Reunion of Sydney University Chemistry School Year of 1966

Science 60 Year Reunion

Where are they now?

The Honours Year of 1949 Take a look at what happened to the twenty-four BSc Chemistry graduates after completion of their fourth year in 1949.

Obituaries

Dr John Lambert-Smith The School is saddened by the death of its alumnus, Dr John Lambert-Smith, who passed away suddenly on 4th July, 2009. John was recently profiled in Issue 14 of the School's Alumni newsletter, ChemNews. Our best wishes go out to John's family.

Emeritus Professor Hans Freeman passed away on the morning of November 9, 2008 after a short illness. Hans was a member of the academic staff of the School of Chemistry at the University of Sydney from 1950, completing his PhD in 1957, and was Professor of Inorganic Chemistry from 1971 until his retirement in 1997. He was a pioneer in structural biology, and in the application of synchrotron and neutron beam science to chemical and biochemical problems. Hans remained active in research well after his retirement, and retained a keen interest in the School of Chemistry, especially through the Chemistry 1 Special Studies laboratory program and the Foundation for Inorganic Chemistry which he established, with Alex Boden, shortly after his appointment as Professor. Hans received the Burrows and Leighton Medals and Distinguished Fellowship award from the RACI.

Emeritus Professor Wal Taylor passed away on January 1, 2009 after a long illness with multiple myeloma. In a life marked as much by adventure and joie de vive as it was by pioneering science, Wal made major contributions to the field of natural products chemistry in Australia and South East Asia. After graduate studies in Manchester, he returned to the University of Sydney in 1958. Starting with a study on the antibacterial properties of mangosteens some 30 years ago. His work in establishing research in Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam into the chemical basis of traditional medicines earned him awards and honours. Among these were the UNESCO Einstein Silver Medal (1994), the Order of Australia Medal (1996) and the Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop Asia Medal (1997). I think the following quote says it all: “His spirit was unbreakable and it took the failure of his body to bring this great man down.”