Person
Beckwith, Athelstan Laurence Johnson (1930 - 2010)
AM FAA FRS
- Born
- 20 February 1930
Western Australia, Australia - Died
- 15 May 2010
- Occupation
- Chemist
Summary
Athel Beckwith was professor of chemistry in the Research School of Chemistry at the Australian National University 1981-1995, moving from the University of Adelaide, where he had been professor of organic chemistry and head of department 1965-1980. His research focus was the physical organic chemistry of free radicals.
Details
Chronology
- 1952
- Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Western Australia
- 1953 - 1954
- Career position - Temporary Lecturer in Physical Chemistry, University of Adelaide
- 1956
- Education - Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil), University of Oxford, UK
- 1957
- Career position - Research Officer at the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)
- 1958 - 1961
- Career position - Lecturer in Organic Chemistry, University of Adelaide
- 1959
- Award - Rennie Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
- 1962 - 1963
- Career position - Senior Lecturer in Organic Chemistry, University of Adelaide
- 1964
- Career position - Reader in Organic Chemistry, University of Adelaide
- 1965 - 1980
- Career position - Professor and Head of Department of Chemistry, University of Adelaide
- 1971 - 1972
- Career position - President, South Australian Branch, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
- 1973 - 2010
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
- 1980
- Award - H.G. Smith Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
- 1981 - 1995
- Career position - Professor of Organic Chemistry, Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra
- 1984 - 1985
- Career position - President, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
- 1985 - 1986
- Career position - Vice-President, Australian Academy of Science
- 1987 - 2001
- Career position - Treasurer, Australian Academy of Science
- 1989 - 2010
- Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS)
- 1992
- Award - A. J. Birch Medal (jointly), Organic Chemistry Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
- 1993
- Award - Centenary Medal, Royal Society of Chemistry
- 1997
- Award - Leighton Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
- 2004
- Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to science in the field of organic chemistry as a leading researcher and academic, and through the provision of advice to government and the wider community on scientific matters
Related entries
Archival resources
Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science
- Athelstan Laurence Johnson Beckwith - Records, MS 226; Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science. 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
Journal Articles
- Duggan, P. J., 'Foreword to Professor Athelstan L. J. Beckwith special issue', Australian Journal of Chemistry, 64 (4) (2011), 355-7. Details
- Easton, C. J., 'Athelstan L. J. Beckwith', Australian journal of chemistry, 48 (2) (1995), 153-4. Details
- Rae, Ian D., 'Athelstan Laurence Johnson Beckwith OA FAA. 20 February 1930 - 15 May 2010', Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 58 (2012), 3-12. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbm.2011.0022. Details
- Rae, Ian D., 'Athelstan Laurence Johnson Beckwith 1930-2010', Historical Records of Australian Science, 23 (1) (2012), 55-76, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR12001. Details
- Serelis, A. K., 'Athelstan L. J. Beckwith and the flowering of hex-5-enyl cyclization chemistry: the Adelaide years', Australian journal of chemistry, 64 (4) (2011), 358-66. Details
Newspaper Articles
- 'The chemistry professor who took on free radicals - and won [Athelstan Beckwith 1930-2010]', Sydney Morning Herald (2010). https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-chemistry-professor-who-took-on-free-radicals--and-won-20100608-xtkw.html. Details
Resources
- Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q4813339. Details
- VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/33985274. Details
- 'Beckwith, Athelstan Laurence Johnson (1930 - 2010)', Fellows of the Academy, Australian Academy of Science, 2019, https://www.science.org.au/profile/athel-beckwith. Details
- 'Beckwith, Athelstan Laurence Johnson (19300220-20100515)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1476375. Details
Resource Sections
- Crompton, Bob, 'Interview with Professor Athel Beckwith', in Interviews with Australian scientists, Australian Academy of Science, 2004, https://www.science.org.au/learning/general-audience/history/interviews-australian-scientists/professor-athel-beckwith-organic. Details
See also
- Coates, J. H., 'Denis Oswald Jordan 1914-82', Historical Records of Australian Science, 6 (2) (1985), 237-246. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9850620237. Details
McCarthy, G.J.
Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 4 April 2024
- Foundation Supporter - Committee to Review Australian Studies in Tertiary Education