OBITUARY

Frank Lawson died on 10/04/2024.

Dr Frank Lawson was elected to the Academy in 1995 for his internationally recognised research on hydrometallurgy, and lead smelting and refining. 

Frank had a unique ability to contribute to both research and teaching, and to show leadership at the Departmental and research levels. He was held in high regard as a teacher and as a pioneer in his discipline of chemical engineering, as shown by his membership of committees overseeing the quality of university curricula in Australia and overseas. 

He graduated from the University of New South Wales in 1950 with a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering, followed by a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Monash University in 1970. He taught and researched at Monash University starting in 1962. 

Over his career, Frank contributed to research across areas of minerals processing, lead refining, metal leaching, waste processing and many more. He was also granted several patents for use in processing mineral ores and associated wastes. 

In 2009, Professor Lawson was the first ever recipient of a Doctor of Engineering degree in Chemical Engineering from Monash, the university’s highest award in Engineering, formally recognising scholars who have made a substantial, original and distinguished contribution to knowledge. 

Professor Lawson has demonstrated a unique ability to contribute in an outstanding manner to both research and teaching and also to show leadership at the Departmental and research levels.

He has an international reputation for his research in hydrometallurgy and lead smelting and has contributed to the development of a commercial process for lead refining and has another at a pilot plant stage for waste recycling.

The high regard in which he is held as a teacher and in his discipline of chemical engineering is shown by his membership of committees which oversee the quality of university curricula in Australia and overseas.

Professor Lawson received the "ICI Award for Excellence" in 1993 for his contribution to teaching, research and professional societies.