Geoffrey Norman Malcolm (23 April 1931 – 11 August 2019) was a New Zealand

physical chemist Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic and microscopic phenomena in chemical systems in terms of the principles, practices, and concepts of physics such as motion, energy, force, time, thermodynamics, quantum chemistry, statistical mech ...

. Appointed in 1969, he was the first chemistry professor at

Massey University Massey University ( mi, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa) is a university based in Palmerston North, New Zealand, with significant campuses in Albany and Wellington. Massey University has approximately 30,883 students, 13,796 of whom are extramural o ...

Biography

Born in

Feilding Feilding ( mi, Aorangi) is a town in the Manawatū District of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 54, 20 kilometres north of Palmerston North. The town is the seat of the Manawatū District Council. Feilding has ...

on 23 April 1931, Malcolm was educated at Feilding Agricultural High School. He then studied at Canterbury University College, graduating

Master of Science A Master of Science ( la, Magisterii Scientiae; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree in the field of science awarded by universities in many countries or a person holding such a degree. In contrast ...

with first-class honours in 1954. He was awarded an

1851 Exhibition Memorial Scholarship The 1851 Research Fellowship is a scheme conducted by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 to annually award a three-year research scholarship to approximately eight "young scientists or engineers of exceptional promise". The fellowshi ...

, and completed doctoral studies at the

University of Manchester The University of Manchester is a public university, public research university in Manchester, England. The main campus is south of Manchester city centre, Manchester City Centre on Wilmslow Road, Oxford Road. The university owns and operates majo ...

in 1956. In 1958, Malcolm married Sheila Mary Wilson, and the couple went on to have four children. After a short period as an assistant lecturer at the University of Manchester in 1956–57, Malcolm returned to New Zealand. He was appointed as a lecturer in chemistry at the

University of Otago , image_name = University of Otago Registry Building2.jpg , image_size = , caption = University clock tower , motto = la, Sapere aude , mottoeng = Dare to be wise , established = 1869; 152 years ago , type = Public research collegiate u ...

in 1958, rising to the rank of reader. In 1969, he was appointed as professor of physical chemistry at

, and was the first professor of chemistry at that institution. He later served as dean of science from 1984 to 1994. Following his retirement in 1995, he was conferred the title of professor emeritus. Malcolm was elected a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (NZIC) in 1966, and served as president of the NZIC in 1977. Malcolm died in

Palmerston North Palmerston North (; mi, Te Papa-i-Oea, known colloquially as Palmy) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Located in the eastern Manawatu Plains, the city is near the north bank of the ...

on 11 August 2019.

References

1931 births 2019 deaths People from Feilding People educated at Feilding High School University of Canterbury alumni Alumni of the University of Manchester New Zealand chemists Physical chemists Academic staff of Massey University Academics of the University of Manchester Fellows of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry {{NewZealand-academic-bio-stub