Biographical entry Beckwith, Athelstan Laurence Johnson (1930 - 2010)

Summary

Athelstan Beckwith was professor of chemistry in the Research School of Chemistry at the Australian National University 1981-1995, moving from the University of Adelaide, where he had been professor of organic chemistry and head of department 1965-1980. His research focus was the physical organic chemistry of free radicals.

Details

Events

1952

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc) completed at the University of Western Australia

1953 - 1954

Career position - Temporary Lecturer in Physical Chemistry at the University of Adelaide

1956

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) completed at the University of Oxford, UK

1957

Career position - Research Officer at the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)

1958 - 1961

Career position - Lecturer in Organic Chemistry at the University of Adelaide

1960

Award - Rennie Medal received from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1962 - 1963

Career position - Senior Lecturer in organic chemistry at the University of Adelaide

1964

Career position - Reader in Organic Chemistry at the University of Adelaide

1965 - 1980

Career position - Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Adelaide

1971 - 1972

Career position - President of the South Australian Branch, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1974

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

1981

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

1981 - 1995

Career position - Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra

1984 - 1985

Career position - President of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1989

Award - Fellow of the Royal Society, London

1992

Award - Organic Chemistry Medal received from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1993

Award - Centenary Medal received from the Royal Society of Chemistry

1997

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

Related entries

Published resources

Newspaper Articles

• 'The chemistry professor who took on free radicals - and wond', Sydney Morning Herald, 9 June 2010. Also available at http://www.smh.com.au/national/obituaries/the-chemistry-professor-who-took-on-free-radicals--and-won-20100608-xtkw.html?skin=text-only. Details

Online Resources

• Crompton, Bob, Interview with Professor Athel Beckwith, Interviews with Australian scientists, Australian Academy of Science, 2004, http://www.science.org.au/scientists/interviews/b/ab.html. Details
• National Library of Australia, 'Beckwith Athelstan Laurence Johnson', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1476375. Details

See also

• Coates, J. H., 'Denis Oswald Jordan 1914-82', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 6, no. 2, 1985, pp. 237-246. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9850620237.htm. Details