Person

Vonwiller, Oscar Ulrich (1882 - 1972)

Born
18 February 1882
Paddington, New South Wales, Australia
Died
30 July 1972
Lewisham, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation
Physicist and University Administrator

Summary

Oscar Vonwiller was a physicist whose research initially was into the electrical properties of solids, particularly selenium, molybdenite and silicon. He later concentrated on optics and spectroscopy. Vonwiller joined the staff of the University of Sydney in 1902 as Demonstrator in Physics, later being Professor of Physics from 1923 to 1946. He oversaw the construction of the new physics building (opened 1925), and with very few staff shouldered an increasing teaching load. Among his publications was Practical physics (1907, 2nd edition 1918), a text book for first years students written with J. A. Pollock. During WWII Vonwiller was a member of the Optical Munitions Panel, organising the Sydney contribution to optical munitions relating to anti-aircraft gun-sights and reconditioning requisitioned binoculars. He was a president of many bodies including the Royal Society of New South Wales and a foundation President of the Science Teachers' Association of New South Wales.

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Details

Chronology

1902
Career position - Demonstrator in Physics, University of Sydney
1902
Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Sydney
1903 - 1913
Career position - Assistant Lecturer in Physics, University of Sydney
1913 - 1923
Career position - Assistant Professor then Associate Professor (from 1921) of Physics, University of Sydney
1921 -
Career position - Foundation Councillor (Physics), Australian National Research Council
1923 - 1946
Career position - Professor of Physics, University of Sydney
1927 - 1972
Award - Fellow, Institute of Physics, London
1930
Career position - President, Royal Society of New South Wales
1930 - 1961
Career position - Member, Board of Visitors, Sydney Observatory
1934 - 1938
Career position - Supervisor of Research, Cancer Research Commission, University of Sydney
1934 - 1940
Career position - Treasurer, Australian National Research Council
1935
Career position - President, Section A (Mathematics, physics and astronomy), Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
1937
Career event - Fellow, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS)
1939 - 1941
Career position - Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney
1944 - 1955
Career position - Member, Board of Visitors, Commonwealth Solar Observatory, Mt Stromlo, Australian Capital Territory
1946
Life event - Retired
1950
Award - Royal Society of New South Wales Medal
1963 - 1972
Award - Fellow, Australian Institute of Physics

Related Awards

Related Corporate Bodies

Archival resources

University of Sydney, Archives

  • Oscar Ulrich Vonwiller - Records, 1963; University of Sydney, Archives. Details

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions

Book Sections

  • McCaughan, J. B. T., 'Vonwiller, Oscar Ulrich (1882-1972), professor of physics' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 12: 1891 - 1939 Smy-Z, John Ritchie, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1990), pp. 333-334. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A120373b.htm. Details

Journal Articles

  • 'Obituaries: Oscar Ulrich Vonwiller: Clive Melville Harris: Charles Bickerton Blackburn: Lawrence Bragg', Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 106 (3/4) (1973), 130-132. Details

Resources

Resource Sections

See also

Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn

Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 6 October 2023

EOAS ID: biogs/P000852b.htm

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