The 614 th meeting of the Sydney University Chemical Society will be held on Wednesday 15th March in Le Fèvre Lecture Theatre 2 of the Chemistry Building on the campus of The University of Sydney. The speaker will be Professor Ian Rae who will present the
Sydney University, 1948: The Organic Chair
History and Philosophy of Science The University of Melbourne
Abstract: In 1948 the Chair of Organic Chemistry at the University of Sydney was offered to a Cambridge chemist, Dr Barry Kipping. A storm erupted reported in the Daily Telegraph over the university s failure to appoint the strong local candidate, Dr Francis Lions. Lions, however, was not the only prominent Australian chemist to be overlooked by the selection committee, which was dominated by the head of chemistry, Professor Raymond Le Fevre, himself an English import. In the event, Kipping withdrew and several years later the chair was filled by an Australian, Arthur Birch. The case raises interesting questions of the advantages and disadvantages of overseas appointments to Australian chairs, as well as giving fascinating insights into university politics.
Wednesday 15th March at 5:30pm
Le Fèvre Lecture Theatre 2
Refreshments from 5:00pm