Jaeger, John Conrad (1907 - 1979)

Summary

John Jaeger was Professor of Geophysics at the Australian National University 1951-1972. He had previously been Lecturer in Mathematics and subsequently Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Tasmania 1935-1951. He achieved fame as an applied mathematician, especially through his books and his teaching; Conduction of Heat in Solids alone would have ensured continuing international recognition. Then he became one of the major moving forces in solid-earth geophysics and geochemistry in Australia, founding a school of high international standing and making important contributions in geothermal studies and rock mechanics. Since 1980 the Australian Geomechanics Society has awarded the John Jaeger Memorial Award that recognises contributions of the highest order over a lifetime commitment to the geotechnical profession in Australia. Since 1990 the Australian Academy of Science has awarded the Jaeger Medal for investigations of a high order into the solid Earth or its oceans.

Details

Chronology

1928

Education - BSc, University of Sydney

1930

Education - BA, University of Cambridge

1931 - 1935

Career position - Research Scholar, Trinity College, University of Cambridge

1934

Education - MA, University of Cambridge

1936 - 1944

Career position - Lecturer in Mathematics, University of Tasmania

1941

Education - DSc, University of Sydney

1942 - 1945

Career position - Physicist, Radiophysics Laboratory, CSIRO Division of Radiophysics

1944 - 1948

Career position - Senior Lecturer in Mathematics, University of Tasmania

1947

Award - Walter Burfitt Prize, Royal Society of New South Wales

1947

Award - Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal, Australian National Research Council

1949 - 1950

Career position - Associate Professor, University of Tasmania

1950 - 1951

Career position - Professor of Applied Mathematics, University of Tasmania

1951 - 1972

Career position - Foundation Professor of Geophysics, Australian National University

1954

Award - Foundation Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

1969

Award - Rock Mechanics Award (with N. G. W. Cook), American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers

1970

Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS)

1972 - 1979

Career position - Emeritus Professor, Australian National University

1975

Award - DSc, honoris causa, University of Tasmania

Related entries

Archival resources

Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science

• John Conrad Jaeger - Records, 1965 - 1985, MS 120; Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science. Details

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions

• Exhibition Papers, A Bright Sparcs Exhibition, Australian Science Archives Project, 1997, http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/exhib/papers/exhib_papers.htm. Details
• Smith, Ailie, Adolph Basser Library Manuscript Collection, eScholarship Research Centre, 2012, http://www.eoas.info/basser_browse.html. Details

Book Sections

• Jaeger, J. C., 'Carslaw, Horatio Scott (1870-1954), mathematician' in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle, eds, vol. 7 (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1979), pp. 578-579. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070583b.htm. Details
• Paterson, M.S., 'Jaegar, John Conrad (1907-1979), Mathematical Physicist' in Australian Dictionary of Biography, John Ritchie, ed., vol. 14 (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1996), pp. 551-552. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140625b.htm. Details

Journal Articles

• Jaeger, J. C., 'Horatio Scott Carslaw', Australian Mathematics Teacher, 11 (1955), 59-66. Details
• Jaeger, J. C., 'Horatio Scott Carslaw', Journal of the London Mathematical Society, S1-31 (4) (1956), 494-501, https://londmathsoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1112/jlms/s1-31.4.494. Details
• Lilley, F. E. M., 'Demonstrating that Continents Had Drifted: Paleomagnetic Measurements at the Australian National University 1952-1964', Historical Records of Australian Science, 23 (1) (2012), 1-33, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR12003. Details
• Paterson, M. S., 'John Conrad Jaeger, 30 July 1907 - 15 May 1979', Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of The Royal Society, 28 (1982), 163-203. Details
• Paterson, M. S., 'John Conrad Jaeger 1907-1979', Historical Records of Australian Science, 5 (3) (1982), 64-88. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9820530064. Details

Resources

• Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, Royal Society of London, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbm.1982.0009. Details
• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q15451116. Details
• VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/108635489. Details
• 'Jaeger, J C (19070730-19790515)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-970818. Details

Resource Sections

• 'Jaeger, John Conrad - Ms 120', in Listing of Adolph Basser Library holdings, Australian Academy of Science, 1994, http://www.science.org.au/basser/manuscript-collection/ms120.html. Details
• 'Jaeger, John Conrad', in Physics in Australia to 1945, R.W. Home, with the assistance of Paula J. Needham, Australian Science Archives Project, June 1995, http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/physics/P000519p.htm. Details
• Paterson, M. S., 'John Conrad Jaeger 1907-1979', in Australian Academy of Science Biographical Memoirs, Australian Academy of Science, 2006, https://www.science.org.au/fellowship/fellows/biographical-memoirs/john-conrad-jaeger-1907-1979. Details

See also

• Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal, Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, 2023. https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/awards-and-opportunities/thomas-ranken-lyle-medal. Details
• Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Online edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, 3 May 2000, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/index_j.html. Details
• Mellor, D.P., 'Optical Munitions', Chapter 12 in Australia in the War of 1939-1945, Series 4: Civil, volume 5 'The Role of Science and Industry', Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1958 (1958). http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/exhib/papers/mellor.htm. Details