Geoff Malcolm
New Zealand physical chemist (1931–2019)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Geoffrey Norman Malcolm (23 April 1931 – 11 August 2019) was a New Zealand physical chemist. Appointed in 1969, he was the first chemistry professor at Massey University.
23 April 1931
Geoff Malcolm | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | Geoffrey Norman Malcolm 23 April 1931 Feilding, New Zealand |
| Died | 11 August 2019 (aged 88) Palmerston North, New Zealand |
| Alma mater | Canterbury University College (MSc(Hons)) University of Manchester (PhD) |
| Spouse |
Sheila Mary Wilson (m. 1958) |
| Children | 4 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physical chemistry |
| Institutions | Massey University |
| Notable students | Graham Fortune |
Biography
Born in Feilding on 23 April 1931, Malcolm was educated at Feilding Agricultural High School.[1] He then studied at Canterbury University College, graduating Master of Science with first-class honours in 1954.[2] He was awarded an 1851 Exhibition Memorial Scholarship,[2] and completed doctoral studies at the University of Manchester in 1956.[1][3]
In 1958, Malcolm married Sheila Mary Wilson, and the couple went on to have four children.[1]
After a short period as an assistant lecturer at the University of Manchester in 1956–57, Malcolm returned to New Zealand.[1] He was appointed as a lecturer in chemistry at the University of Otago in 1958, rising to the rank of reader.[1] In 1969, he was appointed as professor of physical chemistry at Massey University, and was the first professor of chemistry at that institution.[4] He later served as dean of science from 1984 to 1994.[1][5] Following his retirement in 1995, he was conferred the title of professor emeritus.[1][3][5] Malcolm was elected a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (NZIC) in 1966, and served as president of the NZIC in 1977.[1][3]
Malcolm died in Palmerston North on 11 August 2019.[5]
