P000818 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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

These key entries are listed separately below with other indexes and lists.

 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn updated 2026-01-15 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000818b.htm person Swan John Melvin AO FAA FTSE HonDSc AACR2 25 April 1924 15 June 2015 Place of Birth Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia Place of Death South Yarra, Victoria, Australia Chemist University Administrator John Swan was a chemist whose research interests included peptides, amino acids, proteins, sulphur chemistry, organometallic and organophosphorus chemistry. Among his projects were the synthesis of the peptide oxytocin and the analysis of cigarette smoke. During his years at ICIANZ and CSIRO Swan worked on analysis of explosives, the manufacture of drugs and insecticides, and properties of wool and other keratins. Swan was Professor of Organic Chemistry at Monash University from 1966 to 1984, during which time he also served as Dean of the Faculty of Science and Pro-Vice-Chancellor. He was influential in establishment of Graduate School of Environmental Science at Monash, forging links between Monash and organisations such as Bureau of Meteorology for which he was for a time a member of its Meteorology Policy Committee. In retirement Swan worked on improved, non-polluting ways of cleaning wool which, though successful, were not commercially viable. Swan was actively involved in policy and advisory committees concerned with marine environments, including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Marine Sciences and Technologies Advisory Committee, and those relating to the health and management of Port Philip and Western Port Bays in Victoria. He also chaired the CRC for Southern Hemisphere Meteorology. 1940 1943 Career position - Junior Laboratory Assistant, No. 5 Explosives Factory, ICIANZ 1943 1945 Career position - Laboratory assistant, ICIANZ Research Laboratory, Deer Park, Melbourne 1944 1944 Education - Diploma of Applied Chemistry, Melbourne Technology College 1944 1944 Education - Associate Diploma in Applied Chemistry, Royal Melbourne Technical College 1947 1947 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Melbourne 1947 1948 Career position - Member, Royal Society of Chemistry 1947 1949 Award - CSIR scholarship for study in London 1949 1949 Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Imperial College, London 1949 1960 Career position - Research Scientist, Biochemistry Unit, CSIRO Wool Textile Research Laboratories 1949 2015 Career position - Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry 1952 1953 Award - Fulbright Fellowship for study at Cornell University Medical School, U.S.A. 1955 1955 Career position - Organising Secretary, 1st International Wool Textile Research Conference, Melbourne 1955 2015 Career position - Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute 1959 1961 Career position - Editor, Proceedings of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute 1960 1965 Career position - Research Scientist (later Chief Research Scientist), CSIRO Division of Organic Chemistry 1960 2015 Career position - Member, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science 1964 1964 Award - H. G. Smith Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute 1965 1965 Award - David Syme Research Prize, University of Melbourne 1966 1971 Career position - Foundation Professor of Organic Chemistry, Monash University 1967 1967 Award - Liversidge Lecturer, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science 1967 1967 Career position - President, Victorian Branch, Royal Australian Chemical Institute 1968 1968 Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Melbourne 1968 1968 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 1968 1973 Career position - Member, CSIRO Advisory Council 1968 1979 Career position - Member, Australian-Asian Universities Cooperation Scheme 1969 1969 Career position - Member of organising committee and co-ordinating Editor, 22nd International Congress on Pure and Applied Chemistry and 22nd International Conference on Coordination Chemistry, Sydney 1971 1975 Career position - Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Monash University 1972 1974 Career position - Member of Council, Royal Society of Victoria 1972 1974 Career position - Chair of the Scientific Committee, Western Port Bay Environmental Study 1972 1984 Career position - Member, Victorian Conservation Trust 1975 1977 Career position - Member of Executive, Australian-Asian Universities Cooperation Scheme 1976 1978 Career position - Chairman, Queen's Fellowships in Marine Science 1976 1984 Career position - Dean, Faculty of Science, Monash University 1978 1980 Career position - Member, Meteorology Policy Committee 1979 1981 Career position - Member, Australian Research Grants Commission 1980 1980 Career position - Chairman, Board of Management, Victorian Institute of Marine Sciences 1980 1981 Career position - Member, Australian National Commission for UNESCO 1980 1987 Career position - Chairman, Advisory Board, Centre for Human Bioethics, Monash University 1981 1984 Career position - Chairman, Australian Marine Sciences and Technologies Advisory Committee (AMSTAC) 1981 1995 Career position - Foundation Member, Scientific Advisory Board, CRA Limited 1982 1983 Career position - Vice-President, Australian Academy of Science 1982 1984 Career position - Chairman, Victorian Conservation Trust 1984 1986 Career position - Member, National Advisory Board, Australian Science Archives Project 1985 1985 Life event - Retired 1985 1987 Career position - Member, Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Advisory and Review Committee, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 1985 2015 Career position - Emeritus Professor, Monash University 1986 1991 Career position - Chairman, Tide International Pty Ltd 1987 1995 Career position - Honorary Research Associate, Howard Florey Institute for Experimental Physiology and Medicine 1988 1989 Career position - Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Port Phillip Bay Environmental Study 1988 1993 Career position - Member, Crown-of-Thorns Research Committee, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 1988 1994 Career position - Member, Science and Humanities Committee, Museum of Victoria 1988 2003 Career position - Chairman, Western Port Seagrass Partnership 1989 1992 Career position - Chairman, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science 1991 2000 Career position - Member, Westernport Region Water Authority (later Westernport Water Board) 1992 1995 Career position - Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Port Phillip Bay Environmental Study 1993 2000 Career position - Chairman, Board of Management, CRC for Southern Hemisphere Meteorology 1994 1994 Award - Doctor of Science (honoris causa) (HonDSc), Monash University 1994 1994 Award - ANZAAS Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science 1994 2015 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) 1999 2000 Career position - Honorary Principal Fellow, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Melbourne 2000 2003 Career position - Member, Victorian Coastal Council 1 Jan 2001 1 Jan 2001 Award - Centenary medal - for service to improving the environmental health of Westernport 2002 2002 Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) - For service as an outstanding contributor to the advancement of Australian science, particularly in the fields of chemistry, marine science and meteorology, to education, and to the management, protection and conservation of the natural environment 2010 2015 Career position - Chairman, Western Port Seagrass Partnership Monash University (1958 - )

Foundation Professor of Organic Chemistry 1966 - 1971; Pro-Vice-Chancellor 1971 - 1975; Dean, Faculty of Science 1976 - 1984; Emeritus Professor 1985 - 2015

 Advisory Council - CSIRO, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1950 - 1986)

Member 1968-1973

 David Syme Research Prize, The University of Melbourne (1904 - )

Awarded the Prize 1965

 Museum of Victoria (1983 - 1998)

Member Science and Humanities Committee 1988 - 1994

 Royal Society of Victoria (1859 - )

Member of Council 1972 - 1974

 Australian - Asian Universities' Cooperation Scheme (1969 - 1981)

Member 1968 - 1979

 Wallaby Club (1894 - )

President 1984 - 1985

 Victorian Institute of Marine Sciences (1978 - 1996)

Chairman of the Board of Management 1980

 RACI - Victorian Branch, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (1953 - )

President 1967

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 1968 - 2015; Vice-President 1982 - 1983

 Australian Science Archives Project, The University of Melbourne (1985 - 1999)

Member of the National Advisory Board, 1984 - 1996

 Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) (1930 - )

Chairman 1989 - 1992

 Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) (1953 - )

Fellow 1955 - 2915

 Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (1987 - )

Fellow 1994 - 2015

 H. G. Smith Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (1929 - )

Awarded the Medal 1964

 ANZAAS Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (1965 - )

Awarded the Medal 1994

 CRC for Southern Hemisphere Meteorology (1993 - 2000)

Chairman, Board of Management 1993 - 2000

 Swan, Ailsa Macvey (1922 - 1998)

Wikidata

 Swan, John Melvin (1924-)

Trove

 'Swan, John Melvin', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Swan, John Melvin Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource Section: Swan, John Melvin - Ms 119 Swan, John Melvin - Ms 119 Australian Academy of Science 1994 Listing of Adolph Basser Library holdings Journal Article: Obituaries: Professor John Swan; Professor Laurie Nichol; Professor David Craig; Professor Jan Mary Anderson; Professor Harry Messel Obituaries: Professor John Swan; Professor Laurie Nichol; Professor David Craig; Professor Jan Mary Anderson; Professor Harry Messel 2015 Newsletter, Australian Academy of Science 101 Resource Section: Interview with Dr Phillip Law (1912-2010), antarctic explorer Swan, John Interview with Dr Phillip Law (1912-2010), antarctic explorer Australian Academy of Science 2002 Interviews with Australian scientists Journal Article: John Swan was a Monash giant Anon John Swan was a Monash giant 2015 ATSE focus 191 43 Journal Article: John Melvin Swan 1924 - 2015 Collins, David J.; and Rae, Ian D. John Melvin Swan 1924 - 2015 2017 Historical Records of Australian Science 28 1 58-65 Journal Article: John Melvin Swan 25 April 1924 - 15 June 2015 Rae, Ian D. John Melvin Swan 25 April 1924 - 15 June 2015 2015 Chemistry in Australia 2015/6 Dec/Jan 31 Resource Section: Interview with Professor John Swan (1924-2015), organic chemist Brown, Ron Interview with Professor John Swan (1924-2015), organic chemist Australian Academy of Science 2008 Interviews with Australian scientists Journal Article: Early history of the electron spectroscopy project and the University of Western Australia: first definitive identification of surface and bulk plasmons Powell, Cedric Early history of the electron spectroscopy project and the University of Western Australia: first definitive identification of surface and bulk plasmons 2016 Australian Physics 53 3 88-94 Resource: Science and the making of Victoria Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre Science and the making of Victoria 2001 John Melvin Swan - Records Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science John Melvin Swan - Records MS 119 1947 - 1993 Laboratory notebooks 1947-65; notebooks 1949-65; analytical results n.d.; other researchers' related laboratory notebooks 1961-65; correspondence regarding Western Port Bay Environmental Study with agenda, papers and minutes and related material 1970-75; Queen's fellowships in marine science 1971-75; environmental studies, committee on laboratory services 1972-75; Australian-Asian Universities Cooperation Scheme, correspondence 1967-76, agenda, papers, minutes and other material 1968-80; correspondence regarding the Victorian Conservation Trust with minutes, agenda, papers and other material 1973-80; Council of the Victorian Institute of Marine Science records including correspondence, agenda, minutes and other material 1968-81; material relating to consultancies, teaching and research projects; lectures and talks; Material relating to other scientific committees and organisations; Ministry of Science and other government departments and agencies; research notebooks; personal files. 13.98 m, 87 boxes Oral Collection Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science Oral Collection MS 057 1931 - 2003 Collection of audio and film recordings, in various formats. Includes recordings of Australian Academy of Science Annual General Meetings; recordings of lectures, symposiums and addresses; and recordings relating to Antarctica. 0.48 m, 3 boxes Audio, Film