Cole, Keith David (1929 - 2010)

Summary

Keith David Cole was Foundation Professor of Physics and Head of Theoretical Physics at La Trobe University in Victoria, and was appointed Emeritus Professor in 1995. Throughout his illustrious career Cole made many scientific breakthroughs and built a reputation as one of the world's leading solar-terrestrial physicists. In 2003 he was awarded the Centenary Medal from the Australian Government and Life Membership of the Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics, SCOSTEP. The latter is a rare honour which had been bestowed on only nine other people at that time. Cole was a former President of SCOSTEP and was also honoured with Fellowships of the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Institute of Physics, the Institute of Physics, UK and the Explorers Club of New York.

Details

Chronology

1952

Education - Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)), King's College, University of Queensland

1953

Education - Diploma in Education (DipEd), University of Queensland

1953 - 1955

Career position - Secondary School Teacher in Queensland

1954

Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Queensland

1956

Career position - Auroral Physicist on the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition to Macquarie Island

1957 - 1963

Career position - Theoretical Physicist with the Antarctic Division of the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)

1962

Career position - Seconded to CSIRO Upper Atmosphere Section

1963 - 1964

Career position - Research Associate, University of Chicago, USA

1965 - 1966

Career position - Research Associate, University of Colorado, USA

1966 -

Career position - Foundation Professor of Physics and Head of Theoretical Space Physics at La Trobe University in Bundoora, Victoria

1967

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

1969 - 1970

Career position - Visiting Researcher at the National Research Council in the USA (twelve months)

1970 - 1973

Career position - Chairman, Department of Physics at La Trobe University

1976 - 1978

Career position - Chairman, Department of Physics at La Trobe University

c. 1976 - c. 1979

Career position - Vice-President of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA)

1977 - 1986

Career position - President, Special Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP)

1979 - 1983

Career position - Member of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics

1980 -

Award - Fellow of the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism

1980 - 1981

Career position - Dean of the School of Physical Sciences at La Trobe University

1980 - 1983

Career position - President of IAGA

1982 -

Award - Associate of the Royal Astronomical Society, London (ARAS)

1983 -

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

1984 - 1988

Career position - Chairman, Department of Physics at La Trobe University

1985

Career position - Foreign Secretary and Member of Council of the Australian Academy of Science

1989 -

Award - Honorary member of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy

1995 -

Career position - Emeritus Professor of Physics at La Trobe University

2003

Award - Life membership to SCOSTEP received

2003

Award - Centenary Medal, Australian Government

Related entries

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Dyson, Peter L.; and Cole, David J., 'Keith David Cole 1929-2010', Historical Records of Australian Science, 25 (1) (2014), 71-83, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR14008. Details

Resources

• 'Cole, Keith (1929-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-459188. Details

Resource Sections

• Ward, C., 'Keith David Cole', in CSIROpedia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2011, https://csiropedia.csiro.au/Cole-Keith-David. Details