| Description | Thompson's long and important association with IUPAC is summarized in R E Richards' memoir for the Royal Society (Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, volume 31, 1985, 589-590):
In 1956 Tommy became a member of the British National Committee for Chemistry, served as its Chairman from 1960-1966, and through it became interested in the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). He suggested that IUPAC should establish a Commission on Molecular Spectroscopy, and this was agreed at the 1957 meeting of IUPAC after what Tommy remembered was an all night meeting with Professor B L Crawford to draw up the rules and plans. One of its first tasks was to prepare infrared wavelength secondary standards; the Commission continues actively, has served as a useful meeting ground for spectroscopists worldwide, and has published reports and recommendations for universal use. This was the start of a long association with IUPAC; Tommy was Chairman of the Commission on Molecular Spectroscopy from 1957 to 1963, and of the Triple Commission on Spectroscopy (Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy) from 1965 to 1969. He became a member of the Bureau of the Physical Chemistry Section (1963-1967), of the Executive Committee (1967-1971), was Vice President from 1971 to 1973 and President from 1973 to 1975. |