Prof Harry Messel AC
Born: 1922, Manitoba, Canada
Harry Messel was educated at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and served during World War II as a paratrooper with the Canadian Forces. He moved to Australia in 1951 and lectured in mathematical physics at the University of Adelaide before being appointed in 1952 as Professor of Physics and Head of the School of Physics at the University of Sydney. He retired from this position in 1987.
At the University of Sydney Dr Messel established the Nuclear Research Foundation, later known as the Science Foundation for Physics. Over his career he has raised more than $100 million through the Foundation to fund research, teaching and learning.
As head of the school of physics he increased the number of permanent staff and appointed a team of full-time theoreticians. He also had the first electronic computer (SILLIAC) to be used in an Australian University built locally. The computer began operation in 1956, and was used in the design of major projects such as the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
Dr Messel appointed Bernard Mills FRS to head Astrophysics and build the Mills Cross radio telescope and Robert Hanbury-Brown FRS to head Astronomy and build the Brown-Twiss stellar interferometer. Charles Watson-Munro, who had wide international experience in atomic energy, was chosen to head Plasma Physics. Brian McCusker, pursued research in Cosmic Radiation. John Bennett became the first professor of computing in Australia and Stuart Butler was chosen to head Theoretical Physics.
Later Messel added a department of Applied Physics with particular emphasis on solar energy. He himself headed an environmental group based in the Northern Territory and centred on crocodiles.
Dr Messel was a pioneer in the reform of Australian science education. The International Science Schools for High School Students, which he established in 1962, are known worldwide. He also assembled a team of scientists and science teachers to produce high school textbooks (the famous ‘Blue Book’ familiar to a generation of Australian students), which established an integrated approach to science teaching.
Harry Messel he remains active in the Science Foundation for Physics. The Messel Endowment, a public fund-raising effort that aims to provide sufficient funds to continue the International Science Schools in perpetuity, was established in his name.
Professor Messel was a longstanding chair of the Crocodile Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission (SSC), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Harry Messel Award for Conservation Leadership was established by the SSC in his honour.
1979: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
1952 – 1987: Professor of Physics and Head of the School of Physics, University of Sydney
1992 – 1997: Chancellor and CEO, Bond University
2006: Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)
More by and about Harry Messel
ABC Radio National, The Science Show, SILLIAC – Australia’s First Supercomputer, January 2007 (audio), http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2007/1810643.htm
ABC TV Talking Heads, Harry Messel, http://www.abc.net.au/tv/talkingheads/txt/s2505093.htm
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