Aussie STEM Stars: Creswell Eastman

Professor Creswell John Eastman, world-renowned endocrinologist, discovered extensive Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) in China, Tibet and southeast Asian countries as well as in Australia. Children whose mothers have IDD can be born with profound mental disabilities and lower IQs, as well as deafness, speech and physical impairments.

Creswell made it his life’s work to abolish IDD wherever he could so children would have better life opportunities in every way and be able to reach their potential.

He and his team developed the test for measuring iodine levels, which is now routine for pregnant women to have. And then he led projects throughout the developing world and in Australia, to ensure iodine was included in people’s diets.

His work has quite literally ensured that now millions of children around the world are born with fully functioning healthy bodies and brains.