Harry Messel, AC, CBE, (3 March 1922 – 8 July 2015) was a Canadian-born Australian physicist and educator.
After fellowships at University of St Andrews and Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Messel moved to Australia in 1951.
He frequently stated his discontent when sportsmen were praised and hailed whereas the next generation of scientists to change and run the world were given little to no encouragement.
The program runs once every two years with close to 150 students from up to 10 countries staying at the Women's College for two weeks, attending lectures and participating in activities around the University of Sydney.
Messel was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1979 New Year's Honours list;[8] and a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the 2006 Australia Day Honours 2006 for his service to Australian science and to education as an outstanding educator raising awareness of the importance of the study of science and in particular physics, for instrumental contributions to improving science teaching in schools, and for conservation advocacy relating to endangered crocodile and alligator species.