Person

Swan, Ailsa Macvey (1922 - 1998)

Born
17 February 1922
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died
17 April 1998
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Chemist and Conservationist
Alternative Names
  • Lowen, Ailsa Macvey (maiden name)

Summary

Ailsa Swan began her scientific career in the area of chemistry. She was later and active member of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, the Bird Observers Club of Australia and was founding member of the Phillip Island Conservation Society. Her passion for nature conservation led to Swan becoming an expert in planning laws. She made submissions, prepared material and appeared at hearings of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, representing the Bird Observers Club of Australia, the Phillip Island Conservation Society and Environment Victoria (formerly the Conservation Council of Victoria).

Details

Chronology

1942
Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc) completed at the University of Melbourne
September 1942 - March 1944
Career position - Research Chemist at Monsanto (Aust) Pty. Ltd.
March 1944 - November 1945
Career position - Junior Scientific Officer in the Operational Research Section of the Australian Army
1946 - 1948
Career position - Research in Physical and organic chemistry at the University of London
January 1949 - March 1949
Career position - Taught chemistry and physics at the Aylwin School in London
1949
Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) completed at the University of London
May 1949 - April 1951
Career position - Research Officer in the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Division of Industrial Chemistry

Archival resources

State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection

  • Ailsa Macvey Swan - Records, MS 13488; State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection. Details

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions

  • McCarthy, Gavan; Morgan, Helen; Smith, Ailie; van den Bosch, Alan, Where are the Women in Australian Science?, Exhibition of the Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, First published 2003 with lists updated regulary edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, 2003, https://eoas.info/exhibitions/wisa/wisa.html. Details

Newspaper Articles

  • 'Island Conservationist', Phillip Island and San Remo Advertiser (1998). Details
  • 'Obituary - Ailsa Swan - Conservationist', Sydney Morning Herald (1998). Details
  • McCulloch, Ellen, 'Obituary - Ailsa Macvey Swan - Conservationist', The Age (1998). Details

Resources

Ailie Smith

EOAS ID: biogs/P004552b.htm

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