- Howard McKern
Howard Hamlet George McKern (born
23 March 1917 ) is anAustralia n analytical andorganic chemist ,museum administrator who was Deputy Director of theMuseum of Applied Arts and Sciences and President of theRoyal Society of New South Wales . [ [http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P004106b.htm Bright Sparcs] ]Early life
McKern is the son of James Gordon McKern (1888-1975) a
mining engineer ,geologist andpetrologist who became a technical executive with the petroleum companyMobil and Edith Mary Hamlet (1890-1967). McKern was born inMosman, New South Wales and educated atNewington College (1931-1935) [Newington College Register of Past Students 1863-1998 (Syd, 1999) pp132 ] . In theLeaving Certificate Examination he was awarded First-Class Honours in Chemistry and Geology.Tertiary education
McKern received a Diploma in Chemistry from the
Sydney Technical College in 1942, [ [http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/cbd/cbd7-013.htm Sydney Technical College and former Science Museum] ] while studyingphysiology ,microbiology andbotany . In 1957 he completed aMaster of Science degree, by thesis, at theUniversity of New South Wales .cience career
McKern worked from 1936 until 1945 in analytical and organic chemistry in the Parramatta chemical laboratory of
Meggitt Limited, and during that time was promoted to Assistant Chemist.Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences
In July 1945, McKern joined the staff of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences as head of the Chemistry Department and was engaged in research on the chemistry of essential oils. He was appointed Deputy Director of the Museum in 1960 and retired in 1977. [Yesterday's Tomorrows - The Powerhouse Museum and its precursers (Syd, 2005) pp 105]
Honours and fellowships
* Fellow -
Royal Australian Chemical Institute (1957)
* President - UNSW Chemical Society (1960-1971)
* Royal Society Medal - Services to science (1968)
* President -Royal Society of New South Wales (1970)Publications
Books
* "William Mogford Hamlet 1850-1931" (Syd, 1995)
Biagraphical Articles
* "Frank Richard Morrison 1895-1967, Chemist and Museum Director"
Australian Dictionary of Biography Vol. 15,Melbourne University Press (Melb, 2000) pp. 417-418 [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150487b.htm]* "Arthur de Ramon Penfold 1890-1980, Chemist and Museum Director"
Australian Dictionary of Biography Vol. 11,Melbourne University Press (Melb, 1988) pp. 195-196 [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110200b.htm]* "Henry George Smith 1852-1924, Chemist"
Australian Dictionary of Biography Vol. 11,Melbourne University Press , Melbourne, 1988, pp. 646-647 [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110666b.htm]Papers
* Over 40 papers in the fields of
phytochemistry andchemotaxonomy have been published [ [http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/bib/P004106p.htm Bright Sparcs] ]References
External links
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