Andrewartha, Herbert George (1907 - 1992)

Summary

Herbert Andrewartha was Entomologist at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute 1935-1954, Reader in Animal Ecology 1954-1962 and then Professor of Zoology 1962-1972 at the University of Adelaide. He was one of Australia's most influential ecologists. Much of his research was on thrips and, with Charles Birch, on the connection between physiology, population levels and environmental factors, particularly weather. Their ideas on population ecology emphasised the role of environmental controls. Andrewartha served terms as President or Chairman of the Royal Society of South Australia, the Nature Conservation Society of South Australia and the National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council of South Australia. The H. G. Andrewartha Medal of the Royal Society of South Australia is awarded for outstanding research by early career Australian scientists.

Details

Born 21 December 1907. Died 27 January 1992. Educated University of Western Australia (Bachelor of Agriculture). Assistant Entomologist Australian Department of Agriculture 1929-32, Assistant Research Officer CSIR 1933-35, Entomologist Waite Agricultural Research Institute 1935-54, Reader in Animal Ecology 1954-62 and then Professor of Zoology 1962-72 University of Adelaide. Clarke Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales, Verco Medal , Royal Society of South Australia, Gold Medal, Australian Ecological Society (1987), Fellow, Australian Academy of Science 1961. President, Nature Conservation Society of South Australia, Chairman, National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council of South Australia.

Chronology

1929 - 1932

Career position - Assistant Entomologist, Australian Department of Agriculture (in Western Australia?)

1933 - 1935

Career position - Assistant Research Officer at CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research)

1935 - 1954

Career position - Entomologist, Waite Agricultural Research Institute

1952

Career position - President, Royal Society of South Australia

1954 - 1962

Career position - Reader in Animal Ecology, University of Adelaide

1955

Award - David Syme Research Prize (shared with Charles Birch), University of Melbourne

1961

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

1962

Award - Sir Joseph Verco Medal, Royal Society of South Australia

1962 - 1972

Career position - Professor of Zoology, University of Adelaide

1968

Award - Clarke Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales

1972

Life event - Retired

1972 - 1978

Career position - Chairman, National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council of South Australia

1987

Award - Ecological Society of Australia Gold Medal

1988

Award - Eminent Ecologist Award (with Charles Birch), Ecological Society of America

Related entries

Archival resources

Barr Smith Library, Special Collections, The University of Adelaide

• Herbert George Andrewartha - Records, 09S.D A56; Barr Smith Library, Special Collections, The University of Adelaide. Details

Published resources

Books

• Andrewartha, H. G., 'Biological Research in the University of Adelaide'. in Introducing South Australia (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1954). Details
• Musgrave, A., Bibliography of Australian entomology, 1775-1930: with biographical notes on authors and collectors (Sydney: Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, 1932), 380 pp. Details

Book Sections

• White, T. C. R., 'Andrewartha, Herbert George (Andy) (1907-1992), entomologist and ecologist' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 19: 1991 - 1995 A-Z, Melanie Nolan, ed. (Canberra: Australian National University Press, 2021), pp. 19-20, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/andrewartha-herbert-george-andy-15425. Details

Journal Articles

• Birch, L.C.; Browning, T. O., 'Herbert George Andrewartha 1907-1992', Historical Records of Australian Science, 9 (3) (1993), 258-268. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9930930259. Details
• Deveson, E. D., 'The Search for a Solution to Australian Locust Outbreaks: how developments in Ecology and Government Responses Influenced Scientific Research', Historical Records of Australian Science, 22 (1) (2011), 1-31, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR11003. Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5733462. Details
• VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/110192344. Details
• 'Herbert Andrewartha - Citation at year of election, 1961', Fellows of the Academy, Australian Academy of Science, 2019, https://www.science.org.au/profile/herbert-andrewartha. Details
• 'Andrewartha, H G (19071221-19920127)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1202226. Details

Resource Sections

• Birch, L.C.; and Browning, T. O., 'Herbert George Andrewartha 1907-1992', in Australian Academy of Science Biographical Memoirs, Australian Academy of Science, 2006, https://www.science.org.au/fellowship/fellows/biographical-memoirs/herbert-george-andrewartha-1907-1992. Details