At least thirty of Avondale’s science and science education graduates now have PhDs and have excelled in careers in higher education, research, industry and government. Numerous others have gained honours and masters degrees.

Drs Eric Magnusson, Laurie Draper and Ken Thomson were the first to study a science degree at Avondale, Magnusson completing the Bachelor of Science (London) at Avondale in 1953, Draper and Thomson in 1954. Magnusson went on to gain PhDs in chemistry from the University of New South Wales and the University of London. Draper and Thomson gained PhDs in physics. All three returned to teach at Avondale. Magnusson headed Avondale’s science program from 1961 to 1970, then served as principal of the college from 1971 to 1980. He then accepted an academic post in chemistry at the Australian Defence Force Academy, a campus of the University of New South Wales, where he rose to the rank of Associate Professor. At least seventeen Avondale science graduates have joined the college staff after gaining higher degrees.

International researchers

Several Avondale science graduates have achieved impressive research careers overseas. Dr Bruce Lo, who completed a Bachelor of Science (London) at Avondale in 1966, was until recently a Professor of Information Technology at the University of Wisconsin, USA. Dr Tony Dyson and Dr Raylene Dyson, Avondale graduates of 1990, are engaged in scientific research in Switzerland.

Dr Nigel Moriarty, an Avondale graduate of 1989, is a research scientist at the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a government research institution of about 4000 people, associated with the University of California Berkeley. Dr Moriarty is involved in the development of a software system called PHENIX for solving the structures of complex biological molecules. His role in the project is developing algorithms and software to handle the smaller molecules (ligands) that interact and complex with protein; for example, artificial insulin substitutes and HIV protease inhibitors. The software is applied to data derived from X-ray crystallography, a method of investigating biological processes at the molecular level. Until now, significant time and effort have been required to interpret these data. PHENIX will automate the data processing, greatly facilitating the determination of molecular structures. Dr Moriarty has authored or co-authored approximately thirty scientific publications.

Australian university positions

At least six Avondale science graduates hold teaching and research positions in Australian universities. Associate Professor Colin Waters (Avondale graduate of 1985) is engaged in cutting-edge research in space physics at the University of Newcastle (see page 5).

Associate Professor Bruce Waldrip (Avondale graduate of 1972 and 1973) is Associate Dean of the Gippsland campus of Monash University. His research interests include science education, the science laboratory and its relationship with learning outcomes, the effect of culture on student learning, education in developing countries, enhancement of learning via a literacy approach, teachers’ and students’ perceptions of their school environments, relationships between classroom environment and teacher confidence, and educational measurement. He has published over seventy refereed research papers, has presented over a hundred papers at national and international conferences, and has won research grants totalling more than two million dollars.

Dr David Geelan, an Avondale graduate of 1988, is a senior lecturer in science education in the School of Education, University of Queensland. He is also Program Director of Middle Years Teacher Education at the university. His research interests include the ways in which science teachers explain ideas to students, the use of computer-based animations and other visual information in teaching science, philosophy of science, research methods in education, and educational technology and web-based teaching and learning. He has authored or co-authored several books and over forty refereed papers, and has attracted research grants totalling almost a million dollars. In 2009 he won an Australian Educational Publishing Award for his ‘Science Ways’ textbook series. Prior to his appointment to the University of Queensland he was associate professor of science education at the University of Alberta, Canada (2001-2006).

Dr Ross Grant (Avondale graduate of 1985) lectures in pharmacology in the School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales. He is also the Executive Director of the Australasian Research Institute, located in Avondale’s Faculty of Nursing and Health at the Sydney Adventist Hospital, with the objective of facilitating collaborative research in the health sciences. He has co-authored twenty refereed research publications in the fields of neuroscience, pharmacology, inflammation and adolescent health.

Dr David Wilson (Avondale graduate of 1996) is a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, La Trobe University. His research focuses mainly on the use of computers to solve chemical and biochemical problems. Computer calculations are carried out to model molecular structures and properties and the energetics of chemical reactions.

Dr Chris Hough (Avondale graduate of 1979) is a lecturer in the School of Mathematical Sciences, Monash University.

Industry and government

Other Avondale science graduates with PhDs have contributed significantly to Australian industry and government organisations. Dr Richard Pearce (BSc London at Avondale 1972; PhD Newcastle 1997) was a food research scientist with Sanitarium, and at the time of his death in 2002 was Quality Manager at Sanitarium’s head office. Dr Martin Hancock (Avondale graduate of 1986; PhD Griffith 1996) taught biology at Avondale for some years and now manages waste water plants and catchment dams for the Tweed Shire in northern New South Wales. Dr Ronald Van Moere (Avondale graduate of 1997; PhD Twente, Netherlands 2002) is a quality assurance and process engineer at Modular Mining Systems on the New South Wales central coast.

Early career research

Several Avondale science graduates are engaged in early career research. Dr Sarah Norman (Avondale graduate of 2001 and 2003) is currently doing postdoctoral research in Europe. Lachlan Rogers is doing PhD research in physics at the Australian National University; Peter Ansell is doing PhD research in information technology at Queensland University of Technology. Avondale is justly proud of the achievements of its science graduates.