P000309 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

These key entries are listed separately below with other indexes and lists.

 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human Gavan McCarthy; Ken McInnes updated 2026-05-14 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000309b.htm person Christiansen Wilbur Norman FAA HonFIEAust AACR2 Christiansen, Chris 9 August 1913 26 April 2007 Place of Birth Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Place of Death Dorrigo, New South Wales, Australia Electrical engineer Radio astronomer Chris Christiansen was Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of Sydney 1960-1978, and published in the fields of radioastronomy and radiotelescope design. 1934 1934 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Melbourne 1935 1935 Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Melbourne 1935 1937 Career position - Physicist, Commonwealth X-ray and Radium Laboratory 1937 1948 Career position - Research Engineer, Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd (AWA) 1948 1960 Career position - Senior Research Officer to Senior Principal Research Officer, Division of Radiophysics, CSIRO 1953 1953 Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Melbourne 1959 1959 Award - David Syme Research Prize (jointly), University of Melbourne 1959 2007 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 1960 1978 Career position - Professor and Head, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Sydney 1962 1968 Career event - Member (MIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 13 Sep 1968 13 Sep 1968 Career event - Fellow (FIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia [Former Members were designated Fellows on this date.] 1970 1970 Award - Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal - Career Achievement Award in Engineering. Institution of Engineers Australia 1977 1978 Career position - President, Astronomical Society of Australia 1978 1981 Career position - President, International Union of Radio Science 1979 1983 Career position - Visiting Fellow, Mt Stromlo Observatory 1981 1981 Award - Honorary Fellow (HonFIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 1983 1983 Award - Doctor of Engineering (DEng), honoris causa, University of Melbourne 1989 2007 Award - Honorary Fellow, Astronomical Society of Australia Jenvey, William Walter (1904 - 1981)

To provide improved overseas communications, William Jenvey and Dr. Wilbur Christiansen at AWA Laboratories, pioneered the design of advanced antenna systems, using rhombics in a circular pattern. These state-of-the-art antennae, characterised by high directive and gain and moderate band-width, provided maximum flexibility in geographic and frequency coverage, and represented a considerable overall improvement over the Franklin antennas then in use.

 Institution of Engineers, Australia (1919 - )

Elected Honorary Fellow 1981

 Astronomical Society of Australia (1966 - )

President 1977 - 1978; Honorary Fellow 1989 - 2007

 Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories, Australian National University (c. 1967 - )

Visiting Fellow, Mount Stromlo Observatory, 1979 - 1983.

 Department of Electrical Engineering, The University of Sydney

Professor and Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, 1960 to 1978.

 Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd (AWA) (1913 - 1988)

Research Engineer 1937 - 1948.

 Commonwealth X-ray and Radium Laboratory (1935 - 1972)

Physicist, 1935 - 1937.

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 1959 - 2007

 CSIR/O Division of Radiophysics, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1940 - 1996)

Senior Research Officer then Senior Principal Research Officer 1948 - 1960

 Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal, Institution of Engineers, Australia (1922 - )

Awarded the Medal 1970.

 David Syme Research Prize, The University of Melbourne (1904 - )

Awarded the Prize (jointly) 1959

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Christiansen, W N (1913-)

Trove

 'Christiansen, Wilbur Norman (Chris)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Christiansen, Wilbur Norman (Chris) Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource Section: Wilbur Norman (Chris) Christiansen [1913-2007] Ward, C. Wilbur Norman (Chris) Christiansen [1913-2007] Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 2011 CSIROpedia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Journal Article: The Genesis of Solar Radio Astronomy in Australia Orchiston, Wayne, Slee, Bruce and Burman, Ron The Genesis of Solar Radio Astronomy in Australia 2006 Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage 9 1 35-56 Resource Section: Christiansen, Wilbur Norman Christiansen, Wilbur Norman Australian Science Archives Project 1995 Physics in Australia to 1945 R.W. Home, with the assistance of Paula J. Needham Resource: Honorary degree holders University of Melbourne Honorary degree holders University of Melbourne 2023 Report: Fifty-first Annual Report [1970] Institution of Engineers Australia Fifty-first Annual Report [1970] 1971 Journal Article: Two new Honorary Fellows elected [Sir Bernard Callinan, Prof W.N Christiansen] Anon Two new Honorary Fellows elected [Sir Bernard Callinan, Prof W.N Christiansen] 1981 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 53 13 56 Report: Annual Report 1981 [Sixty-second Annual Report] Institution of Engineers Australia Annual Report 1981 [Sixty-second Annual Report] 1982 Newspaper Article: Always an eye on the stars - Chris Christiansen 1913-2007 Macey, R. Always an eye on the stars - Chris Christiansen 1913-2007 2007 Sydney Morning Herald Book Section: The first decade of solar radio astronomy in Australia Christiansen, W. N. The first decade of solar 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. 113-31 Book Section: The first decade of radio astronomy in Australia Christiansen, W. N. The first decade of radio astronomy in Australia 1984 The early years of radio astronomy: reflections fifty years after Jansky's discovery Sullivan, W. T. 113-132 Journal Article: History and Propaganda in Astronomy Christiansen, W.N. History and Propaganda in Astronomy 1989 Proceedings of the Astronomical Society of Australia 8 1 96-101 Journal Article: Joseph Lade Pawsey Christiansen, W. N.; and Mills, B. Y. Joseph Lade Pawsey 1964 Yearbook of the Australian Academy of Science 33-40 Journal Article: The new Fleurs radiotelescope Christiansen, W. N. The new Fleurs radiotelescope 1972 Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia 2 3 132-4 Journal Article: Biographical Memoirs [Joseph Lade Pawsey, including publications] Christiansen, W. N.; Mills, B.Y. Biographical Memoirs [Joseph Lade Pawsey, including publications] 1964 Australian Physicist 1 9 137-141 Journal Article: The contribution of the Georges Heights experimental radar antenna to Australian radio astronomy Orchiston, Wayne; and Wendt, Harry The contribution of the Georges Heights experimental radar antenna to Australian radio astronomy 2017 Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage 20 3 313-40 Book: Four pillars of radio astronomy: Mills, Christiansen, Wild and Bracewell Frater, Robert H.; Goss, Miller; and Wendt, Harry Four pillars of radio astronomy: Mills, Christiansen, Wild and Bracewell Cham, Switzerland Springer International Publishing 2017 Journal Article: Former Institution president retires [Prof John Roderick. Also retiring is Prof. W. M. Christiansen] Former Institution president retires [Prof John Roderick. Also retiring is Prof. W. M. Christiansen] 1979 Engineers Australia 51 1 5 Journal Article: W. N. Christiansen and the Development of the Solar Grating Array Wendt, Harry, Orchiston, Wayne and Slee, Bruce W. N. Christiansen and the Development of the Solar Grating Array 2008 Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage 11 3 173-84 Resource Section: Interview with Professor Chris Christiansen (1913-2007), physicist and engineer Crompton, Bob Interview with Professor Chris Christiansen (1913-2007), physicist and engineer Australian Academy of Science 2002 Interviews with Australian scientists Journal Article: Chris Christiansen and the Criss Cross Orchiston, Wayne and Matthewson, Don Chris Christiansen and the Criss Cross 2009 Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage 12 1 11-32 Journal Article: An omission in radio astronomy histories Christiansen, W. N. An omission in radio astronomy histories 1989 Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society 30 357-8 Journal Article: W. N. Christiansen and the Initial Australian Investigation of the 21cm Hydrogen Line Wendt, Harry, Orchiston, Wayne and Slee, Bruce W. N. Christiansen and the Initial Australian Investigation of the 21cm Hydrogen Line 2008 Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage 11 3 185-93 Book Section: An overview of W.N. Christiansen's contribution to Australian radio astronomy, 1948-1960 Wendt, Harry, Orchiston, Wayne and Slee, Bruce An overview of W.N. Christiansen's contribution to Australian radio astronomy, 1948-1960 New York Springer 2011 Highlighting the history of astronomy in the Asia-Pacific Region: proceedings of the ICOA-6 conference. Astrophysics and space science proceedings Orchiston, Wayne, Nakamura, Tsuko and Strom, Richard G. 547-87 Journal Article: Wilbur Norman Christiansen 1913-2007 Frater, R. H.; and Goss, W. M. Wilbur Norman Christiansen 1913-2007 2011 Historical Records of Australian Science 22 2 215-28 Book: Australian Astronomers: Achievements at the Frontiers of Astronomy Bhathal, Ragbir Australian Astronomers: Achievements at the Frontiers of Astronomy Canberra National Library of Australia 1996 Journal Article: Australian Astronomers: What Made Them Great? Bhathal, Ragbir Australian Astronomers: What Made Them Great? 2007 News and Reviews in Astronomy and Geophysics 48 533-6 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 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 Journal Article: Australian contribution to the science of radioastronomy Mills, B. Y. Australian contribution to the science of radioastronomy 1988 Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Australia 8 1 12-23 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 Wilbur Norman Christiansen - Records University of Sydney, Archives Wilbur Norman Christiansen - Records P 118 1947 - 1981 Research correspondence 1962-77 (8 cm); research scripts and publications 1947-78 (8 cm); research working papers 1959-c1966 (5 cm); copies of research printed press reports 1964-78 (1 cm); manuscripts of teaching lecture notes 1973-78 (1.5 cm); correspondence regarding university organisations including the Professors Association Superannuation Subcommittee 1971-78 (1 cm); correspondence with the Australian National Committee for Radio Science 1949-78 (8 cm); correspondence and related documents regarding the International Astronomical Union and other groups 1959-78 (8 cm); autobiographical data n.d. (1 cm); personal correspondence 1962-78 (2 cm) [60 cm, P 118]. 0.6 m Wilbur Norman Christiansen - Records Private hands (Christiansen, W.N.) Wilbur Norman Christiansen - Records 1950 - 1978 Correspondence 1960-78; drafts of his book "Radiotelescopes" 1969-85 (2 volumes); newspaper cuttings 1950-1978 (1 volume); photographs 1950-78 (c100 items). 0.25 m