Person
Davis, Clive Selwyn (1916 - 2009)
- Born
- 15 April 1916
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - Died
- 20 October 2009
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia - Occupation
- Mathematician and University Administrator
Summary
Clive Davis was a mathematician whose research focused on the geometry of numbers, binary quadratic form, and rational approximations to e. After graduating he was sent to the United Kingdom by the Australian Government to research aircraft instruments and aerodynamics at Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough. During WWII he served with both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force, for which he played a significant role in the development of operations research. In 1956 Davis became Professor of Mathematics at the University of Queensland, where he greatly expanded the teaching capacity of his department. He served for ten years of the University Council. Davis was active in professional societies, being President of both the Royal Society of Queensland and the Australian Mathematical Society.
Details
Chronology
- 1937
- Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc(Hons)), University of Sydney
- 1939
- Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Sydney
- 1939? - 1941
- Career event - Served with Royal Air Force, United Kingdom
- 1941
- Award - Distinguished Flying Cross
- c. 1941 - c. 1946
- Career event - Served with RAAF
- 1949
- Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Cambridge
- 1949 - 1956
- Career position - Lecturer, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
- 1956 - 1968
- Career position - Treasurer, Australian Mathematical Society
- 1956 - 1972
- Career position - Head of Department of Mathematics, University of Queensland
- 1956 - 1983
- Career position - Professor of Mathematics, University of Queensland
- 1962
- Career event - Foundation Member, Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland
- 1965 - 1966
- Career position - President, Royal Society of Queensland
- 1968 - 1970
- Career position - President, Australian Mathematical Society
- 1983
- Life event - Retired
Related entries
Published resources
Book Sections
- Davis, C. S., 'Priestley, Henry James (1883-1932), Professor of Mathematics' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 11: 1891 - 1939 Nes-Smi, Geoffrey Serle, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1988), p. 295. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110302b.htm. Details
Journal Articles
- Hart, Vincent and Matthews, Keith, 'Clive Selwyn David 15 April 1916 - 29 October 2009', Australian Mathematical Society gazette, 37 (1) (2010), 26-8. Details
See also
- Bennett, J. M.; Broomham, Rosemary; Murton, P. M.; Pearcey, T.; Rutledge, R. W. ed., Computing in Australia: the Development of a Profession (Sydney: Hale and Iremonger, 1994), 344 pp. Details
Helen Cohn
Created: 24 April 2023