Adelaide Uni benefits from Fulbright scholar

Kris Helgen with a bat.
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Monday, 26 May 2003

A Harvard graduate, now studying at the University of Adelaide, has identified more than 20 new species of mammal during the past two years while in Adelaide.

Talented visiting American Fulbright Scholar, Kristofer Helgen has been described by one of his undergraduate professors as the brightest undergraduate to graduate from Harvard University in the last 25 to 30 years. He is completing his PhD in biology at the University of Adelaide.

During his studies at Harvard, Helgen was inspired by Australian mammalogist, Dr Tim Flannery who was teaching at Harvard as the visiting Chair in Australian Studies. Following his graduation, he then applied for and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to undertake a PhD with Dr Flannery at the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Museum.

To honour the Fulbright Program that gave him this opportunity, Helgen and The University of Adelaide decided to name one of the new species he identified after Fulbright.

Mrs Harriet Fulbright, widow of the late Senator J. William Fulbright, will tonight be a guest of honour at a dinner hosted by The University of Adelaide and the South Australian Fulbright Alumni Chapter. A painting of the new species will be presented to her by Professor James McWha, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide and Dr Flannery.

Other distinguished guests at the dinner will include Mr David Hopper, US Consul General, Melbourne and the Hon Dr Jane Lomax-Smith, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education in South Australia.

The Fulbright Program is one of the largest and most prestigious educational scholarship programs in the world.

Established in 1946 by the US Government it now exists between the US and 140 countries in the world.

The Australian-American Fulbright Commission is supported by the US and Australian governments and a number of corporate sponsors. It annually provides up to twenty scholarships for Australians to the US and a similar number for Americans to Australia.

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