Person
Higgins, Huntly Gordon (1917 - 2011)
FTSE
- Born
- 8 January 1917
Perth, Western Australia, Australia - Died
- 16 December 2011
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Occupation
- Paper physicist
Summary
Huntly Higgins was a paper physicist who undertook groundbreaking studies of thermo- and chemithermomechanical pulping to give higher quality mechanical pulp fibres. In his early work for the R.A.A.F. Meteorological Office he worked on frontal development that had application in predicting thunderstorms and on katabatic winds in relation to prediction of tropical cyclones. On joining CSIRO his focus turned to identified factors affecting strength and stability of Australian woods, and adhesives used in plywood manufacture. On being appointed in 1953 as head of the new paper physics section Higgins worked on the properties of lignin, the mechanisms of fibre bonding, and the improvement of the quality of wood pulps. His knowledge of fibre separation assisted divisional work on the replacement of asbestos by cellulose fibres. With the formation of the CSIRO Division of Chemical Technology Higgins was initially in charge of the renewable resources program, and from 1979 was Chief of the Division. His expertise in forest resources led to involvement in aid programs in developing countries including India, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia Guyana.
Details
Chronology
- 1939
- Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Western Australia
- 1941 - 1945
- Career position - Flight Lieutenant, R.A.A.F. Meteorological Office
- 1945 - 1971
- Career position - Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Forest Products
- 1962
- Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa, University of Melbourne
- 1966 - 2011
- Career position - Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
- 1967 - 1968
- Career position - President, Australasian Pulp And Paper Industry Technical Association (Appita)
- 1969 - 1971
- Career position - Chairman, Technical Division, Appita
- 1970 - 1972
- Career position - President, International Association of Scientific Papermakers
- 1973 - 1979
- Career position - Assistant Chief, CSIRO Division of Chemical Technology
- 1976 - 1987
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (FTS)
- 1977
- Award - L. R. Benjamin Medal, Appita
- 1979 - 1982
- Career position - Chief, CSIRO Division of Chemical Technology
- 1979 - 2011
- Career position - Fellow, International Academy of Wood Sciences
- 1982 - 2003
- Career position - Honorary Fellow, CSIRO Division of Forestry and Forest Products
- 1983 - 2011
- Award - Honorary Life Member, Appita
- 1987
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) [Awarded by AATS 1976]
- 1990 - 2011
- Career position - Senior Associate, University of Melbourne
- 2001
- Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society in cellulose and paper technology.
Related entries
Published resources
Journal Articles
- Michell, Tony and Wallis, Adrian, 'Members Obituary: Huntly Higgins: Authority on Paper Science', Chemistry in Australia, 79 (Dec.) (2012), 17. Details
- Mitchell, Tony and Wallis, Adrian, 'Huntly Gordon Higgins 1917 - 2011', Appita Journal, 165 (2) (2012), 112. Details
Newspaper Articles
- Hewertson, Warren, 'Key role with forest resources', The Age (2011), 35. Details
Helen Cohn
Last modified: 31 May 2022