Critics Lambast Foundation for ‘6 White Men’ Grant Fiasco

Sparks heavy criticism

Honorary doctorate recipients from left to right: Professor Sir Peter Donnelly, Mr Leigh Clifford AO, Dr Francis Gurry, Professor Colin Wilks, Dr Mark Schipp and Professor Allan Fels AO in Melbourne, Australia on Feb. 28, 2022. Melbourne University

Australia’s largest medical research foundation has been criticised for prioritising “equality” over “merits” after cutting the University of Melbourne from future grants because the school awarded its honorary doctorates to six white men.

The Snow Medical Research Foundation, which has donated over AU$90 million (US$65 million) to medical research in the last two years and donated $16 million to Melbourne University in 2021, suspended the institution from future applications of Snow’s prestigious fellowship program on March 7.