Dr Brian O'Connor, renowned for his legacy in diffraction, crystallography, and his mentorship of many Australian scientists and AXAA members, sadly passed away on the first of July, 2024.
Brian O'Connor - Life Member
Brian O’Connor was awarded life membership of AXAA in 2001. He is principally known for his expertise in crystallography-based analytical methods, especially for his development of powder XRD and XRF characterisation procedures. He has published extensively on the use of Rietveld methods for materials analysis. His experience gained over some 50 years as a crystallographer, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and x-ray spectrometry (XRF) scientist is complemented by neutron scattering and synchrotron radiation science which has involved use of advanced radiation sources in Australia, Japan and the United States. He is also an expert on the radiological aspects of mineral processing, including naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM).
Brian graduated from the University of WA in 1961 with First Class Honours in Physics, and then proceeded to a PhD involving single crystal x-ray and neutron diffraction, under the supervision of Dr Ted Maslen. During 1965-70 Brian held a UKAEA Research Fellowship at Harwell in the UK and then a Queen Elizabeth II Research Fellowship at UWA.
He joined Curtin University of Technology in 1971 (then the WA Institute of Technology) and now serves Curtin as an Emeritus Professor. In 1990, Curtin awarded Brian a Personal Chair as Professor of Applied Physics. His time at Curtin has included an 18-month appointment at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory at The University of California where he developed XRD and XRF methods for studying urban air pollutants.
Awards/honours -
Life Member, Australian X-ray Analytical Association (2001)
Distinguished Fellow, International Centre for Diffraction Data (2011)
ANBUG Career Achievement Award for Contribution to Australian Neutron Science (2007)
Bob Cheary Award for Excellence in X-ray Diffraction, Australian X-ray Analytical Association (2011)
AINSE Honorary Fellowship, Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (2011)
Citation in Who’s Who in Australia
His professional service with AXAA and other organisations has included –
• President, Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering [AINSE] (2007)
• President, Australian X-ray Analytical Association (1986-88&2005-08) and numerous other positions at national and state levels)
• Board of Directors, International Centre for Diffraction Data, Pennsylvania, USA (Vice Chairman, 2000-04)
• Council Member, International X-ray Analysis Society
• National Committee for Crystallography, Australian Academy of Science
• Member, National Characterisation Council (current)
• Member, National Scientific Advisory Committee, Australian Synchrotron Project
• Member, Bragg Institute International Advisory Committee, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology [ANSTO]
• Chair, ANSTO Powder Diffractometry Instrument Advisory Team
• Coordinator, Western Australian Synchrotron Users network (WASUN)
• Chair, Neutron Scattering Specialist Committee, AINSE
• Board Member, Australian Synchrotron Research Program Inc
• Chair, Australian National Physics Congress
• Member, Radiological Council of WA
Brian has authored more than 120 refereed papers and 160 other publications (mainly conference papers).
(February 2007 – revised March 2014)
Brian graduated from the University of WA in 1961 with First Class Honours in Physics, and then proceeded to a PhD involving single crystal x-ray and neutron diffraction, under the supervision of Dr Ted Maslen. During 1965-70 Brian held a UKAEA Research Fellowship at Harwell in the UK and then a Queen Elizabeth II Research Fellowship at UWA.
He joined Curtin University of Technology in 1971 (then the WA Institute of Technology) and now serves Curtin as an Emeritus Professor. In 1990, Curtin awarded Brian a Personal Chair as Professor of Applied Physics. His time at Curtin has included an 18-month appointment at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory at The University of California where he developed XRD and XRF methods for studying urban air pollutants.
Awards/honours -
Life Member, Australian X-ray Analytical Association (2001)
Distinguished Fellow, International Centre for Diffraction Data (2011)
ANBUG Career Achievement Award for Contribution to Australian Neutron Science (2007)
Bob Cheary Award for Excellence in X-ray Diffraction, Australian X-ray Analytical Association (2011)
AINSE Honorary Fellowship, Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (2011)
Citation in Who’s Who in Australia
His professional service with AXAA and other organisations has included –
• President, Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering [AINSE] (2007)
• President, Australian X-ray Analytical Association (1986-88&2005-08) and numerous other positions at national and state levels)
• Board of Directors, International Centre for Diffraction Data, Pennsylvania, USA (Vice Chairman, 2000-04)
• Council Member, International X-ray Analysis Society
• National Committee for Crystallography, Australian Academy of Science
• Member, National Characterisation Council (current)
• Member, National Scientific Advisory Committee, Australian Synchrotron Project
• Member, Bragg Institute International Advisory Committee, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology [ANSTO]
• Chair, ANSTO Powder Diffractometry Instrument Advisory Team
• Coordinator, Western Australian Synchrotron Users network (WASUN)
• Chair, Neutron Scattering Specialist Committee, AINSE
• Board Member, Australian Synchrotron Research Program Inc
• Chair, Australian National Physics Congress
• Member, Radiological Council of WA
Brian has authored more than 120 refereed papers and 160 other publications (mainly conference papers).
(February 2007 – revised March 2014)