Asbjorn BAKLIEN (1929 - 2005)

Joint ICI Australia/Monash University Chair of Industrial Chemistry (1987-1994)

Emeritus Professor Asbjorn Baklien died on 5 February 2005, aged 75.

Professor Baklien was the Joint ICI Australia/Monash University Chair of Industrial Chemistry from 1987 to 1994.

Before coming to Monash, Professor Baklien was the research manager at ICI's Ascot Vale Research Laboratory, where he helped to develop commercially successful agricultural chemicals.

Professor Roy Jackson, from the Centre for Green Chemistry, said Professor Baklien's industry experience proved invaluable in his introduction of industry-relevant courses to Monash students.

"His meticulous preparation of lectures and lecture support material also made him very popular with large first-year classes," Professor Jackson said.

"Asbjorn was a big man and a rank extrovert who was always fun to be with. Those who were fortunate enough to share his eight years at Monash will never forget them."

Edited version of article published in Monash Memo, 2 March 2005.