Notable alumni are William Lawrence Bragg[?] awarded the Physics Nobel Prize in 1915 for contributions in the theory of light.
and Lord Howard Walter Florey, for the discovery of antibiotics.
Present size is reported at 16,000 students from 70 countries (2003).
Recent academic celebrities have included Paul Davies, as Professor of Natural Philosophy.
While marketable disciplines such as wine science, information studies and business studies have been given wide prominence recently, the university still has a reputation for quality basic research and teaching in mathematics, engineering and biotechnology.
Influences on the university's teaching and research priorities:
- The Defence Science Technology Organisation (DSTO) in nearby Salisbury is the only facility of its kind in Australia requiring physics, engineering and IT graduates. - Winemaking is becoming a major export earner for South Australia. This is supported by the university's Waite campus, producing oenology and agriculture/viticulture graduates. - Two carplants in Adelaide (Mitsubishi and General Motors) producing a demand for engineering and design skills.