Colefax, Alan Neville (1908 - 1961)

Summary

Alan Colefax was a marine zoologist whose research interests ranged from phytoplankton to fish. His interest in chemistry proved useful in these studies. Colefax was appointed to the Department of Zoology at the University of Sydney in 1931, where he remained until his death. Early research was on the Tiger flathead, then the principle food fish in New South Wales. He joined the plankton study group headed by William Dakin, concentrating on the Copepoda. This research resulted in several papers and a book which was for many years considered the standard reference on Copepoda of the Pacific Ocean. Other research was on nudibranchs, and the embryology and life history of frogs. Colefax was noted as an enthusiastic and engaging lecturer, and presented lectures in many parts of the state for the University Extension Board. For 14 years, as "Tom, the naturalist", he made broadcasts for the Australian Broadcasting Commission's Children's Hour. His leisure time was filled with a wide range of occupations, ranging from motorcycles and the design of stage settings, to teaching the making of camouflage nets during WWII.

Details

Chronology

1930

Education - BSc (hons), University of Sydney

1930 - 1931

Award - Research Fellow in marine science at University of Sydney, Science and Industry Endowment Fund

1931 - 1961

Career position - Member, Linnean Society of New South Wales

1931 - 1961

Career position - Lecturer and Demonstrator in Zoology, University of Sydney

1936 - 1943

Career position - Assessor and Assistant Examiner for Leaving Certificate Zoology Examinations, New South Wales Department of Education

1943 - 1961

Career position - Member of Council, Linnean Society of New South Wales

1944 - 1961

Career position - Chief Examiner for Leaving Certificate Zoology Examinations, New South Wales Department of Education

1951 - 1952

Career position - President, Linnean Society of New South Wales

1957

Career position - Research fellow, University College, London

Related entries

Published resources

Books

• Dakin, W. J. and Colefax, A. N., The plankton of the Australian coastal waters off New South Wales, vol. 1 (Sydney: Australasian Medical Publishing Company for the University of Sydney, 1940), 215 pp. Details

Journal Articles

• Colefax, A. N., 'A preliminary investigation of the natural history of the Tiger flathead (Neoplatycephalus macrodon) on the south-east Australian coast, I: distribution and supply, length statistics', Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 59 (1/2) (1934), 71-91. Details
• Colefax, A. N., 'A preliminary investigation of the natural history of the Tiger flathead (Neoplatycephalus macrodon) on the south-east Australian coast II: feeding habits, breeding habits', Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 63 (1/2) (1938), 55-64. Details
• Colefax, A. N., 'Obituary: Professor William John Dakin, DSc, FZS', Australian Journal of Science, 12 (6) (1950), 208-209. Details
• Dakin, W. J. and Colefax, A. N., 'The marine plankton of the coastal waters of New South Wales, I: the chief planktonic forms and their seasonal distribution', Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 68 (3/4) (1943), 186-222. Details
• Dakin, William J. and Colefax, Allen [sic] N., 'Observations on the seasonal changes in temperature, salinity, phosphates, and nitrate nitrogen and oxygen in the ocean waters on the continental shelf off New South Wales, and the relationship to plankton production', Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 60 (5/6) (1935), 303-14. Details
• I. B. [ie Isobel Bennett], 'Alan Neville Colefax, 1908 - 1961 (Memorial series, no. 20)', Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 87 (2) (1962), 220-2. Details