P000526 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human Rosanne Walker and Helen Cohn updated 2026-01-15 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000526b.htm person Jordan Denis Oswald AO FAA AACR2 23 September 1914 12 February 1982 Place of Birth London, England Place of Death Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Chemist University Administrator Denis Jordan was professor of inorganic and physical chemistry at the University of Adelaide 1954 - 1955 and Angas Professor of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry from 1955 to 1979. During WWII he was Assistant Senior (later Senior) Gas Adviser in the North Midland Region for the Ministry of Home Security and Extra-Mural Research Supervisor for the Ministry of Supply on the action of war gases on nucleic acids and related compounds. Jordan's studies on the effects of denaturing conditions on the properties of nucleic acids set the scene for the discovery by others of complementary 'sticky ends', knowledge which was crucial to the methods of gene technology. He also studied the relationship between the chemical and stereochemical structure of polymers and their solution properties. Jordan played a central role in the formation of the Polymer Division of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, and was the inaugural recipient (jointly with J. A. J. Batteard) of the Division's Medal, later renamed the Batteard-Jordan Medal. 1933 1939 Career position - Laboratory Assistant, British Launderers' Research Association 1936 1936 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of London 1939 1939 Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of London 1939 1947 Career position - Assistant Lecturer in Applied Chemistry, University College Nottinghamshire 1944 1944 Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of London 1947 1954 Career position - Lecturer in Physical Chemistry, University College Nottinghamshire (later Nottingham), United Kingdom) 1952 1952 Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of London 1954 1955 Career position - Professor of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, University of Adelaide 1955 1979 Career position - Angas Professor of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry and Head of Department 1958 1959 Career position - Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Adelaide 1958 1959 Career position - President, Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering 1958 1975 Career position - Member, Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering 1961 1962 Career position - President, Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering 1962 1962 Award - Archibald Liversidge Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales 1970 1982 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 1974 1974 Award - Australian Polymer Medal (jointly with Hans Battaerd), Polymer Division, Royal Australian Chemical Institute 1974 1975 Career position - Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Adelaide 1976 1979 Career position - Member of Council, Australian Academy of Science 1978 1979 Career position - President, Royal Australian Chemical Institute 1980 1980 Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to education 1981 1981 Award - Leighton Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute 1981 1981 Award - The Jordan Laboratories, University of Adelaide were named in his honour Leighton Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (1965 - )

Awarded the Medal 1981

 Archibald Liversidge Medal and Lecture, Royal Society of New South Wales (1931 - )

Awarded the Medal 1962

 The University of Adelaide (1874 - 2026)

Professor of Inorganic Chemistry 1954 - 1955; Angas Professor of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry 1955 - 1979; Dean, Faculty of Science 1958 - 1959; Pro Vice-Chancellor 1974 - 1975

 Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) (1958 - )

President 1958 - 1959 and 1961 - 1962.

 Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) (1953 - )

President 1978 - 1979; Fellow 1954 - 1982

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 1970 - 1982; Member of Council 1976 - 1979

 Battaerd-Jordan Australian Polymer Medal (1973 - )

Awarded the first Australian Polymer Medal (jointly with Hans Battaerd) 1974. Medal later renamed in their honour.

Wikidata

 Jordan, Denis Oswald (19140923-19820212)

Trove

 'Jordan, Denis Oswald', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Jordan, Denis Oswald Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Journal Article: Denis Oswald Jordan 1914-82 Coates, J. H. Denis Oswald Jordan 1914-82 1985 Historical Records of Australian Science 6 2 237-246 Book Section: Jordan, Denis Oswald (1914 - 1982), physical and inorganic chemist Coates, John Jordan, Denis Oswald (1914 - 1982), physical and inorganic chemist Melbourne Melbourne University Press 2007 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 17: 1981 - 1990 A-K Diane Langmore 596 Denis Oswald Jordan Denis Oswald Jordan All rights reserved.

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