Frederic Jevons
Encyclopedia
Frederic Raphael Jevons was a British
biochemist
and later an Australian educator. He is informally known as Fred Jevons and since 1977 has lived and worked mostly in Australia
.
by being sponsored by a family in England to attend a boarding school
in Norfolk
. The young Bettelheim was educated at Norwich High School for Boys
, joining the household of his school's headmaster, Mr J. H. W. Jevons, from whom he took his new surname. During the Second World War, the school moved from Norwich
to Loddon
and changed its name to Langley School
. His parents, Hedwig and Fritz Bettelheim, survived by escaping to Venezuela
, but were separated from their children for some ten years. Jevons, as he was now known, was reunited with his parents in 1948.
Jevons matriculated at King's College, Cambridge
, in 1946, where he held a scholarship and took a 1st class degree in the Natural Sciences Tripos in 1950. He graduated Doctor of Philosophy
at Cambridge in 1953 and Doctor of Science
at the University of Manchester
in 1966.
of King's College, Cambridge, 1953–1959. He was also University Demonstrator in Biochemistry at Cambridge, 1956–1959, before returning to Manchester University as Lecturer in Biological Chemistry 1959–1966, when he was appointed as the University's Professor of Liberal Studies in Science, holding that chair until 1975. He undertook British Council
tours in India
, East Africa
, and Nigeria
, between 1972 and 1975. In 1976, he went to Australia
as the first Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University
, and on his retirement in 1985 was appointed a Professor Emeritus.
From 1986 to 1987 Jevons was briefly a distance education consultant in southern Africa, before returning to Australia as Professor of Science and Technology Policy at Murdoch University
, 1988–1992. In 1992 he went back to Manchester, as Simon Senior Research Fellow. From 1994 to 1996 he was an Honorary Professorial Fellow at Monash University
, then joined the University of Melbourne
as an Honorary Professorial Associate in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
biochemist
Biochemist
Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. The prefix of "bio" in "biochemist" can be understood as a fusion of "biological chemist."-Role:...
and later an Australian educator. He is informally known as Fred Jevons and since 1977 has lived and worked mostly in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Early life
Born in Austria in 1929, Jevons survived the HolocaustThe Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
by being sponsored by a family in England to attend a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. The young Bettelheim was educated at Norwich High School for Boys
Norwich High School for Boys
Norwich High School for Boys was an independent school in Norwich, England. Founded in 1910, it became the Langley School shortly after World War II.-History:...
, joining the household of his school's headmaster, Mr J. H. W. Jevons, from whom he took his new surname. During the Second World War, the school moved from Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
to Loddon
Loddon, Norfolk
Loddon is a small market town about southeast of Norwich on the River Chet, a tributary of the River Yare within The Broads in Norfolk, England. The name "Loddon" is thought to mean muddy river in Celtic in reference to the Chet.-Origins:...
and changed its name to Langley School
Langley School, Loddon
Langley School is an independent coeducational boarding school situated in the market town of Loddon in South Norfolk, England. The school was founded in 1910 and is a member of the HMC....
. His parents, Hedwig and Fritz Bettelheim, survived by escaping to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, but were separated from their children for some ten years. Jevons, as he was now known, was reunited with his parents in 1948.
Jevons matriculated at King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, in 1946, where he held a scholarship and took a 1st class degree in the Natural Sciences Tripos in 1950. He graduated Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
at Cambridge in 1953 and Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
in 1966.
Career
Jevons was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Washington, Seattle, 1953–1954, then a FellowFellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of King's College, Cambridge, 1953–1959. He was also University Demonstrator in Biochemistry at Cambridge, 1956–1959, before returning to Manchester University as Lecturer in Biological Chemistry 1959–1966, when he was appointed as the University's Professor of Liberal Studies in Science, holding that chair until 1975. He undertook British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
tours in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
, and Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, between 1972 and 1975. In 1976, he went to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as the first Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University
Deakin University
Deakin University is an Australian public university with nearly 40,000 higher education students in 2010. It receives more than A$600 million in operating revenue annually, and controls more than A$1.3 billion in assets. It received more than A$35 million in research income in 2009 and had 835...
, and on his retirement in 1985 was appointed a Professor Emeritus.
From 1986 to 1987 Jevons was briefly a distance education consultant in southern Africa, before returning to Australia as Professor of Science and Technology Policy at Murdoch University
Murdoch University
Murdoch University is a public university based in Perth, Australia. It began operations as the state's second university in 1973, and accepted its first students in 1975...
, 1988–1992. In 1992 he went back to Manchester, as Simon Senior Research Fellow. From 1994 to 1996 he was an Honorary Professorial Fellow at Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
, then joined the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
as an Honorary Professorial Associate in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science.
Other work
- Chairman, General Studies Committee, Schools Council, 1974–1975
- Chairman, Graduate Careers Council of Australia, 1976–1980
- Member, Joint Matriculation Board, Manchester, 1969–1975
- Member of Council, Science Museum of Victoria, 1980–1983
- Member of Council, Museum of Victoria, 1983–1987
- Member of Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Executive Committee, 1981–1982
- Member of Australian Science and Technology Council, 1986–1989
- Interviewer for Civil Service Commission on Final Selection Boards, 1970–75
- Adviser to Leverhulme project on educational objectives in applied science, Strathclyde University, 1972–1975
- Member of Editorial Advisory Board of Studies in Science Education, 1974–1984, and of Scientometrics, 1978 to date, and of Australasian Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, 1980–1986
Selected publications
- The Biochemical Approach to Life, 1964 (and 2nd edition, 1968): translated into Italian, Spanish, Japanese, German
- The Teaching of Science: education, science and society, 1969
- University Perspectives, 1970 (joint ed.)
- Wealth from Knowledge: studies of innovation in industry, 1972
- What Kinds of Graduates do we Need?, 1972 (joint ed.)
- Science Observed: science as a social and intellectual activity, 1973
- Knowledge and Power, 1976
Honours
- Hon. DLitt, Deakin University, 1986
- Hon. DScDSC-in academia:* D.Sc., Doctor of Science* Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine* Dalton State College, Georgia* Daytona State College, Florida* Deep Springs College, California* Dixie State College of Utah...
, Manchester, 1986 - Life Governor, Geelong HospitalGeelong HospitalThe Geelong Hospital is an Australian public hospital located in Ryrie Street, Geelong, Victoria. The hospital is part of Barwon Health, Victoria's largest regional health care provider, which has 21 sites. It is the largest hospital in regional Victoria and the only tertiary hospital outside of...
, 1986 - Inaugural winner, UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Prize for Science and Technology Policy, 1992 - The Fred Jevons Building on Deakin University's Geelong Campus was named in honour of Jevons