Person
Kelly, John Charles (Jak) (1928 - 2012)
- Born
- 14 February 1928
Borenor, New South Wales, Australia - Died
- 11 February 2012
- Occupation
- Physicist
Summary
Jak Kelly was Chairman of the Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales 1984-1989 and Associate Professor and Head of the School of Physics 1985-1989.
Details
Jak Kelly was appointed to the School of Physics at the University of New South Wales in 1961 ultimately becoming the Chair of the Faculty of Science. In his research he specialised in ion beam deposition, patenting several improvements. During his PhD studies on thin-film at the University of Reading he invented Electron Bombardment Deposition which became the standard method of high temperature metal evaporation. While at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, he focussed on radiation damage in crystals, grown using his own single drop method. Other research, in collaboration with others, involved thermoluminescent dating, using ion implantation to improve the attachment of bone cells to prosthetic surfaces, the modelling and deposition of thin-film solar energy absorbers, irradiation of wool using ion beams to improve wool properties, studying low energy nuclear reactions, and proposing laser fusion improvements.
Chronology
- 1950
- Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Sydney
- 1950 - 1954
- Career position - Technical Officer, National Standards Laboratory, CSIRO
- 1955
- Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Reading, United Kingdom
- 1955 - 1957
- Career position - Research Assistant, Department of Physics, Reading University, United Kingdom
- 1958 - 1960
- Career position - Senior Scientific Officer, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, United Kingdom
- 1965 - 1966
- Career position - Chair, Australian Institute of Physics
- 1969 - 1990
- Career position - Member, Editorial Board, International Scientific Journal of Radiation Effects
- 1975
- Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of New South Wales
- 1979 - 2012
- Career position - Member, International Ion Beam Analysis Committee
- 1984 - 1989
- Career position - Chairman, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales
- 1985 - 1989
- Career position - Head of School of Physics, University of New South Wales
- 1989 - 2012
- Career position - Visiting Professor, University of New South Wales
- 1992 - 1997
- Career position - Editor, Australian and New Zealand Physicist
- 2004 - 2012
- Career position - Honorary Professor, University of Sydney
- 2005 - 2006
- Career position - President, Royal Society of New South Wales
- 2009 - 2012
- Career position - Editor, Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales
- 2009 - 2012
- Award - Fellow, Royal Society of New South Wales
Related entries
Archival resources
National Library of Australia Oral History Collection
- John Charles Kelly - Records, 1935 - 1976, DeB 941-942; National Library of Australia Oral History Collection. Details
Published resources
Journal Articles
- Burton, Michael ed., 'Special Edition: Tribute to Jak Kelly', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 146 (2) (2013), 1-135. Details
- Mills, David, 'A timely intervention - Jak Kelly and solar', Journal and Proceedings of The Royal Society of New South Wales, 146 (2) (2013), 83-90. Details
- Mills, David, Hardie, John and Hora, Heinrich, 'Obituary : Professor Jak (John Charles) Kelly FRSN (14 February 1928 - 11 February 2012)', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 145 (3/4) (2012), 101-2. Details
- Newbury, Richard, 'Jak Kelly - peerless head of the School of Physics, UNSW 1985-1989', Journal and Proceedings of The Royal Society of New South Wales, 146 (2) (2013), 77-82. Details
Resources
- 'Kelly, John Charles (19280214-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1476607. Details
Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn
Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 6 October 2023
- Foundation Supporter - Committee to Review Australian Studies in Tertiary Education