Central Queesland University's chemistry laboratory at the Rockhampton Campus will officially be named after the late Peter Lawson on Friday, 28 June.

Our Friend --- Peter Lawson --- 1944 - 2001.

Peter John Lawson was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, on 23 May, 1944 and completed his primary and secondary education in Rockhampton during which time he distinguished himself both as a fine student and as a keen athlete.

Peter commenced tertiary studies in science at The University of Queensland in 1962 and went on to complete a First Class Honours degree in Inorganic Chemistry and a PhD in chiro-optical properties of amino acid complexes. Subsequently he was awarded a Fulbright-Hays Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Indiana State University in the United States. He later returned to the Department of Chemistry at The University of Queensland as a Senior Tutor.

Peter was appointed to the staff of the then Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education in 1973 and played a central role in the development of the institution to its university status in 1992. Although always keen to pursue his research interests it was only now that he could take up the challenge. In late 1998, vying for the position of Head of Chemistry, he summarised his research interests as "biomimetic chemistry, metal-directed syntheses of bioactive species via coordination complexes, and synthesis and testing of gold and silver specific in exchange resins".

Peter had a well-deserved reputation as an outstanding teacher, a person who paid particular attention to the needs of students particularly those in difficulty. He was a pioneer of distance education in the sciences and was seen at many careers markets, Chemists in Schools program and University open days, encouraging school students to further their education through university study.

In addition to his direct contribution to his profession, Peter played an important University-wide leadership role. He was a representative of the University's Governing Council for nine years and was Chair of the Building and Grounds Committee for three years and a member of the Executive Committee of Council, the Personnel Committee, the Senior Appointments Committee, Student Affairs and the Bookshops Committee.

Peter had strong religious convictions and was an elder in the Rockhampton Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Peter retired from the University at the end of 1999. He later died suddenly at his home in northern New South Wales on 12 July, 2001, aged 57.

He is survived by his wife Jane, daughter Julie and sons Guy, Malcolm and Tim which whom he shared all of his endeavours and successes.