Sheridan, Norman Rouden (1924 - 2008)

Summary

Norman Sheridan, BE MSc PhD AMIMechE FIEAust, was an Australian solar energy pioneer. He joined the University of Queensland staff in 1948, retiring as Reader in Mechanical Engineering, 42 year later. He committed his life to mechanical and electrical engineering education, particularly specialising in thermodynamics, solar energy and other renewable energies.

His pioneering solar energy research focussed on the utilisation and application of solar energy to air-conditioning, and he contributed significantly to the work of many national and international engineering organisations.

The Norman Sheridan Memorial Prizes, awarded by the University of Queensland, were established in 2013 in his memory.

Details

Chronology

1945

Education - Diploma of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (Dip(M&E.Eng)), Central Technical College, Brisbane

c. 1948

Education - Bachelor of Engineering (BE(Mech)), University of Queensland

1948 - c. 1958

Career position - Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering, University of Queensland

1955

Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Birmingham

1957

Career event - Associate Member (AMIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia

c. 1959 -

Career position - Senior Lecturer, Thermodynamics, University of Queensland

c. 1960

Career event - Associate Member (AMIMechE), Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London

1963

Career position - Visiting Associate Professor, University of California, Los Angeles

1965

Award - The Institution Award, Institution of Engineers Australia

1968

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Queensland

13 Sep 1968

Career event - Member (MIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia [Former Associate Members were designated Members on this date.]

1969 -

Career position - Vice-Chairman, Queensland Division, Institution of Engineers, Australia

c. 1971 -

Career position - Reader in Mechanical Engineering, University of Queensland

1975 -

Career position - Founding Chairman, College of Mechanical Engineers, Institution of Engineers Australia

c. 1990

Life event - Retired

2008

Buried - Brookfield Cemetery and Memorial Garden, Queensland

Related entries

Published resources

Conference Papers

• Ahmad, I.; Sheridan, N. R., 'Coincident weather data for simulation studies of thermal models', in Thermofluids Conference 1974 (Sydney: Institution of Engineers Australia, 1974), pp. 49-52., https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.711741643333889. Details
• Sheridan, N., 'Address', in Proceedings of the UNESCO, ADAB, FEISEAP, IEA SERIWA Workshop on remote area power supply systems (Perth: Solar Energy Research Institute of Western Australia, 1983), p. 15.. Details
• Sheridan, N. R., 'Lithium Bromide-water refrigerator cycle analysis with implications for solar operation', in Thermofluids Conference 1974 (Sydney: Institution of Engineers Australia, 1974), pp. 66-70., https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.711946606017729. Details
• Sheridan, N. R., 'Initiatives in energy conversion for buildings - solar energy, total energy and heat pumps', in National Symposium on Innovations and Incentives for Energy Conservation in Buildings, Sydney 8-9 Nov 1978 (Sydney: 1978), pp. 60-65.. Details
• Sheridan, N. R., 'Some aspects of Australian participation in regional technology for development programmes', in Technology for Developing Third World Countries 1988: Preprints of Papers (Institution of Engineers Australia, 1988), pp. 44-48., https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.542363822807572. Details
• Sheridan, Norman, 'Renewable Energy in the Sunshine State', in Engineering Heritage Matters: Conference Papers of the 12th National Conference on Engineering Heritage, Toowoomba, 29 September to 1 October 2003 edited by Sheridan, Norman (Barton, Australian Capital Territory: Engineers Australia, 2003), pp. 164-169., https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.339171271236901. Details

Conference Proceedings

• Engineering Heritage Matters: Conference Papers of the 12th National Conference on Engineering Heritage, Toowoomba, 29 Sept to 1 Oct 2003 edited by Sheridan, Norman (Barton, Australian Capital Territory: Engineers Australia, 2003), 183 pp, https://search.informit.org/doi/book/10.3316/informit.064642775X. Details

Journal Articles

• 'The Institution Award - 1965 Awards', Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, 39 (1-2) (1967), N21. The Institution Awards (1965) - to Mr N R Sheridan, MSc BE AMIEAust, for the paper "Lithium bromide-water refrigerators for solar operation", Mechanical & Chemical Engineering Transactions, May 1965 - with co-author Professor J A Duffie, PhD, University of Wisconsin, USA. Details
• 'Institution news and notes: College Boards are off to a flying start', Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, 47 (5-6) (1975), 27-29. Inaugural Chairman, College of Mechanical Engineers. Details
• Duffie, J. A.; Sheridan, N. R., 'Lithium bromide-water refrigerators for solar operations', Mechanical and Chemical Engineering Transactions, MC1 (1965), 79-. Details
• Sheridan, N. R., 'Solar air-conditioning', Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, 33 (1-2) (1961), 47-52. Details
• Sheridan, N. R.; Bullock, K. J.; Duffie, J. A., 'Study of solar processes by analog computer', Solar Energy, 11 (2) (1967), 69-77, https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(67)90043-6. Details
• Sheridan, Norman R., 'Prospects for solar energy in Northern Australia', Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, 43 (9) (1971), 11-15. Details
• Sheridan, Norman R., 'The work environment', Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, 44 (10-11) (1972), 15, 18. Details

Resources

• CA 2002, 2 Echelon, Army Headquarters; CA 46, Department of Defence [III], Central Office, 'NAA: B884, Q200731', B884 Citizen Military Forces Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947, National Archives of Australia, RecordSearch, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4857963. Details

Theses

• Sheridan, Norman Rouden, 'On solar operation of absorption air conditioners', PhD thesis, University of Queensland, School of Engineering, 1968, https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:e5202aa. Details