Dr. Ian Dance

Biography

Ian Dance is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Chemistry at the University of New South Wales. He completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees at the University of Sydney, followed by a Ph.D. at Manchester University. His career included significant positions such as Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin and multiple roles at UNSW, starting as a Lecturer in 1975 and culminating in his role as Emeritus Professor in 2002. His research primarily focuses on enzyme nitrogenase, particularly its mechanisms and implications in biological nitrogen fixation. Notably, he has published extensively on the complex chemical process involved in nitrogenase reactions, clarifying the stoichiometry of the catalytic cycle that supports life by converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. Dance has contributed to esteemed scientific discussions as a lecturer and has received numerous accolades, including being a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and receiving the David Craig Medal in 2011. His ongoing investigations involve computational studies to understand the underlying coordination chemistry and reactivity of nitrogenase enzyme systems.

Research Interests