Person

Hamann, Sefton Davidson (1921 - 2009)

FAA

Born
8 January 1921
Christchurch, New Zealand
Died
12 January 2009
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Applied chemist

Summary

Sefton Hamann was chief of the CSIRO Division of Physical Chemistry from 1960 to 1966, and chief of the CSIRO Division of Applied Chemistry from 1966 to 1974. He was recognised internationally for his research on the physico-chemical effects of pressure and made a major contribution to the development of the polymer banknote. Hamann served on a number of committees of the Australian Academy of Science and was a member of Council from 1969 to 1972.

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Details

Chronology

1938
Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), Canterbury University College, New Zealand
c. 1946
Education - Master of Science (MSc), Canterbury University College, New Zealand
c. 1949
Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Manchester, UK
1960 - 1966
Career position - Chief of the Division of Physical Chemistry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
1964 - 2009
Award - Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1965 - 1970
Career position - Member, Australian Research Grants Committee
1966 - 1974
Career position - Chief of the Division of Applied Chemistry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
1966 - 2009
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
1968 - 1971
Career position - Member, Board of Standards of the Australian Journals of Scientific Research
1969
Award - H. G. Smith Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1969 - 1972
Career position - Member of Council, Australian Academy of Science
1969 - 1973
Career position - Member, Sectional Committee for Chemistry, Australian Academy of Science
1971 - 1972
Career position - Chairman, Sectional Committee for Chemistry, Australian Academy of Science
1971 - 1973
Career position - Member, Sectional Committee for Applied physics and Chemistry, Australian Academy of Science
1972 - 1974
Career position - Chairman, Board of Standards of the Australian Journals of Scientific Research
1972 - 1978
Career position - Member, Standing Committee for Scientific Information, Australian Academy of Science
1974 - 1978
Career position - Chairman, Applied Chemistry Laboratories Research Committee, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
1979 - 1981
Career position - Member, Standing Committee for International Relations, Australian Academy of Science

Related Corporate Bodies

Published resources

Book Sections

  • Spurling, Tom, 'Plastic banknote [Chapter 39]' in A history of intellectual property in 50 objects, Den Kamp, Claudy Op; Hunter, Dan, ed. (Cambridge University Press, 2019), pp. 320-327, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108325806. Details

Journal Articles

  • Spurling, T. H., 'Sefton D. Hamann', Chemistry in Australia, 2009 (April) (2009), 24-5. Details
  • Spurling, Thomas H.; and Solomon, David H., 'Sefton Davidson Hamann 1921-2009', Historical Records of Australian Science, 20 (2) (2009), 255-271 , https://doi.org/10.1071/HR09019. Details
  • Spurling, Tom; Solomon, David, 'Proceeds of crime: how polymer banknotes were invented', The Conversation (2014), https://doi.org/10.64628/AA.6dy5nfr6u. Details

Resources

See also

  • Beale, Bob, Engineering a Legacy: Memories of the journey of CSIRO Chemical Engineering (Clayton, Victoria: CSIRO Minerals, 2005), 124 pp. pages 26-28, 32. Details
  • Buchanan, Roderick; McCarthy, Gavan; Manhal, Oscar, The Records of Currency Note Research and Development Project, CSIRO, Division of Chemicals and Polymers (Melbourne: Australian Science Archives Project, 1991), 103 pp. Details

Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Smith, Ailie

Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 6 October 2023

EOAS ID: biogs/P000469b.htm

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