, Peter J.; Jackson, Michael W.; and Gordon, Thomas P. A Seminal Monograph: Mackay and Burnet's Autoimmune Diseases 2012 Medical Journal of Australia 196 1 74-6 Article: The Bacteriophage, its Role in Immunology: how Macfarlane Burnet's Phage Research Shaped his Scientific Style Sankaran, Neeraja The Bacteriophage, its Role in Immunology: how Macfarlane Burnet's Phage Research Shaped his Scientific Style 2010 Studies in the History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 41 367-75 Journal Article: The Pluripotent History of Immunology Sankaran, N. The Pluripotent History of Immunology 2012 Avant: the Journal of the Philosophical-Interdisciplinary Vanguard 3 1 37-54 Journal Article: The Military Spur to Australian Medical Research Anderson, Warwick The Military Spur to Australian Medical Research 2013 Health and History 15 1 80-103 Journal Article: Fashioning the Immunological Self: the Biological Individuality of F. Macfarlane Burnet Anderson, Warwick and Mackay, Ian R. Fashioning the Immunological Self: the Biological Individuality of F. Macfarlane Burnet 2014 Journal of the History of Biology 47 1 147-75 Journal Article: Setting Patterns: the Atypical Choices That Shaped the Career of Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet in Twentieth-Century Australia Sankaran, Neeraja Setting Patterns: the Atypical Choices That Shaped the Career of Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet in Twentieth-Century Australia Koreanstudies Information Service System 2013 Korean Journal for the History of Science 35 2 343-364 Book Section: Burnet, Frank Macfarlane Park, Hyung Wook Burnet, Frank Macfarlane Detroit Charles Scribner's Sons 2008 New Dictionary of Scientific Biography Koertge, Noretta 1 454-459 Journal Article: Frank Macfarlane Burnet, 3 September 1899 - 31 August 1985, elected F.R.S. 1942 Fenner, F. J. Frank Macfarlane Burnet, 3 September 1899 - 31 August 1985, elected F.R.S. 1942 1987 Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 33 101-62 Journal Article: Germs, Hosts, and the Origin of Frank MacFarlane Burnet's Concept of "Self" and "Tolerance", 1936-1949 Park, Hyung Wook Germs, Hosts, and the Origin of Frank MacFarlane Burnet's Concept of "Self" and "Tolerance", 1936-1949 2006 Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences 61 4 492-534 Journal Article: Stepping-stones to One-step Growth: Frank Macfarlane Burnet's Role in Elucidating the Viral Nature of the Bacteriophages Sankaran, Neeraja Stepping-stones to One-step Growth: Frank Macfarlane Burnet's Role in Elucidating the Viral Nature of the Bacteriophages 2008 Historical Records of Australian Science 19 1 83-100 Book: 150 years, 150 stories: brief biographies of one hundred and fifty remarkable people associated with the University of Melbourne Flesch, Juliet and McPhee, Peter 150 years, 150 stories: brief biographies of one hundred and fifty remarkable people associated with the University of Melbourne Melbourne Department of History, University of Melbourne 2003 Journal Article: Lionel Bately Bull, 1889-1978 French, E. L.; and Stewart, D.F. Lionel Bately Bull, 1889-1978 1983 Historical Records of Australian Science 5 4 90-110 Journal Article: Ian William Wark 1899-1985 Rees, A. L. G. Ian William Wark 1899-1985 1987 Historical Records of Australian Science 6 4 533-548 Journal Article: Leslie Harold Martin 1900-1983 Caro, D. E.; Martin, R. L. Leslie Harold Martin 1900-1983 1987 Historical Records of Australian Science 7 1 97-107 Book: Secular who's who : a biographical directory of freethinkers, secularists, rationalists, humanists and others involved in Australia's secular movement from 1850 onwards Dahlitz, Ray Secular who's who : a biographical directory of freethinkers, secularists, rationalists, humanists and others involved in Australia's secular movement from 1850 onwards Balwyn, Victoria R. Dahlitz 1994 Journal Article: Australian Genetics: a Brief History McCann, D. A.; and Batterham, P. Australian Genetics: a Brief History 1993 Genetica 90 2-3 81-114 Journal Article: Radiation Society of Australia Radiation Society of Australia 1957 Nature 180 120-121 Book: Engineering a Legacy: Memories of the journey of CSIRO Chemical Engineering Beale, Bob Engineering a Legacy: Memories of the journey of CSIRO Chemical Engineering Clayton, Victoria CSIRO Minerals 2005 Conference Paper: A Case Study: the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Brumby, Margaret A Case Study: the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Canberra Australian Science Archives Project 1995 Recovering Science: Strategies and Models for the Past, Present and Future: Proceedings of a Conference Held at the University of Melbourne, October 1992 Tim Sherratt, Lisa Jooste and Rosanne Clayton 57-60 Resource: Nobel Australians Australian Academy of Science Nobel Australians Australian Academy of Science 2025 Journal Article: Ian Murray Mackerras 1898-1980 Norris, K. R. Ian Murray Mackerras 1898-1980 1981 Historical Records of Australian Science 5 2 98-114 Frank Macfarlane Burnet - Records The University of Melbourne Archives Frank Macfarlane Burnet - Records 89/34 1880 - 1986 A large collection of personal records 1880-1986 covering all periods of his life and career including diaries, notebooks, correspondence, draft manuscripts and working papers, Nobel Laureate files, publications, files relating to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, scrapbooks, drawings and watercolours, photographs and slides [60 boxes]. 21 m, 60 boxes Artwork, Audio, Photographs Frank Macfarlane Burnet - Records Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science Frank Macfarlane Burnet - Records MS 098 1924 - 1976 Typescript copies of lectures and both published and unpublished papers 1924-71; diaries, correspondence and subject files 1951-75 regarding international interests including the WHO 1956-59, Japan Bacteriological Society 1961, the National Health and Medical Research Council 1956-58, germ warfare in Korea 1952-53, biological effects of nuclear explosion fallout 1973 and a summary of clonal selection with hand-drawn figures and corrections 1963 [32 cm, MS 98]. 0.32 m, 4 boxes Victoria Eugenics Society Wellcome Collection Victoria Eugenics Society SA/EUG/E.4 1940 - 1961 A set of 161 imaged pages. This file covers the link between the Eugenics Society of Victoria and the Eugenics Society (London) 1940-1961. The key correspondent is V.H. Wallace, Secretary of the Eugenics Society of Victoria from its foundation in 1936 until it was brought to a close in 1961. Latter documents refer to Frank Macfarlane Burnet, M.J.D. White and R.N. Robertson. 1 file Digitised paper records Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Research in Pathology and Medicine Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Research in Pathology and Medicine MS 052 c. 1936 - c. 1940 Correspondence, mostly typescript, and laboratory result. The bulk of the correspondence is from Dr F. M. Burnet to Dr E. H. Derrick, 1936-1940. 0.08 m, 2 boxes Burnet, Frank Macfarlane (1899 - 1985) Burnet, Frank Macfarlane (1899 - 1985) Portrait. Click Thumbnail to view larger version. Historical Records of Australian Science [with permission]

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 Burnet, Frank Macfarlane (1899 - 1985) Burnet, Frank Macfarlane (1899 - 1985) At work. Click Thumbnail to view larger version. University of Melbourne Archives [with permission]