P007055 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2022-07-05 human Helen Cohn updated 2025-09-11 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P007055b.htm person Thomas Richard Grenfell AACR2 29 March 1901 1974 Place of Birth Kapunda, South Australia, Australia Biochemist Mineralogist Science administrator Dick Thomas was a mineralogist who was largely responsible for initiating research in CSIR(O) on minerals as industrial raw materials. After graduating he spent three years with the Australian Radium Corporation, working on innovative extractive processes for radioactive ores at Radium Hill, South Australia. He began his career with CSIR in 1928 with the inauguration of the CSIR Animal Nutrition Laboratory (later Division of Animal Nutrition). His work in mapping the occurrence of coast disease in sheep on Kangaroo Island in relation to soil analysis led him to propose a deficiency in trace elements as the cause of the disease. In 1940, with some clear ideas on the direction research in the Division of Industrial Chemistry should take, he was invited to lead the Division's Minerals Utilization Section, in charge of non-metallic minerals and ceramics. The Section, in 1959, became the Division of Mineral Chemistry with Thomas as its inaugural Chief. Thomas is also known for his work with Isabel Bear on the nature of argillaceous odour (the smell of rain), to which they gave the name petrichor. 1924 1924 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Adelaide 1925 1927 Career position - Chemist, Australian Radium Corporation 1927 1940 Career position - Chemist, CSIR Division of Animal Nutrition 1940 1959 Career position - Senior Organic Chemist, Section of Minerals Utilization, CSIRO Division of Industrial Chemistry 1959 1961 Career position - Chief, CSIRO Division of Mineral Chemistry Bear, Isabel (Joy) (1927 - 2021) CSIR Division of Animal Nutrition, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (1927 - 1936)

Chemist 1928 - 1940

 CSIR/O Division of Industrial Chemistry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1940 - 1958)

Chief of the Division 1959 - 1961

 CSIRO Minerals Utilization Section, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1958 - 1959)

Officer-in-charge 9 October 1958 - 25 May 1959

 CSIRO Division of Mineral Chemistry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1959 - 1988)

Chief 26 May 1959 - 11 April 1961

 'Thomas, Richard Grenfell (Dick)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Thomas, Richard Grenfell (Dick) Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Report: The work of the Division of Animal Nutrition for the year 1928-29 Robertson, T. Brailsford The work of the Division of Animal Nutrition for the year 1928-29 Melbourne Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (Australia) 1929 Book: Surprise and Enterprise: Fifty Years of Science for Australia: CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia) McKay, Andrew Surprise and Enterprise: Fifty Years of Science for Australia: CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia) Melbourne CSIRO 1976 Book: Alumina to zirconia: the history of CSIRO Division of Mineral Chemistry Bear, I. Joy.; Biegler, Tom; Scott, Tom. R. Alumina to zirconia: the history of CSIRO Division of Mineral Chemistry Clayton, Victoria CSIRO Minerals 2001 Journal Article: Nature of argillaceous odour Bear, I. J.; and Thomas, R. G. Nature of argillaceous odour 1964 Nature 201 993-5 Journal Article: Genesis of petrichor Bear, I. J.; and Thomas, R. G. Genesis of petrichor 1966 Geochimica et cosmochimica acta 30 9 869-79 Journal Article: The smell of rain: how CSIRO invented a new word Poynton, Howard The smell of rain: how CSIRO invented a new word Australia The Conversation AU 2015 The Conversation Resource Section: Richard (Dick) Grenfell Thomas Wolff, Helen Richard (Dick) Grenfell Thomas Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 2018 CSIROpedia Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organisation Book: Fields of Discovery: Australia's CSIRO Collis, Brad Fields of Discovery: Australia's CSIRO Crows Nest, New South Wales Allen & Unwin 2002 Book: The Martin spirit: Charles Martin and the foundation of biological science in Australia Morison, Patricia The Martin spirit: Charles Martin and the foundation of biological science in Australia Canberra Halstead Press 2019 Resource Section: Cobalt deficiency and the cure for coast disease Ward, Colin Cobalt deficiency and the cure for coast disease Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 2011 CSIROpedia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation