Boardman, Norman Keith (Keith) (1926 - )

Summary

Keith Boardman was a distinguished biochemist whose research focused on the biochemistry, development and molecular architecture of chloroplasts. In particular he worked on phytochemical systems and how plants adapt to their light environment. He pioneered physical separation of the two photochemical systems of photosynthesis. After a distinguished 20-year career as research scientist in the CSIRO Division of Plant Industry, Boardman joined the CSIRO Executive, serving as Chief Executive from 1987 to 1990. He further contributed to the administration and policy development of Australian science with his membership of organisations including the Prime Minister's Science and Engineering Council, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and the Cooperative Research Centres Program. He has been a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science since 1972.

Details

Chronology

1949

Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Melbourne

1949 - 1951

Career position - Research Officer, CSIRO Wool Textile Research Laboratories

1951 - 1953

Award - Dafydd Lewis (Melbourne) Scholarship Melbourne

1953 - 1955

Career position - ICI Fellow, Unversity of Cambridge

1955

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Cambridge

1956 - 1968

Career position - Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Plant Industry

1964 - 1965

Career position - Fulbright Scholar, University of California, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

1967

Award - David Syme Research Prize (jointly), University of Melbourne

1968 - 1977

Career position - Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Plant Industry

1969

Award - Lemberg Medal and Oration, Australian Biochemical Society

1971 - 1975

Career position - Member, Australian Research Grants Committee

1972 -

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

1974

Life event - Masson Lecturer, University of Melbourne

1976 - 1978

Career position - President, Australian Biochemical Society

1977 - 1985

Career position - Member of the Executive, CSIRO

1978 -

Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS)

1978 - 1981

Career position - Treasurer, Australian Academy of Science

1979 - 1991

Career position - Member of Council, Australian National University

1982 - 1988

Career position - Member, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research

1983 - 1986

Career position - Member, National Biotechnology Committee

1985 - 1986

Career position - Chairman, CSIRO

1985 - 1990

Career position - Member, CRA Science Advisory Board

1986 - 1987

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (FTS)

1986 - 1990

Career position - Member of the Board, Sirotech Limited

1986 - 1990

Career position - Chief Executive, CSIRO

1987 -

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) [Awarded by AATS 1986]

1988

Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa, University of Newcastle

1989 - 1990

Career position - Member, Prime Minister's Science and Engineering Council

1990 - 1994

Career position - Chairman, Life Sciences Panel, Cooperative Research Centres Program

1990 - 1998

Career position - Honorary Fellow, CSIRO Division of Forestry and Forest Products [I]

1990 - 1998

Career position - Member of the Board, LandCare Australia Ltd

1991 - 1995

Career position - Honorary Fellow, CSIRO Division of Forestry

1993

Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) - in recognition of service to science and the CSIRO

1993 - 1997

Career position - Secretary for Science Policy, Australian Academy of Science

1995 - 1998

Career position - Honorary Fellow, CSIRO Division of Forestry and Forest Products [II]

1996

Award - Elected Honorary Foreign Member, Korean Academy of Science and Technology

2001

Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society and science in molecular biology

2001

Career position - President, 12th International Congress on Photosynthesis

Related entries

Archival resources

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

• Norman Keith Boardman - Records; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Corporate Records and Archives Strategies. Details

Published resources

Book Sections

• Boardman, N. Keith, 'Pennefather, Reginald Richard (1905-1957), Agricultural Scientist' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 15: 1940 - 1980 Kem-Pie, John Ritchie, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2000), pp. 588-589. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150687b.htm. Details

Resources

• 'Boardman, Norman Keith (Keith) (1926 - )', Fellows of the Academy, Australian Academy of Science, 2019, https://www.science.org.au/profile/keith-boardman. Details
• 'Boardman, N K (1926-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-635401. Details
• 'Awarded honorary DSc, 1988', Honorary degrees, University of Newcastle, 2023, https://www.newcastle.edu.au/engage/alumni/stories/honorary-degrees. Details

Resource Sections

• Slatyer, Ralph, 'Interview with Dr Keith Boardman', in Interviews with Australian scientists, Australian Academy of Science, 9 December 1999, https://www.science.org.au/learning/general-audience/history/interviews-australian-scientists/dr-keith-boardman-biochemist. Details
• Spurling, Tom; Healy, Terry; and Boardman, Keith, 'Keith Boardman, interviewed by Tom Spurling and Terry Healy, 5 December 2017', in CSIRO Oral History Project, video, text summary and transcript., CSIROpedia, 5 December 2017, https://csiropedia.csiro.au/interview-with-keith-boardman/. Details
• Ward, C., 'Norman Keith Boardman', in CSIROpedia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2011, https://csiropedia.csiro.au/Boardman-Norman-Keith. Details

See also

• Robson, Alexandra K.; Production Manager and Editor eds, Who's who in Australia 2019 (Southbank, Vic.: AAP Directories, 2018), 1788 pp. Details