Ross, Alexander David (1883 - 1966)

Summary

Alexander Ross was Professor of Physics and Mathematics 1912-1929 and of Physics 1929-1952, at the University of Western Australia. His research interests were in the area of vacuum spectroscopy and optical astronomy. He founded the Pan-Indian Science congress of 14 countries and conducted research into ionospheric effects on radio transmissions at the Watheroo Magnetic observatory.

Details

Chronology

Career Position - Western Australian Secretary, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS)

- 1906

Education - Masters of Science (MSc), University of Glasgow, Scotland

- 1910

Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Glasgow, Scotland

1908 - 1912

Career position - Assistant, University of Glasgow, Scotland

1913 - 1929

Career position - Professor of Physics and Mathematics, University of Western Australia

1916 - 1917

Career Position - President, Royal Society of Western Australia

1923

Career event - Elected Member (Physics), Australian National Research Council

1923 - 1924

Career Position - President, Royal Society of Western Australia

1924 - 1943

Career Position - Secretary, Australian Branch, Institute of Physics

1929 - 1952

Career position - Professor of Physics, University of Western Australia

1937

Career event - Fellow, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS)

1940 - 1941

Career Position - President, Royal Society of Western Australia

1944 - 1945

Career event - State President, Western Australian Division, Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia

1944 - 1945

Career Position - President, Australian Branch, Institute of Physics

1944 - 1955

Career position - Chairman, Western Australian Division, Australian National Research Council

1948 - 1950

Career Position - President, Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia

1949

Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) - Professor of Mathematics at the University of WA

Related entries

Archival resources

Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science

• Alexander David Ross - Records, 1951 - 1965, MS 066; Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science. Details

Private hands (Rowbotham, V.)

• Alexander David Ross - Records, 1883 - 1966; Private hands (Rowbotham, V.). Details

University of Western Australia, University Archives

• Alexander David Ross - Records, 1935 - 1961; University of Western Australia, University Archives. 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
• The Giant's Eye: the Optical Munitions Exhibition, Australian Science Archives Project, 1997, http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/exhib/omp/omp.htm. Details
• Smith, Ailie, Adolph Basser Library Manuscript Collection, eScholarship Research Centre, 2012, http://www.eoas.info/basser_browse.html. Details

Book Sections

• Hutchison, D. E., 'Ross, Alexander David (1883-1966), Physicist' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 11: 1891 - 1939 Nes-Smi, Geoffrey Serle, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1988), pp. 454-455. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110461b.htm. Details

Journal Articles

• 'Obituary: Professor A.D. Ross', Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 51 (2) (1968), 63. Details
• Shearer, J., 'Obituary: Professor A. D. Ross, 1883-1966', Australian Journal of Science, 29 (11) (1967), 417. Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q22810749. Details
• VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/170049933. Details
• 'Ross, Alexander David (1883-1966)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1463664. Details

Resource Sections

• 'Ross, Alexander David', 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/P000760p.htm. Details
• 'Ross, Alexander David', in The Giant's Eye: the Optical Munitions Exhibition, A Bright Sparcs Exhibition, Australian Science Archives Project, 1997, http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/exhib/omp/people/ross.htm. Details

See also

• Binnie, Anna, 'A Short History of the Australian Institute of Physics, Part 2: from the Formation of the Australian Branch of the Institute of Physics to the Establishment of the Australian Institute of Physics', Australian Physics, 44 (4) (2007), 128-137, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IN7sV_RIRljwstfZLa7pjQyvisDmp_m0/view?ts=65d6c651. Details
• Bolton, H. C., 'Optical Instruments in Australia in the 1939-45 War: successes and lost opportunities', Australian Physicist (1990). http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/exhib/papers/bolton2.htm. 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
• Sherratt, Tim; Condé, Anne-Marie, A Wartime Observatory Observed - the Mount Stromlo Community, 1940-1945, Australian Science Archives Project, Canberra, 1994, http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/pubs/articles/tps/tps_stromlo_draft.htm. Details