Person

Main, Albert Russell (Bert) (1919 - 2009)

CBE FAA FANZAAS

Born
6 March 1919
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Died
3 December 2009
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Occupation
Ecologist and Zoologist

Summary

Bert Main was Emeritus Professor of Zoology at the University of Western Australia and Chair of the Western Australian Environment Protection Authority (1982-1985c). He has received many honours for his contribution to zoology including the Mueller Medal from ANZAAS (Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science), the Gold Medal from the Australian Ecological Society and he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Main's principal research interests centred on amphibians, bioacoustics, and the ecology and biodiversity of Australia's fauna. He made significant contributions through his leadership over many years of the Western Australian Environment Protection Authority and National Parks Authority, and the Western Australian Naturalists' Club. The arachnid genus Bertmainium was named in his honour.

Details

Chronology

1939 - 1945
Military service - Joined the Citizen Military Force, then the Australian Imperial Force, and later the Royal Australian Air Force
1949 - 1950
Career position - Career position - President, Western Australian Field Naturalists' Club
1950
Award - Fulbright Scholarship to the University of Chicago
1952 - 1961
Career position - Researcher at the Department of Zoology, University of Western Australia
1953 - 1955
Career position - Career position - President, Western Australian Field Naturalists' Club
1955 - 1956
Career position - Career Position - Vice-president, Western Australian Field Naturalists' Club
1956
Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Western Australia
1961 - 1967
Career position - Reader in Zoology, University of Western Australia
1967 - 1984
Career position - Professor of Zoology, University of Western Australia
1969 - 2009
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
1970
Award - Britannica Australia Award (with Harry Waring)
1972 - 1977
Career position - Councillor, Australian Institute of Marine Science
1972 - 1985
Career position - Member of the Western Australian Environment Protection Authority
1977 - 1979
Career position - Chair, Australian Institute of Marine Science
1979 - 1983
Career position - Member of the Zoological Board, Western Australia (WA)
1980
Award - Commander of the British Empire (CBE)
1980 - 1983
Career position - President, National Park Authority, WA
1981
Award - Commander the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
1981 - 2009
Award - Fellow, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
1982 - 1985
Career position - Chairman, Western Australian Environment Protection Authority
1982 - 2009
Award - Honorary Member, Royal Society of Western Australia
1987
Award - DSc honoris causa, University of Western Australia
1988
Award - Ecological Society of Australia Gold Medal
1990
Award - Mueller Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
1995
Award - Medal of the Royal Society of Western Australia
2001
Award - Centenary Medal for service to Australian society and science in zoology

Published resources

Book Sections

Journal Articles

  • Anon, 'Bert Main', Australian Academy of Science newsletter, 79 (2010), 11. Details
  • Bradshaw, Jon, 'Obituary: Albert Russell (Bert) Main, born: 6 March 1919, died: 3 December 2009', Western Australian Naturalist, 28 (1) (2011), 1-11. Details
  • Bradshaw, S. D, 'Albert Russell ('Bert') Main 1919-2009', Historical Records of Australian Science, 22 (2011), 104-25, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR10013. Details
  • Burbidge, A. A., 'Obituary: Albert Russell (Bert) Main, FAA,, CBE 1919 - 2009', Pacific conservation biology, 16 (2010), 83. Details
  • Main, A. R., 'Horace Waring, 1910-1980', Historical Records of Australian Science, 5 (2) (1981), 116-121. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9810520116. Details
  • Main, A. R., 'The Royal Society of Western Australia Medallist Lecture, 1995: the study of nature - a seamless tapestry', Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 78 (4) (1995), 91-8. Details

Resources

Rosanne Walker and Helen Cohn

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