Ennor, Arnold Hughes (Hugh) (1912 - 1977)

Summary

Hugh Ennor was a biochemist whose research focused on carbohydrate metabolism, and the distribution and turnover of phosphorous compounds in muscle and liver. His work, together with his colleagues, was recognised for the highly original nature of the work itself and their experimental methods. After nearly 20 years at the Baker Medical Research Institute, and involvement during WWII in aspects of chemical warfare, Ennor was the first Professor appointed to the Australian National University in 1948, as Professor of Biochemistry in the John Curtin School of Medical Research. Starting from scratch, Ennor built the School, including its buildings and facilities, into a thriving research centre. He also served as Dean of the School and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University. In 1967 Ennor became Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Education and Science. When the Department was split in 1972, he became Secretary of the Department of Science. He was vigorous in defence of his Department when it came in for criticism and was threatened with abolition. Enterprises in which the Department was involved during Ennor's tenure were the Metric Conversion Board, the Anglo-Australian Telescope, and the agreement with the U.S.A. for scientific and technological co-operation.

Details

Chronology

1929 - 1938

Career position - Laboratory Assistant, Baker Medical Research Institute

1938

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Melbourne

1938 - 1944

Career position - National Health and Medical Research Council Junior Fellow, Baker Medical Research Institute

1939

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

1943

Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Melbourne

1944 - 1946

Career position - In charge of scientific services, Australian Field Experimental Station, Australian Army, Proserpine, Queensland

1946 - 1948

Career position - Wellcome Trust Fellow, University of Oxford

1948

Career position - Senior Biochemist, Commonwealth Serum Laboratories

1948 - 1967

Career position - Professor of Biochemistry, John Curtin School of Medical Research

1951 - 1953

Award - Fellow, Australian Chemical Institute

1953 - 1967

Career position - Dean, John Curtin School of Medical Research

1953 - 1977

Award - Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1954

Award - Foundation Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

1955

Career position - Foundation Member, Australian Biochemical Society

1959 - 1961

Career position - Founding Member of the Executive, National Heart Foundation

1959 - 1961

Career position - President, Australian Biochemical Society

1960

Career position - Chairman, National Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee

1963

Award - Companion of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

1963 - 1967

Career position - Treasurer, Australian Academy of Science

1964 - 1967

Career position - Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Australian National University

1964 - 1967

Career position - Director, National Heart Foundation

1965

Award - Knight Bachelor (Kt)

1966 - 1967

Career position - President, National Heart Foundation

1967 - 1973

Career position - Secretary, Commonwealth Department of Education and Science

1968

Award - DSc honoris causa, University of New South Wales

1969

Award - Honorary doctorate in medicine, Monash University

1973 - 1977

Career position - Secretary, Commonwealth Department of Science

Related entries

Archival resources

Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science

• Arnold Hughes Ennor - Records, 1956 - 1959, MS 101; Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science. Details

National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection

• Arnold Hughes Ennor - Records, 1959 - 1977, MS 5837; National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection. Details

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions

• Smith, Ailie, Adolph Basser Library Manuscript Collection, eScholarship Research Centre, 2012, http://www.eoas.info/basser_browse.html. Details

Book Sections

• Lonergan, John P., 'Ennor, Sir Arnold Hughes (1912-1977)' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 14: 1940 - 1980 Di-Kel, John Ritchie, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1996), pp. 102-103. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140115b.htm. Details

Journal Articles

• 'Science in Australia. Sir Hugh Ennor', Scan, 1 (1) (1968), 5-9. Details
• Courtice, F. C., 'Arnold Hughes Ennor', Records of the Australian Academy of Science, 4 (1) (1979), 105-130. http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9790410105.htm. Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q16008187. Details
• VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/231893369. Details
• 'Ennor, Arnold Hughes (1912-1977)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1476138. Details

Resource Sections

• Courtice, F. C., 'Arnold Hughes Ennor 1912-1977', in Australian Academy of Science Biographical Memoirs, Australian Academy of Science, 2006, https://www.science.org.au/fellowship/fellows/biographical-memoirs/arnold-hughes-ennor-1912-1977. Details

See also

• Federation and Meteorology, 2001, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/fam/index_e.html. Details
• Foster, S.G.; and Varghese, Margaret M., The Making of the Australian National University 1946-96 (St Leonards, NSW: Allen and Unwin, 1996), 475 pp. Details
• Wisdom, John, A History of Defence Science in Australia (Melbourne: Defence Science and Technology Organisation, 1995), 267 pp. Details