The inventor of the Bionic Ear, Professor Graeme Clark has been awarded the Macquarie Christian Studies Institute's (MSCI) highest honour for Christians in the workplace.
Dr Clark was awarded the inaugural MSCI Faith, Life and Work Award last Friday night for consistently integrating his Christian faith with his life and work. The fundraising dinner was held at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management.
"The integration of faith and work are two important aspects for me," Dr Clark said.
Dr Clark said he felt "humbled and blessed' to receive the award and said God was instrumental in his life during the time he spent developing the Bionic Ear.
"I am grateful to God for his support guidance and opportunities," said Dr Clark. "I wouldn't have survived if I was doing the research for my own aggrandisement. I was really relying on God to give me direction."
Dr Clark says the process of becoming a Christian goes back to his search for the meaning of life as an 11-year old.
"I was always curious about nature. I wondered about my purpose in life, and why we were here."
Dr Clark spoke at the dinner detailing many of the key moments in his life, and referred to the passages of the Bible that particularly affected him at each of these moments.
Dr Clark quoted the passage from 1 Corinthians 4:7 to summarise his views on the success of his research and the development of the Bionic Ear " "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?'
"I was just the right person at the right time. If you've been given gifts then you can't really boast that you have done anything yourself."
Dr Clark was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2004 for services to medicine and to science through innovative research to further the development of cochlear implant technology for worldwide benefit.
Through the Faith, Life and Work Award, MSCI seeks to promote inspirational leadership and service by Australians who have been an example and encouragement to others through their lives of faithfulness to God as they follow his calling in ordinary vocations.
