P000673 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 2026-02-19 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000673b.htm person Nicholson Alexander John CBE FAA FRES AACR2 Nicholson, John 25 March 1895 28 October 1969 Place of Birth Blackhall, County Meath, Ireland Place of Death Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Entomologist Science administrator Alexander Nicholson was one of Australia's top Entomologists and greatly increased the knowledge and study of Zoology and Entomology in Australia. His longest serving position was as Chief of the Division of Economic Entomology at CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research)/CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) from 1936 to 1960. During this time Nicholson improved the Division's reputation and research scope to include biological control, taxonomy, ecology, physiology, biochemistry and toxicology. Nicholson's main area of expertise was in insect population dynamics and biology, but he was also a fine designer of scientific equipment and a fastidious organiser. He was a member and office bearer of many of Australia's and Britain's top scientific bodies and published widely. He received many accolades for his tireless work including an appointment to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). 1915 1915 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Birmingham, UK 1915 c. 1919 Military service - First World War. Service with the Royal Regiment of Artillery in France and Belgium 1919 c. 1921 Career position - Researcher, University of Birmingham 1920 1920 Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Birmingham 1921 Career position - Inaugural McCaughey Lecturer in Entomology, University of Sydney October 1921 October 1921 Life event - Migrated to Australia (Sydney) 1922 1969 Career position - Member, Linnean Society of New South Wales 1926 1927 Career position - President, Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales 1927 1927 Career event - Elected Associate Member (Zoology), Australian National Research Council 1928 1930 Career position - Councillor, Linnean Society of New South Wales 1929 1929 Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Sydney 1930 1933 Career position - Deputy-Chief of the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) Division of Economic Entomology 1933 1933 Career position - 'The Balance of Animal Populations' published in the Journal of Animal Ecology 1933 1936 Career position - Acting-Chief of the CSIR Division of Economic Entomology 1935 Career position - Foundation Member, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 1936 1949 Career position - Chief of the CSIR Division of Economic Entomology 1947 1947 Career position - President, Section D, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science 1950 1951 Career position - President, Royal Society of Australia 1950 1960 Career position - Chief, CSIRO Division of Entomoogy 1953 1953 Award - Clarke Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales 1953 1953 Career event - Petitioner for the Australian Academy of Science 1954 1955 Career position - Biological Secretary, Australian Academy of Science 1954 1969 Award - Founding Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 1955 1957 Career position - Vice-President, Australian Academy of Science 1960 Career position - Foundation President, National Parks Association of the Australian Capital Territory 1960 1969 Career position - Senior Research Fellow, CSIRO Division of Entomology 1961 1961 Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) - Chief of the Entemology Division at the CSIRO 1961 1969 Award - Honorary Fellow, Royal Entomological Society of London (FRES) 1963 1969 Award - Honorary Member, British Ecological Society 1965 1969 Career position - Foundation Member, Australian Entomological Society Clarke Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales (1878 - )

Awarded the Medal 1953

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Petitioner for the Academy 1953, Founding Fellow 1954 - 1969; Foundation Secretary, Biological Sciences 1954 - 1955; Vice-President 1955 - 1957

 Australian Institute of Agricultural Science (1935 - 1996)

Foundation member 1935 -

 CSIR/O Division of Economic Entomology, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (1928 - 1949)

Chief of the Division 1936 - 1949

 Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) (1930 - )

President, Section D 1947

 Royal Society of Australia (1931 - 1955)

President 1950 - 1951

 Australian Entomological Society Inc (1965 - )

Foundation member 1965 - 1969

 Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales (1879 - )

President 1926 - 1927

 CSIRO Division of Entomology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1950 - )

Chief of the Division 1950 - 1960; Senior Research Fellow 1960 - 1969

 Australian National Research Council (ANRC) (1919 - 1955)

Associate Member (Zoology) 1927 -

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Nicholson, Alexander John (1895-1969)

Trove

 'Nicholson, Alexander John (John)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Nicholson, Alexander John (John) Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Journal Article: Scientific papers from the Division of Economic Entomology published elsewhere than in the Council's publications Tillyard, R.J. Scientific papers from the Division of Economic Entomology published elsewhere than in the Council's publications Melbourne Council for Scientific and Industrial Research 1932 Journal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Resource Section: Nicholson, Alexander John - Ms 130 Nicholson, Alexander John - Ms 130 Australian Academy of Science 1994 Listing of Adolph Basser Library holdings 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 Journal Article: Alexander John Nicholson Mackerras, I. M. Alexander John Nicholson 1971 Records of the Australian Academy of Science 2 1 66-81 Book Section: Nicholson, Alexander John (1895-1969), entomologist Waterhouse, D.F. Nicholson, Alexander John (1895-1969), entomologist Melbourne Melbourne University Press 2000 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 15: 1940 - 1980 Kem-Pie John Ritchie 473-474 Book: Bibliography of Australian entomology, 1775-1930: with biographical notes on authors and collectors Musgrave, A. Bibliography of Australian entomology, 1775-1930: with biographical notes on authors and collectors Sydney Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales 1932 Journal Article: Environment, Economy and Australian Biology 1890-1939 Schedvin, C. B. Environment, Economy and Australian Biology 1890-1939 1984 Historical Studies 21 11-28 Journal Article: A new theory of mimicry in insects Nicholson, A. J. A new theory of mimicry in insects 1927 Australian zoologist 5 10-104 Journal Article: Obituary: A. L. Tonnoir Nicholson, A. J. Obituary: A. L. Tonnoir 1940 Australian Journal of Science 2 5 139-140 Journal Article: The balance of animal populations Nicholson, A. J. The balance of animal populations 1933 Journal of animal ecology 2 132-78 Journal Article: Gustavus Athol Waterhouse, 1877-1950 (Memorial series, no. 14) A. B. W. and A. J. Nicholson [ie Arthur B. Walkom and Alexander J. Nicholson] Gustavus Athol Waterhouse, 1877-1950 (Memorial series, no. 14) 1953 Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 78 5/6 269-275 Journal Article: Alexander John Nicholson (1895-1969) Mackerras, I. M. Alexander John Nicholson (1895-1969) 1969 Journal of the Entomological Society of Australia (N.S.W.) 6 57-60 Resource Section: Alexander John Nicholson Ward, C. Alexander John Nicholson Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 2011 CSIROpedia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Journal Article: Herbert George Andrewartha 1907-1992 Birch, L.C.; Browning, T. O. Herbert George Andrewartha 1907-1992 1993 Historical Records of Australian Science 9 3 258-268 Journal Article: Ian Murray Mackerras 1898-1980 Norris, K. R. Ian Murray Mackerras 1898-1980 1981 Historical Records of Australian Science 5 2 98-114 Book: The insect inhabitants of carrion : a study in animal ecology Fuller, M. E. The insect inhabitants of carrion : a study in animal ecology Melbourne H. J. Green for Council for Scientific and Industrial Research 1934 Resource: Nicholson, (Alexander) John (England-Australia 1895-1969) Smith, Charles H. Nicholson, (Alexander) John (England-Australia 1895-1969) Some Biogeographers, Evolutionists and Ecologists: Chrono-Biographical Sketches Alexander John Nicholson - Records Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science Alexander John Nicholson - Records MS 130 1927 - 1971 Correspondence with scientific colleagues 1927-37; research papers for DSc thesis on the natural regulation of numbers 1928-29: experimental records on the influence of temperature on the activity of sheep blowflies; material relating to an unpublished book on the theory of animal populations 1931; correspondence regarding Nicholson's memoirs 1970-71 [26 cm, MS 130]. 0.26 m Alexander John Nicholson Alexander John Nicholson All rights reserved.

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