Sir Mark Oliphant

It is with great sadness that I learnt today of the death of Sir Mark Oliphant, an event which marks the passing of a great Australian, who was involved in one of the landmark scientific achievements of the twentieth century vis the splitting of the atom.

Sir Mark’s distinguished academic career at home and overseas and a term as Governor of South Australia highlighted his contribution to the nation both as a scientist and public figure.

Born in South Australia and educated at Unley and Adelaide High Schools, and Adelaide University, Sir Mark became a Senior Scholar at Cambridge University and a fellow of the Royal Society of London in 1937.

It was early in his career, at Cambridge, that the then Mark Oliphant worked with the team at the Cavendish Laboratory which succeeded in 1932 in splitting the atom.

Sir Mark became a tireless campaigner against weapons of mass destruction after leading a team of British scientists to the USA in 1943 to work on development of the atomic bomb.

On his return to Australia in 1950 he became the founding Director of the Research School of Physical Sciences at the Australian National University in Canberra, a post he held until 1963.

He was the founding President of the Australian Academy of Science, and served as Head of the Department of Particle Physics at the ANU before returning to research.

Following retirement from the ANU Sir Mark performed distinguished service as Governor of South Australia from 1971-1976, and is fondly remembered for his contribution to public life in that role.

On behalf of myself, my wife Janette, and the Federal Government I extend deepest sympathies to Sir Mark’s daughter Vivian Wilson, daughter-in-law Monica Oliphant, and their families.

17 July 2000

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