P005613 new AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created human Helen Cohn updated 2026-02-17 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P005613b.htm person Austin Colin Russell FAA AACR2 12 September 1914 2004 Place of Birth Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Place of Death Buderim, Queensland, Australia Embryologist Colin Austin was considered by many to be the founder of the modern study of embryology. His outstanding contributions in field of mammalian reproduction include: co-discovery of the phenomenon of sperm capacitation; the first description of the acrosome reaction of mammalian spermatozoa; the discovery of the zona reaction; and the first detailed description of normal and abnormal fertilisation. His early career was with the CSIR Division of Animal Health where he started his research on fertilisation and early embryonic development in rats and rabbits. After working on army diet and nutrition during WWII, and one year at the Medical Research Council Laboratory at Mill Hill, United Kingdom, Austin joined the staff of the National Institute of Medical Research. For five years he held posts in the United States studying liquefaction of primate semen, preservation of primate spermatozoa by freezing and the use of human postmenopausal gonadotrophin to stimulate ovarian follicular and oocyte development in monkeys. In 1967 he became the Charles Darwin Professor of Animal Embryology at the University of Cambridge, where he collaborated with Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe on human in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer. Austin published landmark works, being the author of The mammalian egg (1961) and senior editor of Reproduction in mammals (1972-1980; 2nd ed (1982-1986). 1936 1936 Education - Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc), University of Sydney 1938 1938 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Sydney 1940 1940 Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Sydney 1940 1954 Career position - Research officer, CSIR Division of Animal 1941 1943 Career event - Seconded to Dried Fruits Section, CSIR Division of Food Preservation and Transport 1947 1947 Career position - Research officer, Medical Research Council Laboratory, Mill Hill, United Kingdom 1954 1954 Career position - Research officer, National Institute for Medical Research, United Kingdom 1954 1954 Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Sydney 1958 1961 Career position - Head of Laboratory Animals Division, National Institute for Medical Research, United Kingdom 1962 1968 Career position - F. R. Lillie Memorial Teaching Fellow, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 1964 1967 Career position - Professor of Embryology, Medical School, Tulane University, New Orleans 1967 1981 Career position - Charles Darwin Professor in Animal Embryology, Department of Physiology, University of Cambridge 1981 1981 Life event - Retired 1987 2004 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 1987 - 2004

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Austin, Colin Russell (19140912-20041231)

Trove

 'Austin, Colin Russell (Bunny)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Austin, Colin Russell (Bunny) Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource: The Academy's Fellows [including profiles and other relevant links] Australian Academy of Science The Academy's Fellows [including profiles and other relevant links] Canberra Australian Academy of Science 2019 Journal Article: Colin Russell Austin 1914-2004 Short, Roger V. Colin Russell Austin 1914-2004 2014 Historical Records of Australian Science 25 2 264-72