Person
Potter, Owen Edward (1925 - 2020)
AM FTSE
- Born
- 8 August 1925
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia - Died
- 22 June 2020
Victoria, Australia - Occupation
- Chemical engineer
Summary
Owen Potter, MAppSc MSc PhD DSc AM FTSE, chemical engineer and inventor, was foundation Professor of Chemical Engineering at Monash University, from 1964 until 1990. He invented steam fluidised bed drying, which continues to make an impact on the development of technology to reduce emissions from brown coal.
He was Reader and Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology 1960-1963.
His distinguished contribution to chemical engineering in Australia was recognised when he was awarded the Arnold Greene Medal in 1984; the Chemeca Medal in 1990; the Kernot Memorial Medal in 1993; and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2013.
Details
Chronology
- c. 1947
- Education - Master of Applied Science (MAppSc), University of Queensland
- 1949
- Award - Queensland University Foundation Travelling Scholarship
- c. 1950
- Education - Master of Science, University of Queensland
- 1954 - 1960
- Career position - Lecturer, Chemical engineering, Manchester University
- c. 1955
- Education - Doctor of Philosphy (PhD), University of London
- 1960 - 1964
- Career position - Reader in charge, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Melbourne
- 1964 - 1990
- Career position - Foundation Professor, Chemical Engineering, Monash University
- 1974
- Award - Doctorate of Science (HonDSc), University of Manchester
- 1983 - 1987
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (FTS)
- 1984
- Award - Arnold Greene Medal, Institute of Chemical Engineers UK
- 1987
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) [Awarded by AATS 1983]
- 1990
- Award - Chemeca Medal, Australian and New Zealand Federation of Chemical Engineers
- 1991 - 2020
- Award - Emeritus Professor, Chemical Engineering, Monash University
- 1992
- Award - ICI (UK) Award for Innovation in Drying
- 1993
- Award - Kernot Memorial Medal, for distinguished engineering achievement in Australia. Faculty of Engineering, University of Melbourne
- 2001
- Award - Chemeca Medal. Australian and New Zealand Federation of Chemical Engineers
- 2001
- Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society in chemical engineering
- 2008
- Award - 50th Anniversary Research Award, Monash University
- 2013
- Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) - for significant service to chemical engineering through leadership in the areas of education, research and development, and to the Catholic Church
Related entries
Published resources
Journal Articles
- Anon, 'Fellows prominent in Monash honours', ATSE focus, 152 (2008), 40, https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3171704585. Details
- Anon, 'Owen Potter: a distinguished chemical engineer making the skies clearer', Impact: magazine of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, 211 (2021), 64, https://www.atse.org.au/what-we-do/strategic-advice/impact-211/. Details
- Latham, Mark, 'Obituary: Owen Edward Potter AM 1925-2020', The Chemical Engineer (2020), 59, https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/obituary-owen-edward-potter-am-1925-2020/. Details
- Potter, O. E.; Beeby, C. J.; Fernando, W. J. N.; Ho, P., 'Drying brown coal in steam-heated, steam-fluidized beds', Drying Technology, 2 (2) (1983), 219-234, https://doi.org/10.1080/07373938308959826. Details
Newspaper Articles
- Weickhardt, Len; Kolm, Jan; Bradley, John; and Potter, Owen, 'A distinguished, fair and tactful chemical engineer: Ian Robinson, Obituary', The Age (1995). Details
Resources
- Vale Emeritus Professor Owen Edward Potter AM, Monash University, 2020, https://www.monash.edu/vale/home/articles/vale-emeritus-professor-owen-edward-potter-am. Details
- 'Potter, Owen Edward (1925-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1474888. Details
Rosanne Walker; Ken McInnes
Created: 30 June 1997, Last modified: 26 July 2023