Macquarie science reform movement

Among the senior science professors that openly supported the SSD led reform movement were Ronald E. Aitchison (Electronics), Frederick Chong (Mathematics), Brian F. Gray (Chemistry), John G. Hawke (Chemistry), Richard E. B. Makinson (Physics), Ronald H. Vernon (Geophysics), and John C. Ward (Physics).

[4][5][6][7][8] In 1977 a front page newspaper article read: "A student revolt is underway at Macquarie University against an outmoded degree system.

[9] A perspective on the science reform movement is given in the book Liberality of Opportunity[10] which was co-authored by Bruce Mansfield, a former professor of history and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University.

"[11] In 1980, Greg Sheridan described the duel between the sciences and the Macquarie establishment as a "nasty, bitter bureaucratic struggle" won by the reformers and their allies.

[12] Back to the present: Macquarie University offers about ninety (90) named undergraduate degrees in addition to the original BSc introduced in 1979.

The E7B Building Courtyard, now known as the Frederick Chong Courtyard, where the Macquarie science reform movement began. This building used to be the home of the school of Mathematics and Physics.