McCracken, Kenneth Gordon (1933 - )

Summary

Dr Kenneth McCracken became involved in space science early in its history and has conducted pioneering research since the 1950s. From 1959-1970 he focused on cosmic ray research, resulting in technology that would protect astronauts from harmful cosmic radiation produced by sun flares. He was Professor of Physics at Adelaide University (1966-1969), during which time he also did pioneering research and development in the field of x-ray astronomy. He was the Founding Chief of the CSIRO's Division of Mineral Physics and Director of the CSIRO Office of Space Science. In these positions he was involved in the development of remote sensor technology for mineral deposit exploration using the NASA LANDSAT satellite. He worked with the CSIRO until his retirement in 1989.

Details

In 1988 McCracken was awarded the CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement for leadership in space activities in Australia and for achievement in geophysics research.

Chronology

1954

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc(Hons)), University of Tasmania

1959

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Tasmania

1959 - 1961

Career position - Research Associate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

1961

Career position - Consultant, NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.A.

1961 - 1962

Career position - Assistant Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

1962 - 1966

Career position - Professor, Southwest Centre for Advanced Studies, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

1963 - 1965

Career position - Member, NASA Space Radiation Protection Committee

1966 - 1969

Career position - Professor of Physics, University of Adelaide

1969

Award - Pawsey Medal. Australian Academy of Science

1970

Career position - Consultant, Atomic Energy Commission of India

1970 - 1972

Career position - Officer-in-charge, Mineral Physics Section, CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)

1971

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

1972 - 1984

Career position - Foundation Chief, CSIRO Division of Mineral Physics

1972 - 1984

Career position - Honorary Professor, Macquarie University

1979 - 1987

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

1982 - 1984

Career position - Board Member, Australian Mineral Foundation

1984 - 1989

Career position - Director, CSIRO Office for Space Science and Applications

1986

Career position - Member, National Committee on Space Engineering, Institute of Engineers, Australia

1987 -

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

1987 -

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) [Awarded by AATS 1979]

1988

Award - CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement

1989 -

Career position - Managing Partner, Jellore Technologies

1989

Award - Gold Medal, Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists

12 June 1989

Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to space science and technology

1995

Award - Australia Prize (in the field of Remote Sensing( (joint)), Commonwealth of Australia

2001

Career position - Senior Research Fellow, University of Maryland, U.S.A.

2001

Award - Ian Wark Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science

2003

Award - Haddon Forrester King Medal, Australian Academy of Science

Related entries

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Crompton, R. W.; Dracoulis, G. D.; Lewis, B. R.; Mccracken, K. G.; and Williams, J. S, 'John Henry Carver 1926-2004', Historical Records of Australian Science, 22 (1) (2011), 53-79, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR10015. Details

Resources

• 'McCracken, Kenneth Gordon (1933 - )', Recipients [of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science, 2000 - 2017], Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, 2017, https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20171113020111/http://www.science.gov.au/community/PrimeMinistersPrizesforScience/Recipients/1990-1999/Pages/KenMcCracken.aspx. Details
• 'McCracken, K G (19230807-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-611868. Details

Resource Sections

• 'Dr Ken McCracken (Australia)', in 1995 Australia Prize, Department of Industry, Innovation Science, Research and Tertiary Education, Commonwealth of Australia, 1995, https://grants.innovation.gov.au/SciencePrize/Pages/Doc.aspx?name=previous_winners/Aust1995McCraken.htm. Details
• Ward, C., 'Kenneth Gordon McCracken', in CSIROpedia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2011, https://csiropedia.csiro.au/McCracken-Kenneth-Gordon. Details

See also

• Beale, Bob, Engineering a Legacy: Memories of the journey of CSIRO Chemical Engineering (Clayton, Victoria: CSIRO Minerals, 2005), 124 pp. pages 12. Details
• Ward, Colin, 'CSIRO Entrepreneurship Award', in CSIROpedia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2013, https://csiropedia.csiro.au/csiro-entrepreneurship-award/. Details