ANZAAS 43rd Congress Programme 1971

Historical Significance: The aims of ANZAAS are:? to promote communication and interaction between scientists in different disciplines? to foster public interest in science and technology, and awareness of their role in everyday life? to encourage the curiosity of children about the natural and man-made world around them.Founded in 1888, ANZAAS has a long history and many specialist scientific societies in Australia and New Zealand have developed from what were sections at ANZAAS Congresses. The last ANZAAS Congress was held in Adelaide in September 1997.In the 1990s, membership and attendance at the annual meetings decreased as specialised scientific societies increased in popularity. Proposals to close the Association were discussed, but it continued after closing its office in Adelaide. It now operates on a smaller scale. The Annual Meetings are no longer held;it holds lectures, both nationally and at state level.Each year it organises Youth ANZAAS, an annual residential scientific forum attended by senior secondary students from Australian schools.The programme of the 43rd Congress had 31 sections of which Optometry was one. Presentations were made by Barry Collin, Damien Smith, Eric Wigglesworth, Barry Clark, Leo Carney, Ian Bailey, Alan Johnston, Barry Cole and Tony Gibson, (All from Melbourne University), George Amigo and John Alexander (UNSW), with Donald Schultz as President and Noel Verney (QIT) as Chairman.