Jordan, Denis Oswald (1914 - 1982)

Summary

Denis Jordan was professor of inorganic and physical chemistry at the University of Adelaide 1954 - 1955 and Angas Professor of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry from 1955 to 1979. During WWII he was Assistant Senior (later Senior) Gas Adviser in the North Midland Region for the Ministry of Home Security and Extra-Mural Research Supervisor for the Ministry of Supply on the action of war gases on nucleic acids and related compounds. Jordan's studies on the effects of denaturing conditions on the properties of nucleic acids set the scene for the discovery by others of complementary 'sticky ends', knowledge which was crucial to the methods of gene technology. He also studied the relationship between the chemical and stereochemical structure of polymers and their solution properties. Jordan played a central role in the formation of the Polymer Division of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, and was the inaugural recipient (jointly with J. A. J. Batteard) of the Division's Medal, later renamed the Batteard-Jordan Medal.

Details

Chronology

1933 - 1939

Career position - Laboratory Assistant, British Launderers' Research Association

1936

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

1939

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

1939 - 1947

Career position - Assistant Lecturer in Applied Chemistry, University College Nottinghamshire

1944

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of London

1947 - 1954

Career position - Lecturer in Physical Chemistry, University College Nottinghamshire (later Nottingham), United Kingdom)

1952

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

1954 - 1955

Career position - Professor of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, University of Adelaide

1955 - 1979

Career position - Angas Professor of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry and Head of Department

1958 - 1959

Career position - Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Adelaide

1958 - 1959

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

1958 - 1975

Career position - Member, Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering

1961 - 1962

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

1962

Award - Archibald Liversidge Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales

1970 - 1982

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

1974

Award - Australian Polymer Medal (jointly with Hans Battaerd), Polymer Division, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1974 - 1975

Career position - Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Adelaide

1976 - 1979

Career position - Member of Council, Australian Academy of Science

1978 - 1979

Career position - President, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1980

Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to education

1981

Award - Leighton Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1981

Award - The Jordan Laboratories, University of Adelaide were named in his honour

Related entries

Published resources

Book Sections

• Coates, John, 'Jordan, Denis Oswald (1914 - 1982), physical and inorganic chemist' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 17: 1981 - 1990 A-K, Diane Langmore, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2007), p. 596. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/jordan-denis-oswald-12707. Details

Journal Articles

• 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

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q21536790. Details
• 'Jordan, Denis Oswald (19140923-19820212)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1469837. Details

Resource Sections

• Coates, J. H., 'Denis Oswald Jordan 1914-1982', in Australian Academy of Science Biographical Memoirs, Australian Academy of Science, 2006, https://www.science.org.au/fellowship/fellows/biographical-memoirs/denis-oswald-jordan-1914-1982. Details