Person

Sowerby, Brian David

Occupation
Mineralogist and Nuclear physicist

Summary

Brian Sowerby, a doctor in Nuclear Physics, is an expert in the application of nuclear and ultrasonic imaging techniques in the mineral and energy industries. While employed by the CSIRO as research manager of CSIRO Minerals at Lucas Heights he made breakthroughs in techniques for the analysis of raw materials in the mining industry, including the CSIRO product Coalscan. This led Sowerby to focus on other applications of similar imaging techniques. The outcome of this was the Air Cargo Scanner, which uses high-energy neutrons combined with X-rays or gamma-rays to rapidly scan and identify not only the shape but also the mineral makeup of materials in large cargo containers. For this technique he was the joint recipient of the CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement in 2006.

Details

Chronology

1984
Award - IR 100 Award for Coalscan pair production gauge (together with Mineral Control Instrumentation Limited and Queensland University)
1985
Award - Inaugural Sir Ian McLennan Achievement for Industry Award
1989
Award - Confederation of Australian Industry Award for Outstanding Achievement in Energy Research
1992
Award - Australia Prize (in the field of Physical Sciences relating to mining or processing of mineral resources) (joint), Australian Government
2003
Award - Centenary Medal for service to Australian society in applied physics
2004
Award - Alan Walsh Medal for Service to Industry (jointly with James Tickner), Australian Institute of Physics
2006
Award - CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement for Air Cargo Scanner

Related Awards

Published resources

Resources

Resource Sections

Rebecca Rigby

EOAS ID: biogs/P005135b.htm

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