Vale Isabel Joy Bear

April 20th, 2021

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Isabel ‘Joy’ Bear (1927 – 2021).

Joy led research in many aspects of mineral chemistry. Her work contributed to the identification and description of ‘petrichor’.

This term is used to describe the unique odour that occurs just before rain. The smell comes about when increased humidity fills the pores of stones (rocks, soil, etc.) with tiny amounts of water.

We are thankful to Joy for her lasting legacy and the impact she has made to science. Her work will continue to live on and affect the lives of so many.

If you would like to send us your own stories and memories of Joy, please email alumni@csiro.au

Joy’s impact and successes were many – read more about her life and achievements.

A famous discovery was identifying the distinctive smell of rain coined as petrichor.

 

Kathie McGregor was on ABC’s Australia Wide and talked about Joy – you can listen to her here (starts at 18:18).

Joy Bear in the science lab

A personal tribute by Claire Manson

I had the pleasure of knowing Joy Bear for many years when I worked in the CPSE / Minerals Division and I know many of you also knew her. Joy was such as lovely, kind and very smart person. Joy was so generous with her time for many years after she retired. She mentored CSIRO early career researchers and took the time to review their scientific papers. And whenever we had a seminar by a researcher she was always the first in the room to be there to participate. Joy’s enthusiasm and passion for science and to support the next generation of researchers was brilliant and highly valued. Her memory and long lasting impact for CSIRO will be cherished.

A personal tribute by Dr Malisja de Vries

I had the honour and privilege to work with Joy for many years. An inspiration to women in science, to anyone to fight for fairness and of course, a wonderful sense of humour. A 70 year dedication to science, a productive career, and the struggles she endured as a women (minority group) in CSIRO in the day, she still had time to support young scientists.

 

Here is a list of literature that Joy produced during her career:

1. Barclay, D. V., & Bear, I. J. (1971). Relationship between semi-conducting properties and sintering conditions for hot pressed galena powders. Solid State Communications, 9(18), 1567-1570. doi:10.1016/0038-1098(71)90608-9
2. Bear, I. J. (1966). Formation and isolation of a zirconium sulphate pentahydrate. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 19(3), 357-361. doi:10.1071/ch9660357
3. Bear, I. J. (1967). Factors influencing mode of thermal decomposition of zirconium sulphate tetrahydrate. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 20(3), 415-&428 doi:10.1071/ch9670415
4. Bear, I. J. (1968). Further observations on occurrence of metastable phases during thermal decomposition of sulphates. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 21(1), 21-36. doi:10.1071/ch9680021
5. Bear, I. J. (1969). Influence of vapour pressure on formation of angydrous zirconium sulphates. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 22(5), 875-889. doi:10.1071/ch9690875
6. Bear, I. J. (1977). Effect of adsorbed atmospheric gases on electrical behavior and sintering mechanism in hot-pressed pbs compacts. Powder Metallurgy International, 9(2), 72-76
7. Bear, I. J., M. Aus, and R. R. Merritt. 1977. “TREATMENT OF LEAD SULFATE MATERIALS BY SEGREGATION PROCESS – REPLY.” Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy Section C-Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy 86 (SEP): C168-C168.
8. Bear, I. J., & Flann, R. C. Sintered body prodn. esp. consumable anode-using activating film on particles to activate initial sintering [Patent] WO8304381-A; AU8315578-A.
9. Bear, I. J., & Flann, R. C. (1991). Activated basket anodes from nickel powder .1. Laboratory facilities for assessing the performance of anodes in nickel electroplating baths. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 21(11), 961-966. doi:10.1007/bf01077580
10. Bear, I. J., Flann, R. C., & McDonald, K. J. (1995). Activated basket anodes from nickel powder – the production of composite nickel-iron anodes. International Journal of Powder Metallurgy, 31(2), 121- .
11. Bear, I. J., Flann, R. C., McDonald, K. J., Rogers, L. J., & Woods, R. (1992). Activated basket anodes from nickel powder .2. Fabrication of anodes by a liquid-phase sintering process. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 22(1), 8-15. doi:10.1007/bf01093005
12. Bear, I. J., Flann, R. C., McDonald, K. J., Rogers, L. J., & Woods, R. (1992). Activated basket anodes from nickel powder .3. Electrochemical-behavior of sulfur activated anodes. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 22(1), 16-20. doi:10.1007/bf01093006
13. Bear, I. J., Flann, R. C. A., & Bartholomeusz, R. (1982). The comminution of precipitated nickel powdeR. Powder Metallurgy International, 14(4), 207-212.
14. Bear, I. J., R. C. Flann, and L. J. Rogers. 1980. Swelling of precipitated nickel powder. Powder Metallurgy 23 (2): 71-80. doi.org/10.1179/pom.1980.23.2.71.
15. Bear, I. J., Flann, R. C. A., & Woods, R. (1988). Cementation of lead from lead sulfate slurries .2. Reaction-mechanisms with zinc precipitant. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 41(12), 1875-1895. doi:10.1071/ch9881875
16. Bear, I. J., Flann, R. C. A., Woods, R., & Gardner, J. R. (1988). Cementation of lead from lead sulfate slurries .1. Kinetics with zinc precipitant. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 41(12), 1857-1874. doi:10.1071/ch9881857
17. Bear, I. J., Flann, R. C. A., Woods, R., & Gardner, J. R. (1988). Cementation of lead from lead sulfate slurries .3. Kinetics and reaction-mechanisms with iron precipitant. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 41(12), 1897-1915. doi:10.1071/ch9881897
18. Bear, I. J., Grey, I. E., Madsen, I. C., Newnham, I. E., & Rogers, L. J. (1986). Structures of the basic zinc sulfates 3Zn(OH)2.ZnSO4.3H2O, 3Zn(OH)2.ZnSO4.5H2O. Acta Crystallographica Section B-Structural Science, 42, 32-39. doi:10.1107/s0108768186098622
19. Bear, I. J., Grey, I. E., Newnham, I. E., & Rogers, L. J. (1987). THE ZnSO4.3Zn(OH)2-H2O system .1. Phase formation. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 40(3), 539-556. doi:10.1071/ch9870539
20. Bear, I. J., & Kranz, Z. H. (1965). Fatty acids from exposed rock surfaces. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 18(6), 915-917. doi:10.1071/ch9650915
21. Bear, I. J., & Kranz, Z. H. (1969). Nitrophenols from exposed soils. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 22(11), 2343-2350. doi:10.1071/ch9692343
22. Bear, I. J., & Lukaszew.Gm. (1966). Zirconium sulphate pentahydrate – beta phase. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 19(10), 1973-1975. doi:10.1071/ch9661973
23. Bear, I. J., Lukaszew.Gm, & Turnbull, A. G. (1965). Infrared spectra of solid phases in system BeO-H2O. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 18(9), 1317-1330. doi:10.1071/ch9651317
24. Bear, I. J., Moresby, J. F., & Woods, G. (1983). Removal of copper from oxidized nickel matte by segregation-roasting. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 11(1), 1-17. doi:10.1016/0301-7516(83)90042-x
25. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (1968). Dimeric sulphate hydrates of zirconium – ZR(SO4)2,7H2O AND ALPHA-ZR(SO4)2,5H2O. Chemical Communications(11), 609- .
26. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (1969). Crystal chemistry of zirconium sulphates .1. Structure of heptahydrate, a dimer with formula Zr2(SO4)4(H2O)8.6H2O. Acta Crystallographica Section B-Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, B 25, 1558-1566. doi:10.1107/s0567740869004328
27. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (1969). Crystal chemistry of zirconium sulphates .2. Structure of alpha-pentahydrate, Zr2(SO4)4(H2O)8.2H2O. Acta Crystallographica Section B-Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, B 25, 1566-1581 doi:10.1107/s056774086900433x
28. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (1969). Crystal chemistry of zirconium sulphates .3. Structure of beta-pentahydrate,Zr2(SO4)4(H2O)8.2H2O, and inter-relationship of 4 higher hydrates. Acta Crystallographica Section B-Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, B 25, 1572-1572. doi:10.1107/s0567740869004341
29. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (1969). Sulphate hydrates of zirconium – 3 polymorphs of Zr(SO4)2,H2O. Journal of the Chemical Society D-Chemical Communications(5), 230-232. doi:10.1039/c29690000230
30. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (1970). Crystal chemistry of zirconium sulphates .4. Structure of gamma-monohydrate, Zr(SO4)2.H2O, a layer compound with zirconium atom in sevenfold coordination. Acta Crystallographica Section B-Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, B 26, 1125-1131. doi:10.1107/s0567740870003710
31. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (1970). Crystal chemistry of zirconium sulphates .5. Structure of ALPHA-ZR(SO4)2.H2O. Acta Crystallographica Section B-Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, B 26, 1131-1140. doi:10.1107/s0567740870003722
32. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (1970). Crystal chemistry of zirconium sulphates .6. Structure OF ALPHA-ZR(SO4)2. Acta Crystallographica Section B-Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, B 26, 1140-1145. doi:10.1107/s0567740870003734
33. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (1970). Infrared spectra and hydrogen bonding in zirconium sulphate hydrates. Spectrochimica Acta Part a-Molecular Spectroscopy, A 26(4), 755-760. doi:10.1016/0584-8539(70)80272-0
34. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (1970). The preparation and characterization of phases in H(SO4)2-H2O system. Journal of Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry, 32(4), 1159-1164. doi:10.1016/0022-1902(70)80110-5
35. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (1971). The crystal chemistry of zirconium sulphates .8. Structure of NA2 ZR(SO4)3 .3H2O. Acta Crystallographica Section B-Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, B 27(FEB15), 494-&. doi:10.1107/s0567740871002425
36. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (1971). Normal sulfates of zirconium and hafnium. Reviews of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 21(NDEC), 189-&.
37. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (2015). COD ID: 2106031. Crystallography Open Database.
38. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (2015). COD ID: 2106245. Crystallography Open Database.
39. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (2015). COD ID: 2106246. Crystallography Open Database.
40. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (2015). COD ID: 2106247. Crystallography Open Database.
41. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (2016). COD ID: 2106835. Crystallography Open Database.
42. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (2016). COD ID: 2106836. Crystallography Open Database.
43. Bear, I. J., & Mumme, W. G. (2016). COD ID: 2106837. Crystallography Open Database.
44. Bear, I. J., & Strode, P. R. (1976). Determination of metallic iron in presence of fayalite. Talanta, 23(5), 400-402. doi:10.1016/0039-9140(76)80057-4
45. Bear, I. J., & Thomas, R. G. (1964). Nature of argillaceous odour. Nature, 201(492), 993- 995. doi:10.1038/201993a0
46. Bear, I. J., & Thomas, R. G. (1965). Petrichor and plant growth. Nature, 207(5004), 1415-1416 doi:10.1038/2071415a0
47. Bear, I. J., & Thomas, R. G. (1966). Genesis of petrichor. Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, 30(9), 869-879. doi:10.1016/0016-7037(66)90025-1
48. Bear, I. J., & Turnbull, A. G. (1965). Heats of formation of beryllium compounds .I. Beryllium hydroxides. Journal of Physical Chemistry, 69(9), 2828-2833. doi:10.1021/j100893a004
49. Bear, I. J., & Turnbull, A. G. (1966). Equilibrium phases in BeSO4-H2O system. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 19(5), 751-757. doi:10.1071/ch9660751
50. Bear, I. J., & Turnbull, A. G. (1966). Heats of formation of beryllium compounds. II. Beryllium sulfate. Journal of Physical Chemistry, 70(3), 711-717. doi:10.1021/j100875a017
51. Cahn, R. W., Bear, I. J., & Bell, R. L. (1954). Some observations on the deformation of zinc at high temperatures. Journal of the Institute of Metals, 82(10), 481-488.
52. Paxton, H. W., & Bear, I. J. (1955). Further observations on yield in single crystals of iron. Transactions of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, 203(9), 989-994.