At the beginning of a Southern Hemisphere Autumn, the ISOTT tribe assembled for its annual corroboree on the banks of the Brisbane River in Australia for five days of exciting science. Some of the tribe had travelled from as far as Sweden and other parts of Europe; many had spirited themselves across the Pacific Ocean from the Americas. Yet another small contingent had paddled down from Japan. All came with message sticks from their camp-sites. The conference opened with an outdoor barbecue at the Southbank precinct, with the stars of the Southern Cross painting the river on one side and the artificial beach on the other; a perfect venue to meet old friends and to welcome new ones as a cool breeze wafted over our fires. For the next five days there was the usual focus on oxygen; measurement techniques, its role in cancer and other diseases that beset us mortals and the biochemistry and physiology of this small vital molecule. It still astounds many that we have not yet learnt everything there is to know about this valuable friend, albeit a dangerous foe. Time was found for us to visit Australia Zoo and stand in awe before exhibits of Australia’s wild-life; great vicious creatures unchanged from the age of the dinosaurs, poisonous snakes and spiders, and gentle marsupials that posed for our digital cameras.
