Person
Underwood, Eric John (1905 - 1980)
AO CBE FAA FTS FRS
- Born
- 7 September 1905
Harlington, Middlesex, England - Died
- 19 August 1980
Perth, Western Australia, Australia - Occupation
- Agricultural scientist
Summary
Eric Underwood was Professor of Agriculture, University of Western Australia 1946-1970. He also served on the executive of the CSIRO 1966-1975. Much of his research was in the field of sheep nutrition and the causes of disease in stock, particularly in relation to soil deficiencies. With colleagues he identified the need to add trace elements such as cobalt to the diet of animals, and for programs for pasture improvement, including widespread planting of subterranean clover. His expertise was sought by the FAO on a number of occasions.
Details
Born 7 September 1905. Died 19 August 1980. Fellow, Australian Academy of Science 1954, Fellow, Royal Society 1970.
Chronology
- 1928
- Education - BSc, University of Western Australia
- 1928 - 1931
- Career position - Hackett Research Student, University of Cambridge
- 1931
- Education - DSc, University of Cambridge
- 1931 - 1936
- Career position - Animal Nutrition Officer, Western Australian Department of Agriculture
- 1936 - 1938
- Award - Commonwealth Fund Fellowship, University of Wisconsin-Madison, U.S.A.
- 1938 - 1945
- Career position - Animal Nutrition Officer, Western Australian Department of Agriculture
- 1946 - 1959
- Career position - Chairman, Tuberculosis Association of Western Australia
- 1946 - 1970
- Career position - Hackett Professor of Agriculture and Director, Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia
- 1952
- Award - Australian Institute of Agricultural Science Medal
- 1952
- Career position - President, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science
- 1954 - 1980
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
- 1956
- Career position - President, National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis
- 1957 - 1958
- Award - Carnegie Travelling Fellowship, U.S.A.
- 1958 - 1980
- Award - Fellow, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science
- 1958 - 1980
- Award - Fellow, Australian Institute Agricultural Science
- 1959
- Award - Medal of the Royal Society of Western Australia
- 1963
- Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to agriculture, education and administration
- 1966 - 1975
- Career position - Member of the Executive, CSIRO
- 1967
- Award - Doctorate of Rural Science (honoris causa), University of New England
- 1967
- Award - Farrer Memorial Medal, Farrer Memorial Trust
- 1969
- Award - Doctor of Agricultural Science (DAgrSc), honoris causa, University of Western Australia
- 1970
- Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS)
- 1970
- Award - Fellow, Australian Society of Animal Production
- 1970
- Life event - Retired
- 1971 - 1980
- Career position - Emeritus Professor, University of Western Australia
- 1973
- Award - Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecturer, Australian Academy of Science
- 1973
- Career position - President, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
- 1973
- Award - Doctor of Agricultural Science (DAgrSc), honoris causa, University of Melbourne
- 1975 - 1980
- Award - Foundation Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (FTS)
- 1976
- Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) - for a contribution of exceptional merit to agricultural teaching, research and administration
- 1976
- Award - ANZAAS Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
- 1980
- Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa, University of Wisconsin-Madison, U.S.A.
- 1980
- Award - Fellow, Nutrition Society of Australia
- 1981
- Award - Klaus Schwartz Commemorative Medal (posthumous)
Related entries
Archival resources
University of Western Australia, University Archives
- Eric John Underwood - Records, 1929 - 1980; University of Western Australia, University Archives. Details
Published resources
Book Sections
- Moir, R.J., 'Underwood, Eric John (1905-1980), Professor of Agriculture' in Australian Dictionary of Biography, John Ritchie and Diane Langmore, eds, vol. 16 (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2002), pp. 428-429. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160518b.htm. Details
Journal Articles
- Blaxter, Kenneth, 'Eric John Underwood 7 September 1905 - 19 August 1980', Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 27 (1981), 579-602. Details
- Moir, R.J., 'Eric John Underwood 1905-1980', Historical Records of Australian Science, 13 (3) (2001), 343-350. Details
- Schedvin, C. B., 'Environment, Economy and Australian Biology 1890-1939', Historical Studies, 21 (1984), 11-28. Details
- Underwood, E. J., 'Hedley Ralph Marston', Records of the Australian Academy of Science, 1 (2) (1967), 73-86. http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9670120073.htm. Details
Resources
- Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, Royal Society of London, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbm.1981.0023. Details
- Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5387660. Details
- VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/46932874. Details
- 'Underwood, E J (1905-1980)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-537096. Details
- 'Awarded honorary DAgrSc, 1973', Honorary degree holders, University of Melbourne, 2023, https://about.unimelb.edu.au/notable-alumni-staff/honorary-degree-holders. Details
See also
- Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Online edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, 3 May 2000, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/index_u.html. Details
- Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science, 2022, https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/awards-and-opportunities/macfarlane-burnet-medal-and-lecture. Details
- Draper, W. J. ed., Who's who in Australia 1980 (Melbourne: Herald and Weekly Times Ltd, 1980), 927 pp. Details
Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn
Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 6 October 2023
- Foundation Supporter - Committee to Review Australian Studies in Tertiary Education