Diana Dyason was a leader in the development of teaching and research in the history and philosophy of science at an academic level. She was born in 1919 in Sandringham, Melbourne, the second child of Edward and Anne Dyason and was familiarly known by her nickname, Ding. Educated at the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, she proceeded to the University of Melbourne where she graduated with a BSc in 1943, following which she tutored in the Department of Physiology until 1949. In 1945 she completed a Master of Science degree on malaria under the supervision of the professor of physiology, 'Pansy' Wright. He evinced a strong interest in the history of science and was influential in its establishment as a separate area in humanities at the university.

Dyason made her major contribution to the development of the history of science when she lectured in and eventually chaired the Department of the History and Philosophy of Science, which began its life as the Department of General Science. After holding a position as senior lecturer from 1950 to 1956, Dyason found herself in the newly-named department, promoted to Reader in 1965. She served as Head of Department from 1965 to 1974 and retired in 1984 when she was appointed a Research Associate. In 1967 Diana Dyason was the foundation president of the Australasian Association of the History and Philosophy of Science, one of her many contributions to the history of science for which she taught, supervised, mentored others and served always as a generous and forceful advocate. She died in 1989.

Archival Resources

The University of Melbourne Archives

• Dyason, Diana Joan, 1940 - 1991, 106/74; The University of Melbourne Archives. Details

Published Resources

Book Sections

• Dyason, Diana, 'Preludes', in Patricia Grimshaw and Lynne Strahan (eds), The Half-Open Door: Sixteen Modern Australian Women Look at Professional Life and Achievement, Hale & Iremonger, Sydney, New South Wales, 1982, pp. 304 - 327. Details

Online Resources

• 'Dyason, Diana Joan', in Research Data Australia, Australian National Data Service and the Australian Government Department of Industry, Australian National Data Service (ANDS), http://researchdata.ands.org.au/dyason-diana-joan-bf8e8350e25d4386eb89d291d7fdfc65fc23971e. Details
• MacCallum, Monica, 'Dyason, Diana Joan (Ding) (1919 - 1989)', in Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University (ANU), c.2012, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/dyason-diana-joan-ding-12448. Details
• McCarthy, Gavan, 'Dyason, Diana Joan (1919 - 1989)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science, The University of Melbourne: eScholarship Research Centre, 10 September 2004, http://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000380b.htm. Details

See also

• 'Dyason, Diana Joan', The Australian Women's Register, National Foundation for Australian Women, http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE5066b.htm. Details