Biographical entry Nicholson, Alexander John (1895 - 1969)

Summary

Alexander John Nicholson was one of Australia's top Entomologists and greatly increased the knowledge and study of Zoology and Entomology in Australia. His longest serving position was as Chief of the Division of Economic Entomology at CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research)/CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) from 1936 to 1960. During this time Nicholson improved the Division's reputation and research scope to include biological control, taxonomy, ecology, physiology, biochemistry and toxicology. Nicholson's main area of expertise was in insect population dynamics and biology, but he was also a fine designer of scientific equipment and a fastidious organiser. He was a member and office bearer of many of Australia's and Britain's top scientific bodies and published widely. He received many accolades for his tireless work including an appointment to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

Details

Events

1915

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc) completed at the University of Birmingham, UK

1915 - c. 1919

Career position - War service with the Royal Regiment of Artillery in France and Belgium

1919 - c. 1921

Career position - Researcher at the University of Birmingham

1920

Education - Master of Science (MSc) completed at the University of Birmingham

1921 -

Career position - Inaugural McCaughey Lecturer in Entomology at the University of Sydney

October 1921

Life event - Migrated to Australia (Sydney)

1928 - 1930

Career position - Councillor of the Linnean Society of New South Wales

1929

Education - Doctor of Science (DSc) received from the University of Sydney

1930 - 1933

Career position - Deputy-Chief of the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) Division of Economic Entomology

1933

Career position - 'The Balance of Animal Populations' published in the Journal of Animal Ecology

1933 - 1936

Career position - Acting-Chief of the CSIR Division of Economic Entomology

1935 -

Career position - Foundation member of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science

1936 - 1960

Career position - Chief of the CSIR / CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Division of Economic Entomology

1950 - 1951

Career position - President of the Royal Society of Australia

1952

Award - Clarke Medal received from the Royal Society of New South Wales

1954

Award - Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

1960 -

Career position - Foundation President of the National Parks Association of the Australian Capital Territory

1961 -

Award - Honorary Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society of London (FRES)

1961

Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

1963 -

Award - Honorary member of the British Ecological Society

1965 -

Career position - Foundation member of the Australian Entomological Society

Related entries

Archival resources

Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science

• Alexander John Nicholson - Records, 1927 - 1971, MS 130; Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science. Details

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science Exhibitions

• Smith, Ailie, Adolph Basser Library Manuscript Collection, eScholarship Research Centre, 2012, http://www.eoas.info/basser_browse.html. Details

Books

• Musgrave, A., Bibliography of Australian Entomology, 1775-1930, Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales., Sydney, 1932, 380 pp. Details

Book Sections

• Waterhouse, D.F., 'Nicholson, Alexander John (1895-1969), Entomologist', in John Ritchie (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 15, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 2000, pp. 473-474. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150551b.htm. Details

Journal Articles

• Mackerras, I. M., 'Alexander John Nicholson', Records of the Australian Academy of Science, vol. 2, no. 1, 1971, pp. 66-81. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9710210066.htm. Details
• Nicholson, A. J., 'Obituary: A. L. Tonnoir', Australian Journal of Science, vol. 2, no. 5, 1940, pp. 139-140. Details
• Schedvin, C. B., 'Environment, Economy and Australian Biology 1890-1939', Historical Studies, vol. 21, 1984, pp. 11-28. Details

Online Resources

• 'Nicholson, Alexander John - Ms 130', in Listing of Adolph Basser Library holdings, Australian Academy of Science, 1994, http://www.science.org.au/basser/manuscript-collection/ms130.html. Details
• Mackerras, I. M., 'Alexander John Nicholson 1895-1969', in Australian Academy of Science Biographical Memoirs, Australian Academy of Science, 2006, http://www.science.org.au/fellows/memoirs/nicholson.html. Details
• 'Nicholson, Alexander John', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-610414. Details

See also

• Birch, L.C.; Browning, T. O., 'Herbert George Andrewartha 1907-1992', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 9, no. 3, 1993, pp. 258-268. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9930930259.htm. Details
• Norris, K. R., 'Ian Murray Mackerras 1898-1980', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 5, no. 2, 1981, pp. 98-114. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9810520098.htm. Details
• Nicholson, (Alexander) John (England-Australia 1895-1969), Some Biogeographers, Evolutionists and Ecologists: Chrono-Biographical Sketches, http://www.wku.edu/~smithch/chronob/NICH1895.htm. Details