Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry

The Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry was created in 1955 when the Department of Chemistry was split into two new Departments, Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry, upon the retirement of the Head and Angus Professor, Alexander Killen Macbeth.

A new Chair in Inorganic and Physical Chemistry had been established in 1953 and Denis Oswald Jordan appointed to the role, commencing in 1954.

Professor Jordan succeeded Professor Macbeth as Angus Professor of Chemistry.

An additional Chair, in Inorganic Chemistry, was created in the 1960s and the first appointee was Donald Richard Stranks, who later became Vice Chancellor.

The Department was located in the Johnson Laboratories and in 1963 expanded into an additional block of laboratories to the western side that was named the Jordan Laboratories in honour of Professor Jordan in 1982.

In 1993, the Department was amalgamated with the Department of Organic Chemistry to form a single Department of Chemistry.

Taken from UAA Provenance Record UAR-0207

Professor of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry

• Professor Donald Richard Stranks, MSc, PhD (Melb), FRACI, 1964-1973
• Professor Denis Oswald Jordan, MSc, PhD, DSc (Lond), FRACI, FAA, 1954-1979 (Emeritus Professor 1980)
• Professor Michael Ian Bruce, BA (Hons), MA (Oxford), PhD, DSc (Bristol) FAA, FRACI, 1973-1982 (Emeritus Professor 2008)