Human health and agriculture have benefitted greatly from both natural products and de novo synthetics in terms of medicines in the clinic and the control of food security. Behind the scenes natural product isolation has provided exquisite molecules, with human kind developing elegantly simple compounds, both being very effective in controlling numerous biological pathways. Organic synthesis continues to be a crucial part of these endeavours through total and target orientated synthesis, underpinning biological evaluation (SAR), candidate development and process chemistry. Omnipresent in this field are opportunities to provide student training, discover technical innovations and stimulate academic learning, not to mention opening tangential opportunities in discovering new synthetic methodology, physical organic and medicinal/agri chemistry. The lecture will canvas some of these concepts using select examples above and more.