Person

Spurling, Thomas Harley (Tom) (1940 - )

AM FTSE FRACI

Born
24 December 1940
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Occupation
Physical chemist, Science historian and University Administrator
Website
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9452-0386

Summary

Chemist Tom Spurling worked at an executive level within the CSIRO and its affiliated organisations. He began at the CSIRO in 1967. He was a research scientist within the Divisions of Applied Chemistry and Applied Organic Chemistry (1967-1985). He then served as Chief of the Divisions of Chemicals and Polymers (1989), and Molecular Science (1996). He represented the CSIRO in Indonesia as manager of the CSIRO-LIPI Management Systems Strengthening project from 1998 to 2001.

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Details

After his retirement from CSIRO in 2003, Spurling was appointed first Director of the Institute of Industrial Technology, Swinburne (2002 to 2004) and then Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences (2004 to 2005). He then was appointed Chief Executive of the CRC for Wood Innovations (2005 to 2008)

Chronology

1962
Education - Bachelor of Science (Hons I) in Physical Chemistry, University of Western Australia
1963
Award - CSIRO Post-Graduate Studentship
1965
Award - CSIRO Overseas Studentship
1966
Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Physical Chemistry, University of Western Australia
1967 - 1969
Career position - Lecturer in Chemistry, University of Tasmania
1969 - 1974
Career position - Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Applied Chemistry
1971
Award - Rennie Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1974
Award - Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (FRACI)
1974 - 1981
Career position - Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Applied Organic Chemistry
1976 - 1980
Career position - National Chairman, Physical Chemistry Division, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1981 - 1984
Career position - Assistant Chief, CSIRO Division of Applied Organic Chemistry
1982
Career position - President, Victorian Branch, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1983
Career position - President, Medicinal and Agricultural Chemical Division, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1984 - 1985
Career position - Senior Private Secretary to Senator Gareth Evans (the Minister for Resources and Energy)
1986 - 1988
Career position - Employed at the Institute of Industrial Technology
1987
Career position - President, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1988 - 1989
Career position - Manager of Policy and Planning, Institute of Industrial Technologies, CSIRO
1989 - 1991
Career position - President, Federation of Asian Chemical Societies
1989 - 1996
Career position - Chief of the CSIRO Division of Chemicals and Polymers
1992
Career position - Foundation Fellow, Federation of Asian Chemical Societies
1992
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE)
1994
Award - Leighton Memorial Medal, RACI
1996 - 1998
Career position - Chief of the CSIRO Division of Molecular Science
1998 - 2001
Career position - Manager of the CSIRO-LIPI Management Systems Strengthening project, Indonesia
2000
Award - CSIRO Award for Business Excellence in Technology Transfer
2001
Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society in research and development
2001 - 2002
Career position - Principal Advisor, CSIRO Molecular Science
2001 - 2003
Career position - CSIRO Fellow, CSIRO Division of Molecular Science
2002 - 2004
Career position - Director of the Institute of Industrial Technology, Swinburne University
2003 -
Career position - Professor of Molecular Science, Swinburne University of Technology
2003
Award - Federation of Asian Chemical Societies, Award for Distinguished Contribution to Economic Advancement
2004 - 2005
Career position - Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, Swinburne University
2005 - 2008
Career position - Chief Executive of the CRC for Wood Innovations
2006 - 2007
Career position - Member, Prime Minister's Science Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC)
2006 - 2008
Career position - President, Federation of Australian Scientific and Technical Societies
2008
Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) - For service to chemical science through contributions to national innovation policies, strategies and research, and to the development of professional scientific relationships within the Asian region
2008 - 2015
Career event - Member of the Board, CSIRO
2009 -
Career position - Board Member, International Centre for Radioastronomy Research, Perth
2011
Award - RACI, International Year of Chemistry, Living Luminary of Australian Chemistry
2017
Award - ANZAAS Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
2022 -
Career position - Member, Management Committee, Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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Published resources

Books

  • Solomon, David and Spurling, Tom, The plastic banknote: from concept to reality (Collingwood, Vic.: CSIRO Publishing, 2014), 240 pp. Details

Book Sections

Journal Articles

  • Anon, 'ANZAAS Medal goes to Tom Spurling', ATSE focus, 204 (2017), 54, https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-537141812. Details
  • Aston, Rachel; and Spurling, Tom, 'Vale John Edgar Lane (1932 - 2022): thermodynamicist without peer', Chemistry in Australia (2023), 34. Details
  • Avery, Neil R.; Jackson, W. Roy; and Spurling, Thomas H., 'John Robert Anderson 1928-2007', Historical Records of Australian Science, 25 (2) (2014), 253-63, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR14018. Details
  • Bucat, R. B.; Chandler, G. S.; and Spurling, T. H., 'Vale Don Watts AM, a mover and shaker', Chemistry in Australia (2023), 27. Details
  • Chandler, G. S.; and Spurling, T. H., 'Gerry Bottomley: a passion for high-precision measurements of liquids and gasses', Chemistry in Australia, 2018 (September/October) (2018), 31. Details
  • Collins, David J.; Simpson, Gregory W.; Solomon, David H.; Spurling, Thomas H., 'James Robert Price, 1912-1999', Historical Records of Australian Science, 15 (1) (2004), 95-120. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR03012. Details
  • Demediuk, Barbara and Spurling, Tom, 'From Matzejow to Highett: the Remarkable Career of Taisa Demediuk', Chemistry in Australia, June (2012), 30-1. Details
  • Hodgkin, J. H.; Morton, T. C.; and Spurling, T. H., 'Geoff Hawthorne, CSIRO polymer chemist', Chemistry in Australia, 2017 (March) (2017), 32-3. Details
  • Johnson, C. H. J.; Moad, G.; Solomon, D. H.; Spurling, T. H.; and Vearing, D. J., 'The application of supercomputers in modelling chemical-reaction kinetics - kinetic simulation of "quasi-living" radical polymerization', Australian journal of chemistry, 43 (7) (1990), 1215-30. https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9901215. Details
  • Johnson, C. H. J.; Moad, G.; Solomon, D.H.; and Spurling, T. H., 'Kinetic simulation of polymerization involving termination by reversible chain transfer', Australian journal of chemistry, 39 (12) (1986), 1943-50. https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9861943. Details
  • Johnson, C.H. J.; and Spurling, T. H., 'Pairwise additive third virial coefficients for multipolar molecules - application to water vapour', Australian journal of chemistry, 24 (8) (1971), 1567-80. https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9711567. Details
  • McNamara, Nicole; Kopinathan, Anitha; Wolff, Helen; Spurling, Thomas H.; Simpson, Gregory; and Locock, Katherine E. S., 'Breaking down barriers: standing on the shoulders of Australia's early female chemists', Australian journal of chemistry, 76 (2) (2023), 63-73. https://www.publish.csiro.au/CH/pdf/CH22235. Details
  • Quinn, Peter and Spurling, Tom, 'Bernard Bowen AM FTSE: how a bare-foot kid from Marradong came to have a minor planet named after him', Impact: magazine of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, 209 (2019), 65, https://www.atse.org.au/what-we-do/strategic-advice/impact-209/. Details
  • Smith, Susan and Spurling, Thomas H., 'The Science and Industry Endowment Fund: supporting the development of Australian science', Historical Records of Australian Science, 26 (1) (2015), 58-83, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR14027. Details
  • Solomon, D. H.; and Spurling, T. H., 'Australian manufacturing industry - third time lucky', Prometheus, 5 (1) (1987), 63-72. Details
  • Spurling, T., 'Historical Origins of CSIRO Molecular Science', Chemistry in Australia, 64 (9) (1997), 12-15. Details
  • Spurling, T. H., 'William Sutherland - Australia's First Physical Chemist', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, 41 (12) (1974), 313-314. Details
  • Spurling, T. H., 'Sefton D. Hamann', Chemistry in Australia, 2009 (April) (2009), 24-5. Details
  • Spurling, T. H.; and Webb, J. M., 'William Percy Wilkinson: analytical chemist, ampelographer and provocateur', Chemistry in Australia, 2017 (March) (2017), 33. Details
  • Spurling, Thomas H., 'Donald Eric Weiss 1915-1998', Historical Records of Australian Science, 22 (1) (2011), 152-70, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR10014. Details
  • Spurling, Thomas H.; and Noller, Barry N., 'Robert (Robin) Harold Stokes 1918 - 2016', Historical Records of Australian Science, 30 (1) (2019), 42-8. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR18018. 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, 'Donald (Don) Willis: Distinguished CSIRO Scientist', Chemistry in Australia, 2013 (July) (2013), 28. Details
  • Spurling, Tom, 'William Ivo (Bill) Whitton: advocate for scientific and industrial research', Chemistry in Australia, 2019 (November/December) (2019), 31. Details
  • Spurling, Tom [et al.], 'Obituary: Jack Cannon AM, organic chemist and promoter of international co-operation', Chemistry in Australia, 2015 (February) (2015), 30. Details
  • Spurling, Tom; and Butt, Charles, 'Wilfred (Wilf) Ernest Ewers (1919 - 2020): centenarian, RACI President, scientist and science leader', Chemistry in Australia, 2020 (May/June) (2020), 30-1. Details
  • Spurling, Tom; and Cockrum, Peter, 'Vale Claude Charles Culvenor, Australia's first chemistry PhD', Chemistry in Australia (2022), 31. Details
  • Spurling, Tom; and Laslett, Bob, 'Ian McWilliam (1933 - 2020): inventor of the flame ionisation detector', Chemistry in Australia, 2020 (July/August) (2020), 34. Details
  • Spurling, Tom; and McCarthy, Gavan, 'A gateway to the history of chemistry in Australia', Chemistry in Australia (2022), 38. Details
  • Swift, J. D.; and Spurling, T. H., 'Enid C. Plante: Early Days at Fishermens Bend', Chemistry in Australia (1989), 230-231. Details
  • Symington, D.; and Spurling, H., 'The "Draw a scientist test": interpreting the data', Research in science & technological education, 8 (1) (1990), 75-7. Details
  • Upstill, Garrett, and Spurling, Thomas H., 'Adjusting to changing times: CSIRO since the 1970s', Innovation: Management, Policy and Practice, 9 (2007), 113-124. Details
  • Upstill, Garrett, and Spurling, Thomas H., 'New Structures, New Strategies: CSIRO's Changing Role in Australian Innovation', Prometheus, 26 (2008), 141-152. Details
  • Upstill, Garrett; and Spurling, Thomas H., 'Engaging with Australian indusry: CSIRO in the late twentieth century', Historical Records of Australian Science, 31 (1) (2020), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR19006. Details
  • Upstill, Garrett; Spurling, Thomas H.; Healy, Terence J.; and Simpson, Gregory W., 'Realignment and change: CSIRO and industry 2000-10', Historical Records of Australian Science, 34 (2) (2023), 109-22, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR22017. Details
  • Watson, Donald and Spurling, Tom, 'Frank G. Watson, engineer 2nd September 1927 to 11th October 2013', ATS and ITA news, 2014 (March) (2014), 118. Details
  • Wolff, Helen A.; Healy, Terence J.; and Spurling, Thomas H., 'An introduction to the CSIRO oral history collection', Historical Records of Australian Science, 30 (2) (2019), 112-8, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR18026. Details

Newspaper Articles

Reports

  • CSIRO inter-institute taskforce on waste treatment management research, Report of CSIRO Waste Treatment Research Taskforce (Canberra, ACT: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation, 1991), 34 pp. https://www.eoas.info/bib-pdf/ASBS15700.pdf. Details
  • Spurling, Tom; Redhead, Trevor; Blyth, Michael, MSS-LIPI Final Report June 2021: Management and Systems Strengthening - LIPI (Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia) (Canberra, ACT: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation and LIPI, 2001), 41 pp. https://www.eoas.info/bib-pdf/ASBS15699.pdf. Details
  • Spurling, Tom; Upstill, Garrett; Jordan, Max, Research opportunities in the polymer and plastics industry: CSIRO Institute of Industrial Technologies August 1988 (Canberra, ACT: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation, 1988), 57 pp, https://eoas.info/bib-pdf/ASBS15632.pdf. Details

Resources

Resource Sections

See also

Rebecca Rigby

Created: 12 June 2012, Last modified: 6 July 2022

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