Person

Dewhurst, David John (1919 - 1996)

AM

Born
8 January 1919
Canterbury, Victoria, Australia
Died
4 March 1996
Homestead Nursing Home, Wallington, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Biophysicist

Summary

David Dewhurst was Reader in biophysics (later biophysics and biomedical engineering) at the University of Melbourne 1964-? He was involved in the design of the bionic ear in the 1970s, and the design of FRED (Friendly Electronic Device), an interactive teaching device for people unable to use a computer keyboard.

He was a major force behind the formation of the Institution of Biomedical Engineering (Australia), and was President of the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering at the time of the Ninth International Conference on Medical and Biological Engineering, Melbourne, 1971.

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Details

Chronology

1939
Education - Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Melbourne
1940 - 1946
Military service - Second World War. Lieutenant, Australian Imperial Force Corps of Signals
1949
Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Melbourne
1949 - 1964
Career position - Lecturer in Physiology, University of Melbourne
1959
Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Melbourne
1964 -
Career position - Reader in biophysics (later biophysics and biomedical engineering), University of Melbourne
26 Jan 1990
Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) - in recognition of service to biomedical engineering for people with disabilities

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Published resources

Journal Articles

  • Clark, G. M.; Tong, Y. C.; Black, R. C.; Forster, I. C.; Patrick, J. F.; Dewhurst, D. J., 'A multiple-electrode cochlear implant', Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 91 (1977), 935-45. Details

Resources

See also

Rosanne Walker; Ken McInnes

Created: 30 June 1997, Last modified: 27 August 2025

EOAS ID: biogs/P002327b.htm

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