Brown, Ronald Drayton

Positions summary

Foundation Chair of Chemistry and Chairman of Department of Chemistry 1959-1991; Director of the Centre for High-Resolution Spectroscopy and Opto-Electronic Technology; Emeritus Professor 1993.

Biography

Professor Brown was appointed to the Foundation Chair of Chemistry at Monash in 1959, and remained Head of the department of Chemistry until 1992. He was also Director of the Centre for High-Resolution Spectroscopy and Opto-Electronic Technology. Professor Brown's early work focused on developing theories of chemical reactivity for electron systems and led to the VESCF method still used in molecular mechanics software. Professor Brown's additional roles included Chairmanship of the National Committee for Chemistry and of the Committee on Science Policy. He also served as a member of the Sub-Committee on Chemical Education, and of UNESCO's Australian National Advisory Committee's specialist Committee. In 1963 he was President of the Victorian Branch of RACI. In 1982 he was appointed by the International Astronomical Union to a panel of consultants to advise on the desirability of creating a new commission on bioastronomy. He subsequently served as a member of the Organising Committee of the commission (1982-1997), serving as President for Commission 51 (Bioastronomy) from 1991-1993. He also served in various capacities for the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry between 1987 and 1997.

Papers

Publications 1948-2001
Offprints and associated working papers for articles published in scientific journals.

See also
Encyclopedia of Australian Science - Brown, Ronald Drayton

Australian Academy of Science - Biographical Memoirs - Ronald Drayton Brown