Person
Alder, Keith Frederick (1921 - 2014)
AM FIM FIREE FTSE
- Born
- 4 September 1921
North Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia - Died
- 22 September 2014
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - Occupation
- Metallurgist, Science administrator and Atomic physicist
Summary
Keith Adler was General Manager of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment at Lucas Heights (N.S.W.), and its successor the Research Laboratories, between 1976 and 1982. He came to the Commission in 1955 after a decade as a metallurgist at the Tungsten Plant Ammunition Factory in Footscray (Victoria) and two periods working in the United Kingdom (at the Ministry of Supply Atomic Weapons in Woolwich and the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell). He also taught metallurgy at the University of Melbourne and the Newcastle Technical College in New South Wales. At the Research Establishment Alder headed several sections, including the Development Group and the Nuclear Science and Technology Branch before becoming General Manager. He was heavily involved in proposal to build a nuclear power reactor on Commonwealth land at Jervis Bay, N.S.W. Alder was appointed a Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (and Engineering) (FTSE) in 1977 in recognition of his outstanding contributions in the field. He was also made a Fellow of the Institute of Metallurgists (FIM) and the Institution of Radio and Electronics Engineers Australia (FIREE).
Details
Chronology
- 1943
- Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Melbourne
- 1944
- Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Melbourne
- 1945 - 1946
- Career position - Metallurgist, Tungsten Plant Ammunition Factory in Footscray, Victoria
- 1946 - 1948
- Career position - Lecturer in Metallurgy, Newcastle Technical College, New South Wales
- 16 January 1947
- Life event - Married Pauline Mary Robertson
- 1949 - 1950
- Career position - Senior Scientific Officer, Ministry of Supply Atomic Weapons in Woolwich, UK
- 1951
- Career Position - Lecturer in Metallurgy, Newcastle Technical College, New South Wales
- 1952 - 1953
- Career position - Senior Lecturer in Physical Metallurgy, University of Melbourne
- 1954 - 1957
- Career position - Metallurgist, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, United Kingdom
- 1955 - 1962
- Career position - Head, Metallurgical Section, Research Establishment, Australian Atomic Energy Commission, Lucas Heights
- 1962 - 1970
- Career position - Director, Research Establishment, Australian Atomic Energy Commission, Lucas Heights
- 1968 -
- Career position - Member of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission
- 1971 - 1973
- Career position - Head, Development Group, Research Establishment, Australian Atomic Energy Commission, Lucas Heights
- 1973 - 1975
- Career position - Head, Nuclear Science and Technology Branch, Australian Atomic Energy Commission, Lucas Heights
- 1976 - 1981
- Career position - General Manager, Research Establishment, Australian Atomic Energy Commission, Lucas Heights
- 1977 - 1987
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (FTS)
- 1981 - 1982
- Career Position - General Manager, Australian Atomic Energy Commission Research Laboratories, Lucas Heights
- 1982
- Life event - Retired
- 1983
- Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) - in recognition of services to the public service
- 1987 - 2014
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) [Awarded by AATS 1977]
- 2001
- Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian Society in nuclear science and technology
Related entries
Published resources
Books
- Alder, Keith F., Australia's Uranium Opportunities: How Her Scientists and Engineers Tried to bring her into the Nuclear Age but were Stymied by Politics (Warrawee, NSW: Pauline M. Alder, 1996), 87 pp. Details
Journal Articles
- Anon, 'Keith Adler: a nuclear pioneer', ATSE focus, 187 (2014), 50, https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3171718683. Details
Newspaper Articles
- Hickman, Brian, 'Nuclear energy expert Keith Alder dies aged 93', Sydney morning herald (2015). Details
Resources
- 'Alder, Keith Frederick (1921-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1475738. Details
See also
- Angyal, S. J., 'Sir Philip Baxter 1905-1989', Historical Records of Australian Science, 8 (3) (1991), 183-197. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9910830183. Details
McCarthy, G.J & Annette Alafaci
Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 2 November 2022
- Foundation Supporter - Committee to Review Australian Studies in Tertiary Education