Chemist coming home

Press, 22 August 1977, Page 2

Chemist coming home

A New Zealand-born [ Chemist with an inter-! national reputation in in-! organic reaction mechanism will return home at the end 1 of the year to take up the' second chair of chemistry in | the University of Otago. He. is Dr D. A Buckingham.) senior fellow in the Re ) search School of Chemistry! at the Australian National University. Born in Dunedin. Dr Buck-[ ingham is the son of Mr and’ Mrs A. Buckingham, who later lived in Rangiora and •re now in retirement at; Auckland. Mr Buckingham ■ was well known in North) Canterbury as the engineersecretary of the North Canterbury Electric Power

"Board and as chairman of I the Rangiora High School [ board of governors for long periods. : After attending Rangiora) ; High School, Dr Buckingham • graduated master of science : from the University of Canterbury in 1959. Awarded a scholarship to the AustraI lian National University, he completed his doctorate of) philosphy at Canberra in l • 1963. He continued his re-1 (search work in the United . States for several years before returning to Australia. In collaboration with Dr i A. Sargeson. Dr Buckingham i[has produced a stream of ■ scientific papers, which have; • Jed to his being described as “one of the leading chemists

i in his field in the world. His [ , distinctions include having, J been awarded the Corday-! Morgan Medal and the Prize) [of the Chemical Society.; London. Dr Buckingham has gained distinction also as a musician and a sportsman. He has been deputy principal ■ violist of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and he has) 'had considerable experience! las a chamber music player? He has represented the Aus-1 tralian National University I at rugby and cricket, and hej ■ has played for New South) i Wales Southern Districts in) ' these sports. ; Dr Buckingham, who isi • 41, is married, with three) ; children.