De Laeter, John Robert (1933 - 2010)

Summary

John de Laeter was a physicist at the forefront of research in dating the Earth's mantle and exploring the outer reaches of the Solar System. His research was in the fields of geochronology, nuclear physics and cosmochemistry, and he was a leader in the application of mass spectrometry in these areas. At Curtin University of Technology he was Professor of Physics and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Development. De Laeter played a central role in the development and application of technology in Western Australia, including fostering collaboration between government, industry and the universities. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Scitec Discovery Centre, Perth, and the Gravity Discovery Centre, Gingin, Western Australia. Minor Planet 3893 de Laeter named in his honour as is the John de Laeter Centre of Mass Spectrometry, Jack Hills, Western Australia.

Details

Chronology

1957

Career position - Teacher, Perth Technical College

1959

Career position - Science teacher, Bunbury High School

1966

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Western Australia

1968 - 1974

Career position - Head, Department of Physics, Western Australian Institute of Technology

1974 - 1981

Career position - Dean of Applied Science, Western Australian Institute of Technology

1980 - 1981

Career position - President, Royal Society of Western Australia

1980 - 1991

Career position - Member, Commission of Atomic Weights and Isotopic Abundances, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

1981 - 1984

Career position - Associate Director, Engineering and Science, Western Australian Institute of Technology

1981 - 1984

Career position - President, Conservation and Environment Council of Western Australia

1983 - 1986

Career position - Chairman, Advisory Committee for Western Australia, CSIRO

1983 - 1987

Career position - Secretary, Commission of Atomic Weights and Isotopic Abundances, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

1984 - 1986

Career position - Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Development, Western Australian Institute of Technology

1984 - 1987

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (FTS)

1984 - 1987

Career position - Chairman, Western Australian Science, Industry and Technology Council

1986 - 1995

Career position - Professor of Physics, Curtin University of Technology

1987 - 1991

Career position - Chairman, Commission of Atomic Weights and Isotopic Abundances, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

1987 - 1995

Career position - Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Development, Curtin University

1987 - 2010

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) [Awarded by AATS 1984]

1988 - 1996

Career position - Deputy Chair (later Patron), Scitech Discovery Centre, Perth

1988 - 2003

Career position - Chair (later Patron), Technology Park

1989 - ?

Career position - Governor, Ian Clunies Ross Memorial Foundation

1990 - 1995

Career position - Director, Technical Innovation Management, Curtin University of Technology

1991 - 1995

Career position - Member of the Board, CSIRO

1992

Award - ANZAAS Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science

1992

Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) - in recognition of service to science education.

1993

Award - Medal of the Royal Society of Western Australia

1995

Life event - Retired

1995

Award - Honorary Doctorate of Technology, Curtin University

1996

Award - W. R. Browne Award, Geological Society oif Australia

2001

Award - Centenary Medal - For service to Australian society in environmental science and technology.

2006

Award - Clunies Ross Lifetime Achievement Award, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering

2009

Award - Inducted into the Western Australian Science Hall of Fame

Related entries

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Anon, 'John de Laeter was one of WA's most noted scientists', ATSE focus, 164 (2010), 46, https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3171713336. Details
• Anon, 'Vale Emeritus Professor John de Laeter, AO, PhD, DSc, BSc (Hons), BEd (Hons), HonDTech (Curtin), HonDLitt W. Aust, FTSE, FAIP 1933-2010', Proceedings of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 2011 (April) (2011), 5-6. Details
• Anon, 'Obituary - John Robert de Laeter, 1933-2010', Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 96 (2013), 29. Details
• de Laeter, J. R., 'The Role of Physics in Geochronology', Australian Physicist, 17 (8) (1980), 127-129. Details
• de Laeter, J. R., 'The Role Science and Technology Has Played in Australia's 200 Years of European Development', Australian Science Teachers Journal, 35 (2) (1988), 9-15. Details
• de Laeter, J. R., 'The influence of American and British thought on Australian physics education', Science Education, 73 (4) (1989), 445-57. Details
• De Laeter, J. R., 'Geochronology in Australia: an overview', Australian journal of earth sciences, 55 (6/7) (2008), 723-4. https://doi.org/10.1080/08120090802094085. Details
• De Laeter, J. R., 'Geochronology in Western Australia', Australian journal of earth sciences, 55 (6/7) (2008), 769-75, https://doi.org/10.1080/08120090802094127. Details
• De Laeter, J. R.; Putt, G., 'Physics Enrolments in Australian and New Zealand Universities 1994-1999', The Physicist, 37 (1) (2000), 11-15. Details
• Downard, K. M.; and De Laeter, J. R., 'A History of Mass Spectrometry in Australia', Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 40 (9) (2005), 1123-1139. Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q16018722. Details