Mason, Peter (1922 - 1987)

Summary

Peter Mason was the foundation Professor of Physics, Macquarie University from 1966 to 1986. Between 1962 and 1966 he was a postdoctoral fellow and Principal Research Officer at the CSIRO Divisions of Textile Physics and Protein Chemistry. He broadcast frequently on the ABC "Science Show" and published a number of books for the lay-reader including a history of rubber, and Blood and iron which was awarded a United Nations media peace prize gold citation in 1985. His principal areas of research were polymer science and biophysics. Mason was an active campaigner for nuclear disarmament.

Details

Chronology

1943

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

1943 - 1946

Career position - Worked for the Ministry of Supply, United Kingdom

1945

Award - Associate Member, Institute of Physics, United Kingdom

1946

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

1946 - 1953

Career position - Worked at Building Research Station, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, United Kingdom

1953 - 1961

Career position - Worked with British Rubber Producers' Research Association

1960 -

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) The University of London, United Kingdom

1962

Life event - Migrated to Australia

1962 - c. 1965

Career position - Post-doctoral Fellowship, Division of Textile Physics, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia

1965 - 1966

Career position - Principal Research Officer and leader of the leather research section, CSIRO Division of Protein Chemistry

1966 - 1986

Career position - Foundation Professor of Physics, Macquarie University, Australia

1966 - 1986

Career position - Member of Council and Macquarie University Representative, Council of the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering

1971 - 1975

Career position - Councillor, Public Library of New South Wales, Australia

1971 - 1977

Career position - Member of Council, Griffith University, Australia

1974 - 1977

Career position - Member of Council, Macquarie University

1978 - 1985

Career position - Science Communicator, Script writer, researcher and presenter, Science Show, Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1979 -

Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of London, England

1980 - 1986

Career position - Member of Council, Macquarie University

1983 - 1985

Career position - Vice-President, Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering

1983 - 1986

Career position - Convenor, National Advisory Council, Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1984 - 1987

Career position - Member, Minster for Science's Commission for the Future

1985

Award - United Nations media peace prize gold citation (shared) for Blood and Iron

1986 - 1987

Award - Fellow, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS)

1986 - 1987

Award - Emeritus Professor, Macquarie University

Related entries

Archival resources

Macquarie University Archives

• Peter Mason - Records, 1920 - 1989; Macquarie University Archives. Details

Published resources

Book Sections

• Binnie, Anna-Eugenia, 'Mason, Peter (1922-1987), Physicist, Educator and Science Communicator' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 18: 1981 - 1990 L-Z, Melanie Nolan, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2012), pp. 137-8. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mason-peter-14943. Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q4775280. Details
• VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/65391149. Details
• Guide to the Records of Peter Mason, Australian Science Archives Project, 1998, http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/pubs/guides/mason/mason.htm. Details
• 'Mason, Peter (19220225-19870327)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-583995. Details
• Walker, Rosanne, Peter Mason Guide to Records, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, 2004, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/guides/maso/mason.htm. Details