Crystallography in Australia

University of Western Australia

The first single crystal studies at the U. of Western Australia (UWA) began in 1952 under the direction of physicist C. J.B. Clews. After working as a Rhodes scholar with Dorothy Hodgkin on penicillin and cephalosporin derivatives at Oxfo rd, E. N. Maslen returned to UWA to take over the diffraction group. A reflection electron diffraction camera was constructed and used by P. B. Sewell, J. H. Chute and A. E. C. Spargo for epitaxy studies under the supervision of L. N. D. Lucas. The study of electrons flourished in the Chemistry Dept. in the early 1960s. Maslen brought a keen interest in diffraction studies to the elucidation of organic structures by direct methods and the study of electron density distributions. Addition of a second four-circle diffractometer in 1970 led to the formation of the Crystallography Centre with Maslen as Director and A. H. White as Deputy.

In the late 70s, the Centre's involvement in the development of the XRAY system, and subsequently the XTAL package, led to the acquisition of an Interdata microcomputer. Research activities also encompassed single-crystal neutron diffraction, use of synchrotron X-ray sources at Tsukuba, polarized neutron spin density studies at Grenoble and local construction of a helium-temperature instrument by B. N. Figgis.

In 1991 the Research Centre for Advanced Mineral and Material Processing acquired a powder diffractometer (Siemens D500) with a high temperature attachment. F. J. Lincoln's research studies include Western Australian minerals, rare earth beach sand, synthesized rare earth metal solid electrolytes, magneto-resistive lanthanum manganates and apatite-based ceramic waste forms. Current research activity in the Crystallography Centre includes electron density studies by V. Streltsov and D. du Boulay with synchrotron data collected at the Photon Factory, software development for the XTAL package and the improved scientific data handling methods using the STAR and CIF formats (Hall and du Boulay). Small molecule X-ray studies include organic, natural products, organometallic, coordination, inorganic and mineral structures ranging in size to 'supramolecule' in scale.

Retirement of Hans Freeman

Hans Freeman

A symposium was held at the U. of Sydney in July to mark the formal retirement of Prof. Hans Freeman. Collaborators and former students of Hans talked about his contributions, directions of current research and future developments in their area. K. Hodgson talked about EXAFS and protein crystallography; E. Solomon, Metalloprotein spectroscopy; I. Dance, modelling of active sites; A. Bond, electrochemistry; and G. Sykes, electron transfer. D. Napper gave an after dinner speech that included the obligatory "Duck Story" and Hans responded with delightful reminiscences.