After
completing his Ph.D. in Physiology and Bacteriology, Iowa State College,
1958, then completing post-doctoral work, Western Reserve University, Dr.
Isamu Suzuki returned to Japan where he was born, 1930, teaching, University
of Tokyo, 1960-62, before accepting a National Research Council of Canada
Post doctoral Fellowship at University of Manitoba, 1962-64. By 1972, Dr.
Suzuki was Chair, Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, where
he quickly established himself internationally as a noted authority on
sulfur metabolism, sulphur oxidation, ammonia oxidation, and bacterial
leaching. Over a 40-year career as teacher, researcher, and author, Dr.
Isamu Suzuki’s laboratory studies have concluded that the bacteria he investigates,
Thio bacilli, are not only responsible for sulfur oxidation but also oxidize
iron and are responsible for metal leaching from sulfide ores which can
be used to extract metals such as copper, zinc, uranium in “bacterial leaching.”
Until recent times, this leaching was only known to cause acid mine drainage
problems in the environment. A noted speaker at nternational conferences
on sulfur metabolism and bacterial leaching, in this view, 1989, Dr. Suzukiis
in his laboratory studying the bacterial activity in “Oxygraph” with an
oxygen (O2) sensitive electrode. [Photo, courtesy Dr. Isamu Suzuki]