ISCAST Patron Professor Graeme Clark AC says he was upheld by Christ in his decades-long quest to bring hearing to profoundly deaf people.
Professor Clark was one of nine laureates awarded the 2026 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, announced at the Science Museum in London on 3 February.
He was among four recognised for contributions to the development of cochlear implants, which have restored hearing to over a million people worldwide.
Professor Clark said he had to be brought kicking and screaming to the realisation that his life’s work was achieved through the guidance of Christ rather than his own efforts.
He said that guidance came through seeking God’s direction and accepting whatever came, rather than asking for specific outcomes.
“God isn’t an ATM,” he said. “You don’t just ask, ‘Give me this,’ or ‘Give me that,’ because you don’t really know what’s right.”
Professor Graeme Clark pictured in 1970, early in his cochlea implant research. Picture: Supplied
Professor Clark pictured in 1970, early in his cochlear implant research. Picture: Supplied
Professor Clark left surgical practice in 1966 to pursue research into restoring hearing full time, driven in part by his father’s struggle with hearing loss.
He recalled being publicly and roundly criticised at professional meetings for pursuing research that most said would not work.
His response was to pray for those who criticised him.
Building on previous cochlear implant development, Professor Clark pioneered the multi-channel cochlear implant.
Rod Saunders was the first to receive the implant in 1978 and afterwards was able to identify some speech without the need to lipread.
Professor Clark wrote about both the story of the cochlear implant’s development and his spiritual journey in his book I Want To Fix Ears.
He said he was warned writing about his Christian journey would be intellectual suicide.
However, having experienced the reality of Christ he was not worried about how the book would be received.
“What does a little more criticism mean when you know the truth,” he said.
I Want to Fix Ears is available through the ISCAST shop.
Read more: ISCAST Patron Professor Graeme Clark wins the Shambaugh Prize
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