chemistry

James Murray (lichenologist)

James Murray (lichenologist) is a chemistry topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand James Murray (lichenologist) rather than just read about it. In short: James Murray (1923–1961) was an organic chemist at the University of Otago. He was the first twentieth-century lichenologist in New Zealand.

Key takeaways

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Reference excerpt

James Murray (1923–1961) was an organic chemist at the University of Otago. He was the first twentieth-century lichenologist in New Zealand.

Career James Murray worked at the University of Otago in Dunedin as a senior lecturer in chemistry. Murray began research with lichens in the 1950s, applying his knowledge and skills in plant secondary compounds as well as morphology. This was the first systematic work on the lichens of New Zealand since the 1890s. He revised the New Zealand lichens within the Coniocarpineae, Peltigeraceae, Teloschistaceae among others, as well as lichens from the Antarctic and Subantarctic regions. He spent 1959 on sabbatical working with the chemist Derek Barton at Imperial College, University of London. During this visit Murray also met with Peter James, a lichen specialist at the Natural History Museum, London. There were extensive nineteenth-century specimens of New Zealand lichens at both this museum and at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Murray was able to work with these specimens and with James. They began to define the genus Sticta more precisely, distinguishing it from Pseudocyphellaria and also other groups such as Menegazzia, Nephroma, the Pannariaceae and the Parmeliaceae that contained more species in the Southern Hemisphere. Murray also visited several other lichenologists in France and Sweden including Henri Des Abbayes, Michael Mitchell, Greta Du Rietz, Adolf Hugo Magnusson, Gunnar Degelius, Rolf Santesson and Einar Timdall. He returned to New Zealand in February 1961. After his death, his lichen specimens (over 10,000), notes and papers were donated to University of Otago and Peter James was seconded in 1962 to curate the collection. Murray's work on the natural products of lichens contributed to developments in this area and also became important to definition of genera in the Lobariaceae. He developed keys to New Zealand lichen genera, some published posthumously.

Personal life Murray was married to Audrey. He died in a car accident on 24 June 1961.

Publications Murray was the author or co-author of scientific publications about organic chemistry and lichens. Some of his most significant were:

James Murray (1959) Studies of New Zealand Lichens. I—The Coniocarpineae Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 88 (2) 177 - 195 James Murray (1960) Studies of New Zealand Lichens. II—The Teloschistaceae Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 88 (2) 197 - 210 James Murray (1960) Studies on New Zealand Lichens Part III.–The Family Peltigeraceae Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 88 (3) 381 - 399 James Murray (1962) Keys to New Zealand lichens. Part 1. Tuatara 10 (3) 120 - 128 (published posthumously) James Murray (1963) Keys to New Zealand lichens. Part 2. Tuatara 11 (1) 46 - 56 (published posthumously) James Murray (1963) Keys to New Zealand lichens. Part 2. Tuatara 11 (2) 98 - 109 (published posthumously)

See also Category:Taxa named by James Murray (lichenologist)

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with James Murray (lichenologist)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what James Murray (lichenologist) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In chemistry, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to James Murray (lichenologist) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about James Murray (lichenologist) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of James Murray (lichenologist)

In research: James Murray (lichenologist) appears in chemistry research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses James Murray (lichenologist) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: James Murray (lichenologist) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1923 births, 1961 deaths, 20th-century New Zealand chemists, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for James Murray (lichenologist) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study James Murray (lichenologist) in 20 minutes

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Frequently asked questions

What is James Murray (lichenologist) in simple terms?

James Murray (1923–1961) was an organic chemist at the University of Otago. He was the first twentieth-century lichenologist in New Zealand.

Why does James Murray (lichenologist) matter?

Because it connects several chemistry ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study James Murray (lichenologist)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on James Murray (lichenologist).