Person

Sowerby, Brian David (1943 - )

Born
June 1943
Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation
Mineralogist and Nuclear physicist

Summary

Brian Sowerby, a doctor in Nuclear Physics, is an expert in the application of nuclear and ultrasonic imaging techniques in the mineral and energy industries. While employed by the CSIRO as research manager of CSIRO Minerals at Lucas Heights he made breakthroughs in techniques for the analysis of raw materials in the mining industry, including the CSIRO product Coalscan. This led Sowerby to focus on other applications of similar imaging techniques. The outcome of this was the Air Cargo Scanner, which uses high-energy neutrons combined with X-rays or gamma-rays to rapidly scan and identify not only the shape but also the mineral makeup of materials in large cargo containers. For this technique he was the joint recipient of the CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement in 2006.

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Details

Sowerby has received the following CSIRO awards:

1985 - inaugural Sir Ian McLennan Impact from Science and Engineering Award for his work on an innovative coal analysis system, COALSCAN;

2006 - CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement (with James Tickner, Nicholas Cutmore, and colleagues) for developing a world-first air cargo scanner for interrogating consolidated air cargo for contraband such as drugs and explosives.

Chronology

1963
Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc(Hons)), University of New South Wales
1967
Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Australian National University
1967 - 1969
Career position - Postdoctoral Fellow, Nuclear Research Center, University of Alberta, Canad
1969 - 1982
Career position - Research Scientist, Radioisotope Applications Research Section, Australian Atomic Energy Commission
1980
Award - Fellow, Australian Institute of Physics
1982 - 1985
Career position - Research scientist, CSIRO
1984
Award - IR 100 Award for Coalscan pair production gauge (together with Mineral Control Instrumentation Limited and Queensland University)
1985
Award - Inaugural Sir Ian McLennan Impact from Science and Engineering Award, CSIRO
1985 - 1987
Career position - Officer-in-Charge, Lucas Heights, CSIRO Division of Mineral Engineering
1986 - 1987
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences
1987 -
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
1987 - 1988
Career position - Officer-in-Charge, Lucas Heights, CSIRO Division of Mineral and Process Engineering
1989
Award - Confederation of Australian Industry Award for Outstanding Achievement in Energy Research
1989 - 1994
Career position - Research Manager, Instrumentation and Control, CSIRO Division of Mineral and Process Engineering
1992
Award - Australia Prize (in the field of Physical Sciences relating to mining or processing of mineral resources) (joint), Australian Government
1995 - 1996
Career position - Business Opportunity Manager, Process Instrumentation, CSIRO Minerals Division
1995 - 2001
Career position - Senior Manager, Lucas Heights, CSIRO Minerals Division
1997 - 2001
Career position - Program Manager, On-Line Analysis and Control, CSIRO Minerals Division
2001
Award - Centenary Medal for service to Australian society in applied physics
2004
Award - Alan Walsh Medal for Service to Industry (jointly with James Tickner), Australian Institute of Physics
2006
Award - CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement (with James Tickner, Nicholas Cutmore, and colleagues)
2009
Life event - Retired

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See also

Rebecca Rigby

Created: 12 June 2012, Last modified: 28 March 2024

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