Background
Sternhell, Sever was born on May 30, 1930 in Lwow, Poland. Son of Samson and Maria (Wachs) Sternhell. arrived in Australia, 1947.
Sternhell, Sever was born on May 30, 1930 in Lwow, Poland. Son of Samson and Maria (Wachs) Sternhell. arrived in Australia, 1947.
Bachelor of Science with honors I, University Sydney, Australia, 1951. Master of Science, University Sydney, Australia, 1952. Doctor of Philosophy, Diploma Imperial College, University London, 1960.
Doctor of Science, University London, 1966.
He has been professor of Chemistry at the University of Sydney, and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. His current research is on the induction of chirality into mesophases, aspects of steric hindrance and the mechanochemistry of organic compounds. Arriving in Sydney in February 1947, he enrolled as a boarder at Newington College a few days after the commencement of the first term.
Having had no formal education since primary school, and only learnt English recently in Palestine, he spent the next nine months studying for the Leaving Certificate.
He sat for his exams and received fours As and a Bachelor in English. Following Newington he attended the University of Sydney and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (hons) in 1951 and a Master of Science in 1953.
In 1961 he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation from the University of London. After further study in London he received a Doctor of Science from Imperial College.
He began his career as a research chemist in private industry with Monsanto in 1953.
Two years later he was appointed a senior research officer at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and remained in that position until 1964. Sternhell was a senior lecturer in the Department of Organic Chemistry at the University of Sydney, from 1964 until 1967. He spent a further ten years as a reader in organic chemistry at the University of Sydney before being appointed Professor of Organic Chemistry.
He has been an Emeritus Professor since 1999.
In 1991-1992 he was chairman of the Australian Research Council Chemical Sciences Panel. Sternhell is a Fellow, of the Australian Academy of Science and of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.
In 2001, he was awarded the Centenary Medal for his service to Australian society and science in organic chemistry and molecular engineering.
Fellow Australian Academy.
Son of; married Alice Zalcberg, March 23, 1953. Children: Peter, James, Roger.