George Petersen (biochemist)

Born in Palmerston North on 5 September 1933, Petersen was the son of Elizabeth Stella Osberta Petersen (née Cairns) and George Conrad Petersen.^[4][5] He was educated at Palmerston North Boys' High School, and went on to study at the University of Otago, graduating with a Master of Science with second-class honours in 1956.^[4][6] He then undertook postgraduate study at the University of Oxford, earning Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.^[4] A notable doctoral student of Petersen at the University of Otago was Diana Hill.^[7]

On 16 April 1960, Petersen married Patricia Jane Egerton Caughey, and the couple went on to have four children.^[4]

Petersen was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1985.^[8] He was also a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry.^[4] In the 1997 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the community.^[9] In 2003, Petersen received the Rutherford Medal, the most prestigious award given by the Royal Society of New Zealand.^[10]