Biographical entry Solomon, David Henry (1929 - )

Summary

David Solomon became the Masson Professor of Chemistry, University of Melbourne in 1990. Earlier he had been Chief of the Division of Chemicals and Polymers, CSIRO. Solomon is best known as the inventor of surface coatings, polymer mineral composites and plastic laminates for banknotes. His research led to forgery-proof banknotes in circulation today.

Details

Events

1946 - 1953

Career position - Researcher at Balm Paints (later Dulux Australia Ltd) in Sydney

1950

Education - Diploma of Chemistry completed at Sydney Technical College

1952

Education - Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc (Hons)) completed at the New South Wales University of Technology

1953 - 1955

Career position - Demonstrator/Teaching Fellow at New South Wales University of Technology

1955

Education - Master of Science (MSc) completed at the New South Wales University of Technology

1955 - 1963

Career position - Leader of the Resin and Polymer Research Section of Dulux

1959

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) completed at the University of New South Wales

1959 - 1960

Career position - Seconded to ICI Paints Division in Slough, UK

1963 - 1970

Career position - Senior Research Scientist then Principal Research Scientist at the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Division of Applied Mineralogy

1968

Education - Doctor of Science (DSc) received from the University of New South Wales

1968

Award - Archibald D. Olle Prize received from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1970 - 1974

Career position - Chief Research Scientist of CSIRO Division of Applied Chemistry

1971

Award - H.G. Smith Memorial Medal received from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1974 - 1986

Career position - Chief of the Division of Applied Organic Chemistry, CSIRO

1975 -

Award - Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE)

1975 -

Award - Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

1977

Award - David Syme Research Prize received from the University of Melbourne

1978

Award - Polymer Medal received from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1979 - 1980

Award - President of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1980

Award - Applied Research Medal received from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1980 - 1981

Career position - Seconded to the Reserve Bank of Australia

1985

Award - Leighton Memorial Medal received from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1986 - 1987

Career position - Acting Director of the CSIRO Institute of Industrial Technologies

1987

Award - CSIRO Medal received

1988

Award - The Australian Bicentennial Science Achievement Award received

1988 - 1989

Career position - Chief of Division of Chemicals and Polymers, CSIRO

1989

Award - Ian William Wark Medal received from the Australian Academy of Science

1989 - 1990

Career position - Deputy Director of the CSIRO Institute of Industrial Technologies

1990

Award - CSIRO Medal received

1990 - 1994

Career position - Head of School and ICI Australia and Masson Professor of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne

1994

Award - Clunies Ross National Science and Technology Award received

1995 -

Career position - Professorial Fellow of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne

2004

Award - Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)

Related entries

Archival resources

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Corporate Records and Archives Strategies

• David Henry Solomon - Records, 1965 - 1990; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Corporate Records and Archives Strategies. Details

Published resources

Books

• Buchanan, Roderick; McCarthy, Gavan; Manhal, Oscar, The Records of Currency Note Research and Development Project, CSIRO, Division of Chemicals and Polymers, Australian Science Archives Project, Melbourne, 1991, 103 pp. Also available at http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/guides/plbn/plbn.htm. Details

Journal Articles

• Collins, David J.; Simpson, Gregory W.; Solomon, David H.; Spurling, Thomas H., 'James Robert Price, 1912-1999', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 15, no. 1, 2004, pp. 95-120. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR03012.htm. Details

Newspaper Articles

• Edwards, Paul, 'A pioneer from paint to plastic', The Age, no. 7 February, 2007. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'Solomon, D H', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1284463. Details