Underwood, Eric John (1905 - 1980)

Summary

Eric Underwood was Professor of Agriculture, University of Western Australia 1946-1970. He also served on the executive of the CSIRO 1966-1975. Much of his research was in the field of sheep nutrition and the causes of disease in stock, particularly in relation to soil deficiencies. With colleagues he identified the need to add trace elements such as cobalt to the diet of animals, and for programs for pasture improvement, including widespread planting of subterranean clover. His expertise was sought by the FAO on a number of occasions.

Details

Chronology

1928

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Western Australia

1928 - 1931

Career position - Hackett Research Student, University of Cambridge

1931

Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Cambridge

1931 - 1936

Career position - Animal Nutrition Officer, Western Australian Department of Agriculture

1936 - 1938

Award - Commonwealth Fund Fellowship, University of Wisconsin-Madison, U.S.A.

1938 - 1945

Career position - Animal Nutrition Officer, Western Australian Department of Agriculture

1946 - 1959

Career position - Chairman, Tuberculosis Association of Western Australia

1946 - 1970

Career position - Hackett Professor of Agriculture and Director, Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia

1952

Award - Australian Medal of Agricultural Science, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science

1952

Career position - President, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science

1954 - 1980

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

1956

Career position - President, National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis

1957 - 1958

Award - Carnegie Travelling Fellowship, U.S.A.

1958 - 1975

Award - Fellow, Australian Institute Agricultural Science

1959

Award - Medal of the Royal Society of Western Australia

1963

Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to agriculture, education and administration

1966 - 1975

Career position - Member of the Executive, CSIRO

1967

Award - Doctorate of Rural Science (honoris causa), University of New England

1967

Award - Farrer Memorial Medal, Farrer Memorial Trust

1969

Award - Doctor of Agricultural Science (DAgrSc), honoris causa, University of Western Australia

1970

Award - Fellow, Australian Society of Animal Production

1970

Life event - Retired

1970

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

1971 - 1980

Career position - Emeritus Professor, University of Western Australia

1973

Award - Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecturer, Australian Academy of Science

1973

Career position - President, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science

1973

Award - Doctor of Agricultural Science (DAgrSc), honoris causa, University of Melbourne

1975 - 1980

Award - Life Member, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science

1975 - 1980

Award - Foundation Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (FTS)

1976

Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) - for a contribution of exceptional merit to agricultural teaching, research and administration

1976

Award - ANZAAS Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science

1980

Award - Fellow, Nutrition Society of Australia

1980

Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa, University of Wisconsin-Madison, U.S.A.

1981

Award - Klaus Schwartz Commemorative Medal (posthumous)

Related entries

Archival resources

University of Western Australia, University Archives

• Eric John Underwood - Records, 1929 - 1980; University of Western Australia, University Archives. Details

Published resources

Book Sections

• Moir, R.J., 'Underwood, Eric John (1905-1980), Professor of Agriculture' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 16: 1940 - 1980 Pik-Z, John Ritchie and Diane Langmore, eds (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2002), pp. 428-429. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160518b.htm. Details

Journal Articles

• Blaxter, Kenneth, 'Eric John Underwood 7 September 1905 - 19 August 1980', Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 27 (1981), 579-602, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbm.1981.0023. Details
• Moir, R.J., 'Eric John Underwood 1905-1980', Historical Records of Australian Science, 13 (3) (2001), 343-350. Details
• Schedvin, C. B., 'Environment, Economy and Australian Biology 1890-1939', Historical Studies, 21 (1984), 11-28. Details
• Underwood, E. J., 'Hedley Ralph Marston', Records of the Australian Academy of Science, 1 (2) (1967), 73-86. http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9670120073.htm. Details

Resources

• Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society [Online resource], Royal Society of London, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbm.1981.0023. Details
• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5387660. Details
• VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/46932874. Details
• 'Underwood, E J (1905-1980)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-537096. Details
• 'Awarded honorary DAgrSc, 1973', Honorary degree holders, University of Melbourne, 2023, https://about.unimelb.edu.au/notable-alumni-staff/honorary-degree-holders. Details

See also

• 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_u.html. Details
• Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science, 2022, https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/awards-and-opportunities/macfarlane-burnet-medal-and-lecture. Details
• Draper, W. J. ed., Who's who in Australia 1980 (Melbourne: Herald and Weekly Times Ltd, 1980), 927 pp. Details