Person

Weiss, Donald Eric (1924 - 2008)

FAA FTSE

Born
4 October 1924
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died
29 July 2008
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Industrial chemist

Summary

Don Weiss was co-inventor and primarily responsible for the development of the "Sirotherm" desalination and the "Sirofloc" water clarification processes. He was also responsible for initiating and overseeing the research and development that resulted in a new reconstituted wood product "Scrimber", a new nylon paper wood bale and replacement of asbestos fibres by cellulose fibres in asbestos-cement products. Weiss was Chief of the CSIRO Division of Chemical Technology from 1979 to 1984, followed by a 5-year term as Director of CSIRO's Planning and Evaluation Advisory Unit.

Details

In 1989 D. E. Weiss and A.. J. Priestley (with colleagues) were awarded the CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement for development of the SIROFLOC process for preparation of potable water.

Chronology

1945
Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Adelaide
1945 - 1946
Career position - Shift Chemist, Associated Pulp and Paper Mills
1947
Career position - Development Chemist, Commonwealth Serum Laboratories
1948 - 1965
Career position - Research scientist, Chemical Engineering Section (later Physical Chemistry Section), Division of Industrial Chemistry, CSIR (later CSIRO)
1950
Award - Rennie Memorial Medal, Australian Chemical Institute
1955
Award - Russell Grimwade Prize, University of Melbourne
1959 - 1960
Career position - Member of Committee, Society of Chemical Industry of Victoria
1960
Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Adelaide
1965 - 1971
Career position - Chief Research Scientist I, CSIRO Division Applied Chemistry
1965 - 1976
Career position - Member, Victorian Branch Committee, Australian Water and Wastewater Association
1966
Award - H. G. Smith Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1970 - 1971
Career position - Chairman, Victorian Branch, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1971
Career position - Chief Research Scientist II, CSIRO Division Applied Chemistry
1971
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
1971
Award - Archibald D. Olle Prize, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1971 - 1973
Career position - Member, Water Quality Technical Committee, Water Resources Council of Australia
1971 - 1974
Career position - Assistant Chief, CSIRO Division of Applied Chemistry and Officer-in-Charge, Forest Products Laboratory
1973 - 1974
Career position - President, Victorian Branch Committee, Australian Water and Wastewater Association
1973 - 1979
Career position - Chief, CSIRO Division of Chemical Technology
1975 - 1987
Award - Foundation Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (FTS)
1976
Award - Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) - Public service
1977
Award - Leighton Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1978 - 1979
Career position - Member of Council, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences
1979
Career position - President, Australian Branch, International Water Association
1979
Career position - Member, Water Quality Research Sub-committee, Water Resources Council of Australia
1979 - 1984
Career position - Director, Planning and Evaluation Advisory Unit, CSIRO
1982
Award - Applied Research Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1984 - 1985
Career position - President, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1987 - 2008
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) [Foundation Fellow AATS 1975]
1989
Award - CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement (with Anthony Priestley and colleagues)
1992
Award - Society of the Chemical Industry, London Award
2001
Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society and science in chemistry

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Published resources

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Resources

Resource Sections

See also

Rosanne Walker and Helen Cohn

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