P000248 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn updated 2026-03-20 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000248b.htm person Bowen Edward George CBE FAA FRS AACR2 14 January 1911 12 August 1991 Place of Birth Swansea, Wales Place of Death Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Radiophysicist Science administrator Edward Bowen was a physicist who played a leading role in the development of radar, radio astronomy and navigation, and experimental cloud physics. His early career focused on research on ground-based and airborne radar as a member of the U.K. radar development team from 1935 to 1943. During WWI he was a member of the Tizard Mission to the U.S.A., during which he was involved in innovative work on microwave radar. In 1943 Bowen was invited to become Chief of the CSIR(O) Division of Radiophysics, which position he held until retiring in 1971. Among the research he conducted in Australia included work on the pulse method of acceleration of elementary particles, and on air navigation, which resulting in Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) ultimately adopted by many civilian aircraft. Bowen also instigated research into cloud physics and rain-making experiments, studies which he continued in retirement. One of his greatest achievements was the establishment of the Parkes Radio telescope. In addition he was involved in the Anglo-Australian Telescope as Chairman of the Committees which oversaw its construction. 1930 1930 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Wales, United Kingdom 1931 1931 Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Wales, United Kingdom 1934 1934 Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), King's College, London 1935 1935 Career position - Member, UK radar development team 1936 1940 Career position - Physicist, Air Ministry Research Station, Bawdsey, England 1940 1942 Career position - Physicist, British Air Commission, Washington D.C., U.S.A. 1941 1941 Award - Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) 1943 1943 Career position - Research physicist, MIT Radiation Laboratory, U.S.A. 1944 1946 Career position - Physicist, CSIRO Division of Radiophysics 1946 1971 Career position - Chief, CSIRO Division of Radiophysics 1947 1947 Award - Medal of Freedom, United States of America 1949 1949 Career position - Fellow and first President, Australian Institute of Navigation 1950 1950 Award - Thurlow Award, American Institute of Navigation 1957 1957 Award - DSc honoris causa, University of Sydney 1957 1957 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 1962 1962 Career position - Vice-President, Australian Academy of Science 1962 1962 Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) 5 October 1962 5 October 1962 Lecture - Presented lecture 'Studying the universe by radio astronomy' at "Horizons in science" conference, Melbourne 1967 1971 Career position - Chairman, Joint Policy Committee of the Anglo-Australian Telescope 1971 1973 Career position - Chairman, Anglo-Australian Telescope Board 1973 1976 Career position - Scientific Liaison Office, Washington D.C., U.S.A. 1975 1975 Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS) CSIR/O Division of Radiophysics, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1940 - 1996)

Chief 1946 - 1971

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 1957 - 1991

 Horizons in Science, Professional Officers Association (1962)

Presented lecture 'Studying the universe by radio astronomy'

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Bowen, Edward George (19110114-19910812)

Trove

 'Bowen, Edward George', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Bowen, Edward George Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource Section: Bowen, Edward George Bowen, Edward George Australian Science Archives Project 1995 Physics in Australia to 1945 R.W. Home, with the assistance of Paula J. Needham Book: A Textbook of Radar The Radiophysics Laboratory Council for Scientific and Industrial Research A Textbook of Radar Sydney; London Angus & Robertson 1947 Book Section: Edward George Bowen, 1911-1991 Minnett, H. C. Edward George Bowen, 1911-1991 Oxford Oxford University Press 2004 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Journal Article: Edward George Bowen 1911-1991 Brown, R. Hanbury; Minnett, Harry C; White, Fredrick W. G. Edward George Bowen 1911-1991 1992 Historical Records of Australian Science 9 2 151-166 Book: Surprise and Enterprise: Fifty Years of Science for Australia: CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia) McKay, Andrew Surprise and Enterprise: Fifty Years of Science for Australia: CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia) Melbourne CSIRO 1976 Book: CSIRO research for Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization CSIRO CSIRO research for Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Canberra Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation 1962 Book: The plastic banknote: from concept to reality Solomon, David; Spurling, Tom The plastic banknote: from concept to reality Collingwood, Vic. CSIRO Publishing 2014 Book Section: The origins of radio astronomy in Australia Bowen, E. G. The origins of radio astronomy in Australia Cambridge, New York Cambridge University Press 1984 The early years of radio astronomy: reflections fifty years after Jansky's discovery Sullivan, W. T. 85-112 Journal Article: From wartime radar to postwar radio astronomy in Australia Bowen, E. G. From wartime radar to postwar radio astronomy in Australia Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Australia 8 1 1-11 Book: Radar Days Bowen, Edward George Radar Days Bristol Adam Hilger 1987 Edited Book: A textbook of radar: a collective work Bowen, Edward George A textbook of radar: a collective work London Cambridge University Press 1954 Journal Article: The Prehistory of the Parkes 64-m telescope Bowen, E. G. The Prehistory of the Parkes 64-m telescope 1981 Proceedings of the Astronomical Society of Australia 4 2 267-273 Journal Article: Edward George Bowen, 14 January 1911 - 12 August 1991 Brown, Robert Hanbury; Minnett, H. C.; and White, Frederick William George Edward George Bowen, 14 January 1911 - 12 August 1991 1992 Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 38 41-65 Book: Joe Pawsey and the founding of Australian radio astronomy: early discoveries, from the sun to the cosmos Goss, W. M.; Hooker, Claire; and Ekers, Ronald D. Joe Pawsey and the founding of Australian radio astronomy: early discoveries, from the sun to the cosmos Cham, Switzerland Springer 2023 Resource Section: Edward George (Taffy) Bowen [1911-1991] Ward, C. Edward George (Taffy) Bowen [1911-1991] Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 2011 CSIROpedia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Journal Article: Leonard George Holden Huxley 1902-1988 Crompton, R. W. Leonard George Holden Huxley 1902-1988 1991 Historical Records of Australian Science 8 4 249-264 Resource: Technology in Australia 1788-1988 Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Technology in Australia 1788-1988 Online Melbourne Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre 2000 Book: Dictionary of Australian Inventions and Discoveries McPhee, Margaret Dictionary of Australian Inventions and Discoveries St Leonards, NSW Allen & Unwin 1993 Book: Anglo-Australian Telescope Project: report, 1 September 1967-30 June 1970 Anglo-Australian Telescope Board. Joint Policy Committee Anglo-Australian Telescope Project: report, 1 September 1967-30 June 1970 Canberra Anglo-Australian Telescope Board 1971 Journal Article: John Conrad Jaeger 1907-1979 Paterson, M. S. John Conrad Jaeger 1907-1979 1982 Historical Records of Australian Science 5 3 64-88 Edited Book: Wonders never cease: 100 Australian engineering achievements Engineers Australia Wonders never cease: 100 Australian engineering achievements Barton, Australian Capital Territory Institution of Engineers, Australia 2019 Book: Weather watchers: 100 years of the Bureau of Meteorology Day, David Weather watchers: 100 years of the Bureau of Meteorology Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 2007 Book: Beyond Southern Skies: Radio Astronomy and the Parkes Telescope Robertson, Peter Beyond Southern Skies: Radio Astronomy and the Parkes Telescope Melbourne Cambridge University Press 1992 Resource: Federation and Meteorology Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre Federation and Meteorology 2001 Edward George Bowen - Records National Library of Australia Oral History Collection Edward George Bowen - Records DeB 609 1935 - 1972 Oral history recording with Hazel de Berg 26 June 1972, c20 minutes, 7 page transcript; includes references to working in England on the ground air warning system in 1935, installing the first sea search radar 1940, moving to Australia in 1944 to help with the radar effort, heading the Division of Radiophysics, CSIR/O, the various applications of radar techniques and his work in radioastronomy [DeB 609]. 1 reel Audio Edward George Bowen Edward George Bowen All rights reserved.

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