Show Notes
Did you know the only veterinarian to ever win a Nobel Prize wasn’t exactly an animal lover? In this episode I sit down with Professor Peter Doherty—a Nobel Prize-winning immunologist and veterinarian.
We dive into Peter’s early career, where he aimed to improve animal health and food production—a goal many of us can relate to when thinking about making a real-world impact.
Peter then walks us through his groundbreaking discovery of how CD8 T cells identify and destroy virus-infected cells—research that transformed immunology and cancer science. We follow his journey across Australia and the U.S., leading up to his Nobel Prize, awarded over 20 years after his original findings.
With COVID-19 still on everyone’s minds, Peter discusses explaining vaccine development, long COVID, and the challenges of breaking down complex science for different audiences. He also shares his thoughts on public health funding and research support—issues that affect us all.
Finally, Peter talks about shifting from research to writing and public engagement, including a potential book on the pandemic’s long-term effects. If you’re interested in science or curious about finding your own path, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. Let’s dive in!
In this episode:
(0:00) Introduction and early motivation (1:01) Childhood and family background (8:57) Major discovery in immunology (15:07) T cells and vaccine research (18:03) Winning the Nobel Prize (20:52) Aging, retirement, and science communication (28:07) COVID-19 science communication (31:22) Pandemics, blame, and public perception (32:32) COVID-19 policy and vaccine development (43:19) Advice for young people and social media experience
Hawke Media
https://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/ https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en https://hawkemedia.com/ https://twitter.com/hawkemedia https://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/
About Our Guest
Professor Peter Doherty is a Nobel Prize–winning immunologist best known for co-discovering how killer T cells recognize virus-infected cells—a breakthrough that laid the foundation for modern immunotherapy. Originally trained as a veterinarian, Peter's career spanned continents, from animal pathology in Australia to influenza research in the U.S. He's authored multiple books, served as a public science communicator during COVID-19, and continues to write on science, climate change, and global health. Now 84, he remains as curious and candid as ever.
Professor Peter Doherty Nobel Prize Bio: nobelprize.org Book: The Beginner’s Guide to Winning the Nobel Prize, Pandemics: What Everyone Needs to Know, and more Science Communication Blog: Setting It Straight Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from HawkeTalk
What if the next big breakthrough in healthcare wasn’t a new drug but a simple scan that could save your life before symptoms even show? Today’s guest, Andrew Lacy, saw this potential long before anyone else.
Did you know the Olympic trials can be more daunting than the Games themselves? In this episode, I am delighted to sit down with Jordyn Wieber—Olympic gold medalist, world champion, and now a game-changing gymnastics coach. Jordyn takes us through her incredible journey from a determined young gymnast in Michigan to standing atop the Olympic podium.
They say childhood experiences can shape our futures in unexpected ways. Have you ever considered how growing up in a vibrant food scene might spark a lifelong passion? Imagine taking that love for food and swapping a career in Hollywood for the exciting world of culinary innovation. It’s a big leap, right?
Water is essential to life, and each day, the world consumes millions of gallons… from plastic bottles. Whether we want to accept it or not, plastic bottles are damaging our world immensely. We’re at a tipping point, and someone must make a stand if we’re ever going to get moving in the right direction.
In this episode of Hawke Talk, I sit down with legendary waterman Laird Hamilton to dive into his extraordinary life story from being pushed into waves at age two in Hawaii to pioneering the biggest breakthroughs in surfing history.