Department of Chemistry

Prizes and Awards

The Professor Jim Morrison Prize for First Year Chemistry

This prize ($150 book voucher) is awarded each year to the top student in 1st year chemistry. Professor Morrison was the foundation professor in Physical Chemistry at La Trobe University where he taught from 1967 until his retirement in 1989. He is an Emeritus Professor of the University.

The Professor Jim Morrison prize for 2007 was awarded to Adam Kaucki.

The Trevor Broxton Prize for Second Year Chemistry

This prize ($100 book voucher) was established in the memory of Dr Trevor Broxton and is awarded each year to the top student in 2nd year chemistry. Dr Broxton was a member of the chemistry academic staff at La Trobe University from 1969 until his early retirement in 2002.

The Trevor Broxton prize for 2007 was awarded to Nhu Thuy.

The Michael Grant Prize for Third Year Chemistry

This prize ($100 book voucher) is awarded each year to the top student in 3rd year chemistry. Dr Michael Grant graduated with a PhD from Emmanuel College, Cambridge University in 1968. He joined the chemistry staff at La Trobe University in 1973 as Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry, rising to the position of Senior Lecturer. In 1982 he was elected to the position of Chairman of the Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry. He died tragically at the age of 42 in 1984.

The Michael Grant prize for 2007 was awarded to Stacey Abbott.

The Max O'Connor Prize for Honours Year Chemistry

This prize is awarded each year to the top student in 4th year Chemistry Honours. The prize ($200 book voucher) commemorates the career of Dr Max O'Connor who contributed significantly to the early development of chemistry at La Trobe University. Max O'Connor, a PhD graduate from Monash University, was appointed to the position of Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry in 1969 rising to the position of Reader in 1982. He died in 1985 from cancer at the age of 49 at the height of his academic career.

The Max O'Connor prize for 2007 was awarded to David Leaver.

The Max O'Connor Lecture in the Department of Chemistry

This research lecture is given annually by a distinguished chemist to commemorate the contribution of Dr Max O'Connor to the early development of research in the field of coordination chemistry at La Trobe University. In choosing the lecturer, consideration is given to scientists with an international reputation in Inorganic Chemistry or to distinguished scientists who had an association in some way with Max O'Connor.

The 2008 Max O'Connor Lecturer   Professor Roland De Marco   Department of Applied Chemistry   Curtin University of Technology