Howard McKern
Encyclopedia
Howard Hamlet George McKern (23 March 1917 - 8 June 2009) was an Australia
n analytical
and organic chemist, museum
administrator who was Deputy Director of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences and President of the Royal Society of New South Wales
.
and petrologist who became a technical executive with the petroleum company Mobil
and Edith Mary Hamlet (1890–1967). McKern was born in Mosman, New South Wales
and educated at Newington College
(1931–1935). In the Leaving Certificate
Examination he was awarded First-Class Honours in Chemistry and Geology.
in 1942, while studying physiology
, microbiology
and botany
. In 1957 he completed a Master of Science
degree, by thesis, at the University of New South Wales
.
chemical laboratory of Meggitt
Limited, and during that time was promoted to Assistant Chemist.
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...
n analytical
Analytical chemistry
Analytical chemistry is the study of the separation, identification, and quantification of the chemical components of natural and artificial materials. Qualitative analysis gives an indication of the identity of the chemical species in the sample and quantitative analysis determines the amount of...
and organic chemist, museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
administrator who was Deputy Director of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences and President of the Royal Society of New South Wales
Royal Society of New South Wales
The Royal Society of New South Wales is a learned society based in Sydney, Australia. It was established as the Philosophical Society of Australasia on 27 June 1821...
.
Early life
McKern is the son of James Gordon McKern (1888–1975) a mining engineer, geologistGeologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
and petrologist who became a technical executive with the petroleum company Mobil
Mobil
Mobil, previously known as the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, was a major American oil company which merged with Exxon in 1999 to form ExxonMobil. Today Mobil continues as a major brand name within the combined company, as well as still being a gas station sometimes paired with their own store or On...
and Edith Mary Hamlet (1890–1967). McKern was born in Mosman, New South Wales
Mosman, New South Wales
Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mosman is located 8 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman.-Localities:In February...
and educated at Newington College
Newington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
(1931–1935). In the Leaving Certificate
Leaving Certificate
The Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
Examination he was awarded First-Class Honours in Chemistry and Geology.
Tertiary education
McKern received a Diploma in Chemistry from the Sydney Technical CollegeSydney Technical College
The Sydney Technical College was a name used by Australia's oldest technical education institution.It began as the Sydney Mechanics' Institute in 1843...
in 1942, while studying physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
, microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
and botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
. In 1957 he completed a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree, by thesis, at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
.
Science career
McKern worked from 1936 until 1945 in analytical and organic chemistry in the ParramattaParramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
chemical laboratory of Meggitt
Meggitt
Meggitt PLC is a leading British-based engineering business specialising in aerospace equipment. It has its headquarters at Bournemouth Airport in Dorset. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
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.Honours and fellowships
- Fellow - Royal Australian Chemical InstituteRoyal Australian Chemical InstituteThe Royal Australian Chemical Institute Inc. is both the qualifying body in Australia for professional chemists and a learned society promoting the science and practice of chemistry in all its branches. The RACI hosts conferences, seminars and workshops...
(1957) - President - UNSW Chemical SocietyUniversity of New South WalesThe University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
(1960–1971) - Royal Society Medal - Services to science (1968)
- President - Royal Society of New South WalesRoyal Society of New South WalesThe Royal Society of New South Wales is a learned society based in Sydney, Australia. It was established as the Philosophical Society of Australasia on 27 June 1821...
(1970)
Biagraphical articles
- Frank Richard Morrison 1895-1967, Chemist and Museum Director Australian Dictionary of BiographyAustralian Dictionary of BiographyThe Australian Dictionary of Biography is a national, co-operative enterprise, founded and maintained by the Australian National University to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history....
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 BiographyAustralian Dictionary of BiographyThe Australian Dictionary of Biography is a national, co-operative enterprise, founded and maintained by the Australian National University to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history....
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 BiographyAustralian Dictionary of BiographyThe Australian Dictionary of Biography is a national, co-operative enterprise, founded and maintained by the Australian National University to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history....
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 phytochemistryPhytochemistryPhytochemistry is in the strict sense of the word the study of phytochemicals. These are chemicals derived from plants. In a narrower sense the terms are often used to describe the large number of secondary metabolic compounds found in plants. Many of these are known to provide protection against...
and chemotaxonomyChemotaxonomyChemotaxonomy , also called chemosystematics, is the attempt to classify and identify organisms , according to demonstrable differences and similarities in their biochemical compositions. The compounds studied in most of the cases are mostly proteins, amino acids and peptides...
have been published