Rutherford Ness Robertson
Rutherford Robertson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rutherford Ness Robertson 29 September 1913 |
| Died | 6 March 2001 (aged 87) Yass, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupations | |
| Spouse | Lady Mary Rogerson
(m. 1937) |
| Academic background | |
| Education | Carey Baptist Grammar School St Andrew's College |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney University of Cambridge |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Botany |
| Institutions | CSIRO University of Sydney University of Adelaide Australian National University |
Sir Rutherford Ness "Bob" Robertson AC CMG FAA FRS FRSE (29 September 1913 – 6 March 2001) was an Australian botanist and biologist, and winner of the Clarke Medal in 1955.[1][2][3][4][5]
Early life and education[edit]
Robertson was born in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), the son of Baptist missionary, Rev J. Robertson.[6] In his first years, he suffered from polio.[7]
He was first educated at Carey Baptist Grammar School, where he was a foundation scholar in 1923 and eventually left in 1925 to complete his secondary education in New Zealand after his father’s missionary work moved him to Christchurch.[7]
He was then educated at St. Andrew's College, Christchurch and matriculated in 1930[7] to when he later obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree at the University of Sydney in 1934.[1]
In 1939, Robertson completed a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) at St John's College, Cambridge in England. Later in 1939, Robertson became Assistant Lecturer, and later Lecturer in Botany at the University of Sydney. From 1952 to 1955 he was Senior Principal Research Officer at the CSIRO Division of Food Preservation and Transport.[1]
Career[edit]
While lecturing at the University of Sydney, he closely collaborated with CSIR (the precursor to the CSIRO) in the 1950s.[1] Later on, Robertson would join the executive team at the CSIRO in 1958, where he would also become the visiting professor at the University of California in Los Angeles in the 1960s.[7] In addition, Robertson would become a Professor of Botany at the University of Adelaide after leaving New South Wales (to work in South Australia) in 1962[3] and further to this, he became the Director of Biological Sciences at the Australian National University[3] and the Australian Academy of Science throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.[3][1]
He retired after further research at the University of Sydney in 1986.[7]
Personal life[edit]
In 1937, he married Mary Helen Bruce Robertson (née Rogerson).[3] Together, they had a son, Robert.[7]
In March 2001, Robertson died in Yass, New South Wales at the age of 87.[3]
Publications[edit]
- Science: Its Scope and Limits (1971)
Honours and awards[edit]
- 1954 – Elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (FAA)[8]
- 1955 – Awarded Clarke Medal by the Royal Society of New South Wales[1]
- 1961 – Elected Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)[8]
- 1962 – Elected a Foreign Associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences[9]
- 1968 – Created a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)[10][8]
- 1970 – Winner of the Mueller Medal[11]
- 1971 – Elected to the American Philosophical Society[12]
- 1972 – Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II[13][8]
- 1973 – Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences[14]
- 1975 – Awarded Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture by the Australian Academy of Science[15]
- 1980 – Awarded Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)[16]
- 1983 – Elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE)
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f "Robertson, Rutherford Ness (1913 - 2001)". Biographical entry. Encyclopedia of Australian Science. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Robertson, Sir Rutherford Ness (1913–2001)". Obituaries Australia. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
- ^ a b c d e f Marshall D. Hatch; Barry (C.B.) Osmond; Joseph T. Wiskich. "Rutherford Ness Robertson 1913-2001". Biographical memoirs. Australian Academy of Science. Originally published in Historical Records of Australian Science, vol.14, no.4, 2003.
- ^ "Robertson, Rutherford Ness, FAA, FRS (1913-2001)". trove.nla.gov.au.
- ^ "Sir Rutherford Robertson". 2001 Academy Yearbook. Royal Society of New Zealand.
- ^ Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0-902-198-84-X.
- ^ a b c d e f Bruce Murray (April 2001). "Sir Rutherford Ness Robertson (OCG 1925)". Carey Baptist Grammar School. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Fellow details". Royal Society. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
- ^ "Rutherford N. Robertson". National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^
"The Order of St Michael and St George - Companion". It's an Honour. 8 June 1968.
Services to education & scientific research
- ^ "Search". 1970.
- ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^
"Knight Bachelor". It's an Honour. 1 January 1972.
Services to science & education
- ^ "Rutherford Ness Robertson". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture". Australian Academy of Science. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- ^
"Companion of the Order of Australia". It's an Honour. 26 January 1980.
AC AUST DAY 1980. KTB NY72. CMG QB68. FOR SERVICE TO BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| People | |
| Other | |
- 1913 births
- 2001 deaths
- Scientists from Melbourne
- People educated at Carey Baptist Grammar School
- People educated at St Andrew's College, Christchurch
- Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge
- 20th-century Australian botanists
- Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science
- Companions of the Order of Australia
- Australian Knights Bachelor
- Australian Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Presidents of the Australian Academy of Science
- Australian Fellows of the Royal Society
- Foreign associates of the National Academy of Sciences
- Members of the American Philosophical Society