John Desmond was one of the most eminent scientists in molecular biology and is widely regarded as the founding father of the science of science, the sociohistorical study of science. He would go on to pioneer the use of x-ray crystallography but his interests took him beyond the field of science to socio-political issues.

The physicist, nicknamed “Sage” for his encyclopaedic knowledge, was appointed professor of physics at Birkbeck College, London in 1938 but at the onset of the Second World War he was called for service duties. After the war, John Desmond resumed his professorial duties at Birkbeck, setting up the Biomolecular Research Laboratory in 1948.

As well as groups working on organic crystals and proteins, he had others working on computers, the structure of cements (buildings and building materials were a life-long interest), and the structure of water. Rosalind Franklin later joined him to start work on virus structure, which she continued with Aaron Klug.

Driven by political and sociological developments, Irish-born John Desmond, a Marxist, co-founded the World Peace Council and during the second world war, encouraged the College to introduce midday lectures aimed at the general public to reverse what he called the “intellectual blackout in London”.