Biographical entry Burn, Alan (1889 - 1959)

Summary

Alan Burn, a graduate of the University of Tasmania, was Professor of Engineering at that institution 1919-55 and Vice-Chancellor 1945-49. His research included studies of aerofoil theory, vortex wind tunnels, hydraulics, centrifugal and axial pumps, and stress.

Details

Born Hobart, 19 October 1889. Died Hobart, 18 December 1959. Educated Universities of Tasmania (BSc 1909, MSc 1911) and Sydney (BE 1911). Assistant mechanical engineer, State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria 1912-14; Walter and Eliza Hall travelling fellowship in engineering, Escher Wyss & Company, Zurich, Switzerland 1915-16; Aeronautical Inspection Department, England 1916-18; acting professor of civil engineering, University of Tasmania 1918; professor 1919-56; emeritus professor 1956-59; last part-time vice-chancellor 1945-49. (W.H.) Warren (q.v.) Memorial prize, Institution of Engineers, Australia 1939, Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal 1955. President, Tasmanian division, Institution of Engineers, Australia 1925, foundation member and 1950 president of the national body. Honoured by the Alan Burn lectures, given annually to the Institution of Engineers and the Alan Burn prize in engineering, University of Tasmania.

Archival resources

University of Tasmania Library, Special/Rare Collection

• Alan Burn - Records, 1920 - 1955, UT.467,35 ..; University of Tasmania Library, Special/Rare Collection. Details

Published resources

Book Sections

• Gregory, M. S., 'Burn, Alan (1889-1959)', in Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle (eds), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 7, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1979, pp. 487-488. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070493b.htm. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'Burn, Alan', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1468871. Details

See also

• Paterson, M. S., 'John Conrad Jaeger 1907-1979', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 5, no. 3, 1982, pp. 64-88. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9820530064.htm. Details