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Professor Nancy Millis was an Australian microbiologist who worked and studied microbial growth and the fermentation process. As a girl, Millis didn’t intend to become a scientist. However, during the Second World War she worked for CSIRO, testing the strength of different woods for making aircraft. From there, went on to study agricultural science, becoming interested in botany and microbiology. Her PhD research focused on the fermentation of cider. It looked at why and how certain bacteria caused cider to turn bad during the fermentation process. Millis discovered that a bacteria (similar to yeast) released chemicals, which changed the cider’s taste. With her experience investigating bacterial processes, as well as extensive research into environmental and wastewater management, Millis became a key figure in industrial microbiology and wastewater treatment.
Key terms:
- fermentation
- anaerobic
- rational thinking
- microbiology
- nitrogen.