Sir David Ronald Zeidler (18 March 1918 – 12 March 1998) was an Australian chemist and

industrialist A business magnate, also known as a tycoon, is a person who has achieved immense wealth through the ownership of multiple lines of enterprise. The term characteristically refers to a powerful entrepreneur or investor who controls, through perso ...

. Zeidler was born in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a me ...

, he attended the

Scotch College, Melbourne Scotch College is an independent school, independent Presbyterian Day school, day and boarding school for boys, located in Hawthorn, Victoria, Hawthorn, an inner-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Victoria, Aus ...

and continued his education at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb n ...

graduating with a Master of Science. When he completed his studies Zeidler was employed by the

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is South Africa's central and premier scientific research and development organisation. It was established by an act of parliament in 1945 and is situated on its own campus in the cit ...

(CSIR) from 1942 to 1952.Zeidler, David Ronald (1918 - 1998) - Bright Sparcs Biographical entry
The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre on ASAPWeb, 1994 - 2007. He worked in the Division of Industrial Chemistry and became leader of the chemical engineering section. During this period he also traveled to the United States where he undertook postgraduate research at the

Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a Private university, private Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern t ...

.Australian Academy of Science
AAS Newsletter
, April–June 1998 In 1952 he left the CSIR to work as a research manager of the chemical manufacturer Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia and New Zealand Limited (ICIANZ). He progressed through the management ranks of the company and became Executive Director in 1963 and finally served as Chairman and Managing Director at ICI Australia from 1973 to 1980. During Zeidler's time at the company he was actively involved in developing the companies capacity for research. He was also involved more widely in promoting research and encouraged cooperation between industry, research organisations and universities. He was awarded a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

for services to industry, science and education in 1971, a

Knight Bachelor The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised orders of chivalry; it is a part of the British honours system. Knights Bachelor are t ...

in 1979, and a

Companion of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Go ...

in 1990. Following his retirement he served on company boards for large chemical companies and banks. He was a Fellow and President of the

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering The Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) is a learned academy that helps Australians understand and use technology to solve complex problems. It was founded in 1975 as one of Australia's then four learned academies (now five) ...

A retrospective look at ATSE
''History'', Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and joined the Fellowship of the

Australian Academy of Science The Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London. The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The academy is modelled after the Royal So ...

by special election in 1985. ATSE awards a travel scholarship in his name. Zeidler Street in the Canberra suburb

Gungahlin The District of Gungahlin () is one of the original eighteen districts of the Australian Capital Territory used in Lands administrative divisions of Australia#Australian Capital Territory, land administration. The Gungahlin Region is one of fas ...

is also named in his honour.ACT Land and Planning Authority
Zeidler Street
/ref>

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zeidler, David 1918 births 1998 deaths Australian chemists Imperial Chemical Industries people Australian Knights Bachelor Companions of the Order of Australia Australian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science People educated at Scotch College, Melbourne University of Melbourne alumni Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering

See also

References