Vale Dr Trevor William Scott
Left us in his sleep on 25 March 2022
Dr Trevor William Scott was the Chief of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisations (CSIRO) Division of Animal Physiology/ Animal Production 1975-1989.
Trevor had a distinguished career as a lipid biochemist and worked in laboratories in Australia, England and the USA before joining CSIRO.
Dr Trevor William Scott Graduated in 1958 with a BSc in Agriculture (Hons) from Sydney University. He undertook postgraduate studies and received his PhD in Agriculture from Sydney University in 1961. From 1962-1963, he worked on a post-doctoral fellowship provided by the International Atomic Energy Commission at the ARC Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham/Cambridge in the United Kingdom. 1963-64 he worked as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Thorndike Memorial Laboratory, Harvard Medical School Boston, USA.
Trevor Scott returned to Australia in 1965, he joined the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Division of Animal Physiology at Prospect as a Queen Elizabeth II fellow. Trevor continued his research on Lipid Metabolism with particular emphasis on; (1) the biosynthesis of complex lipids in the rumen and their subsequent fate in the ovine digestive tract. (2) Studies on Phospholipid Patterns of sheep during various growth phases to define precise physiological roles of various Phospholipid types; and (3) the influence of certain hormones on lipid interrelationships in tissues of various animal species.
In 1968 Trevor went on a Sabbatical (as a visiting Professor) to the NorthWestern University, in Chicago, USA where he collaborated with Professor N. Feinkel on the mechanism of hormone action.
Upon his return he continued as a scientist at CSIRO Prospect working on a variety of projects, his main interest was in the areas of fat and protein metabolism. On February 11, 1975 Dr Trevor William Scott was appointed Chief of the CSIRO Division of Animal Physiology later renamed as Animal Production – as one of the youngest Chief’s appointed to CSIRO.
During this period the Division produced several products and husbandry methods for use on farms, resulting directly from applications of its earlier strategic research findings. These included the use of plant shelter belts in paddocks to market improved lamb survival, development of AUSPIG® a computer system for piggery management, Fecundin® a twinning vaccine for sheep, Siromin® a safe and cost-effective mineral supplement for sheep, Extender100® an intra-ruminal controlled release capsule for treating internal parasites in sheep, Vaxstrate® an immunononeutering vaccine for male ruminants. In collaboration with Industry, Biological wool harvesting was developed and advances in Lipid technology resulted in the production of polyunsaturated meat and milk (Partnering with Alta Lipids a subsidiary of Dalgety Agrilines and then with Rumentek Industries).
Dr Scott commercialised the latter technology via an R&D syndication with Rumentek Industries, setting up commercial by-pass protein and lipid manufacturing Plants at Moree in NSW. These protected protein and lipid feed supplements were fed to many thousands of beef and milk herds in feed-lots and at pasture around Australia and overseas.
The research to manipulate the composition of meat, milk & dairy products was supported by the late Dr Len Cook, Dr John Ashes, Dr Suresh Gulati and a large, enthusiastic and very dedicated technical support team.
The American Oil Chemist Society awarded Dr Scott the Bond Gold Medal in 1970. He was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 1982 and a Fellow of the Australian Society of Animal Production in 1989. He received the Centenary Medal in 2003
Following his resignation as Chief of the Division of Animal Production in 1989, Dr Trevor Scott was appointed Chief Research Scientist, at the CSIRO Ian Clunies Ross Research Laboratory at Prospect. Trevor spent the first 6 months at Babraham/Cambridge in the United Kingdom resuming his research career before returning to the bench at Prospect.
Dr Trevor Scott retired from CSIRO in 1994. Following his retirement, he continued research activities with Dr John Ashes and Dr Suresh Gulati at CSIRO until the Ian Clunies Ross Research Laboratory at Prospect was shut down in 2001. Dr Scott continued his research activities with Dr Suresh Gulati at the School of Veterinary Science, Sydney University on by-pass protein feeds to improve milk production and the living standards of marginal and small dairy farmers across India with the National Dairy Development Board. This work has culminated in the establishment of 24 “By-Pass Protein Manufacturing Plants” across India, the most recent plant commenced production in early March 2022.
In Australia and overseas Dr Scott continued his research interest to incorporate long chain fatty acids into milk and dairy products with particular emphasis on the Omega 3 fatty acids.
In collaboration with Dr Gulati and Geoff Cox of Naturale Pty Ltd in Tasmania the research has culminated in a “Kid’s Omega 3 Yoghurt” produced by Weshaven Dairy. This yoghurt is being marketed by Coles Supermarkets in their Tasmanian outlets since 1st of March 2022. Prior to that the “Kid’s Yoghurt” was also marketed by Harris Farm Outlets in Sydney.
In collaboration with the Dairy Industry in Korea, feeding trials are in progress to produce Omega 3 milk enriched in carotenoids.
Dr Trevor William Scott has published hundreds of research papers during his distinguished career. Trevor’s passion for science burned in his veins right up until his passing on the 25th of March 2022. His last paper with the European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology went to Press on the 24th of March 2022.
He is survived by his wife Margaret, daughter Jenny, son Anthony and grandson Charlie.
A memorial service for the life of Trevor will be held at Saint Martin’s Church, 9B Arnold St, Killara, at 2.30pm on Tuesday 5 April 2022.