Person

Melville, James (Jim) (1908 - 1984)

CMG

Born
10 July 1908
Lovells Flat, Otago, New Zealand
Died
8 October 1984
Daw Park, South Australia, Australia
Occupation
Agricultural scientist

Summary

James Melville was Director of the Waite Agricultural Research Institute 1956-1973, having been Director of the Grasslands Division of Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in New Zealand. His research on plant nitrogen metabolism and protein chemistry led to improved understanding of impact of pasture growth and quality on animal production. As Director of the Waite Agricultural Research Institute he increased the number of departments and post-graduate students, and encouraged collaboration with the University of Adelaide, the South Australian Department of Agriculture, and CSIRO. Melville participated in executive roles in industry organisations, including as the Australian Universities representative on the Wool Research Committee 1958-1964 and a member of the Council of the Australian Wine Research Institute 1957-1970. He was President of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science in 1970.

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Details

Chronology

Career Position - Advisor, Rural Credits Development Fund of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia
1929
Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Otago, New Zealand
1930
Education - Masters of Science (MSc), University of Otago, New Zealand
1934
Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Imperial College of Science and Technology, The University of London, England
1934 - 1936
Education - Commonwealth Fund Fellow, Yale University, New Have, Connecticut, U.S.A.
1937 - 1939
Career position - Assistant Chemist, Wheat Research Institute Christchurch, New Zealand
1939 - 1951
Career position - Director, Plant Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), New Zealand
1940 - 1944
Career position - Operational and Chemical Warfare Research, New Zealand Military Forces
1952 - 1956
Career position - Director, Grassland Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), New Zealand
1956 - 1973
Career position - Director, Waite Agricultural Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Australia
1957 - 1963
Career position - Committee Member, Wool Research Advisory Committee, Australia
1957 - 1970
Career position - Council Member, Australian Wine Research Institute, Australia
1957 - 1984
Award - Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1958 - 1966
Career position - Member (part-time) of the Executive, CSIRO
1958 - 1978
Career position - Member of Council, University of Adelaide
1959 - 1977
Career position - Chairman, Bushfire Research Committee of South Australia, Australia
1964 - 1966
Career position - Chairman, Australian Wool Industry Conference, Australia
1964 - 1966
Career position - Committee Member, Wool Production Advisory Committee, Australia
1966 - 1984
Award - Fellow, Australian Institute of Agricultural Sciences (AIAS), Australia
1969
Award - Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG), Britain
1969 - 1984
Career position - Board member, Board of Management, Adelaide Children's Hospital, Australia
1970
Career position - President, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science (AIAS), Australia
1970
Award - Farrer Memorial Medal, Farrer Memorial Trust, Australia
1972
Award - Thomas Cawthorn Memorial Lecture, Nelson, New Zealand
1973
Career position - Review of Agricultural Research in Spain, The World Bank
1973
Life event - Retired
May 1974 - November 1974
Career position - Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor and occasionally Acting Vice Chancellor, The University of Adelaide, Australia
1975 - 1976
Career position - Member, Inquiry on Financing Rural Research, Industries Assistance Commission
1979
Award - Honorary Doctoral Degree, The University of Adelaide, Australia

Related Awards

Related Corporate Bodies

Archival resources

Waite Agricultural Research Institute

  • James Melville - Records, 1959 - 1968; Waite Agricultural Research Institute. Details

Published resources

Books

  • Melville, J., 'Agricultural Research.' in Introducing South Australia (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1958). Details

Book Sections

Journal Articles

  • Melville, J., 'Obituary: Robert Kerford Morton', Australian Journal of Science, 26 (9) (1964), 285-286. Details

Resources

See also

McCarthy, G.J.

Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 9 October 2019

EOAS ID: biogs/P000634b.htm

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