P000723 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; Ken McInnes updated 2026-04-23 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000723b.htm person Priestley Charles Henry Brian FAA FRS AACR2 Priestley, Bill 8 July 1915 18 May 1998 Place of Birth Highgate, England Meteorologist Bill Priestley was Chief of the Division of Meteorological Physics, CSIRO, 1946-1973. He played a central role in the development of atmospheric science in Australia. As Chief he established a research group in meteorological physics which earned international recognition for its work particularly in turbulent transfer in the lower atmosphere. Priestley's research focused on large-scale atmospheric systems, including significant work on global-scale transport and small-scale atmospheric convection and heat transfer. Between 1963 and 1977 Priestley played a key role in the World Meteorological Organisation and the Global Atmospheric Research Program. The Priestley Medal, named in his honour, has been awarded biennially since 1983 by the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society for excellence in meteorological research. His name is also given to two scientific constants or laws: the Priestley constant in free convection and the Priestley-Taylor ratio for evaporation in well-watered landscapes. 1937 1937 Education - Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Cambridge 1939 1944 Career position - Technical Officer (later Meteorologist), Meteorological Office, United Kingdom 1942 1978 Award - Fellow, Royal Meteorological Society, United Kingdom 1944 1946 Career position - Senior Meteorologist (later Head of Synoptics Section), Meteorological Office, United Kingdom 1946 1946 Life event - Migrated to Australia 1946 1973 Career position - Chief, Division of Meteorological Physics, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia 1949 1949 Award - Buchan Prize, Royal Meteorological Society, United Kingdom 1949 1975 Career position - Chairman, National Committee on Meteorology 1954 1970 Career position - Member, Executive Committee, International Meteorological Association 1954 1988 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 1956 1956 Award - David Syme Research Prize, University of Melbourne 1957 1958 Career position - Vice-President, Royal Meteorological Society, United Kingdom 1964 1969 Career position - Member, Advisory Committee, World Meteorological Organisation 1967 1967 Award - Symons Gold Medal, Royal Meteorological Society, United Kingdom 1967 1975 Career position - Vice-President, International Meteorological Association 1967 1988 Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS) 1968 1968 Career position - Chairman, World Meteorological Association 1973 1973 Award - IMO Prize, World Meteorological Organisation 1973 1977 Career event - Part-time Professor, Department of Mathematics, Monash University, Australia 1973 1977 Career Position - Chairman, Environmental Physics Laboratories, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia 1974 1974 Award - Rossby Medal, American Meteorological Society, United States of America 1976 1976 Award - Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science 1976 1976 Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) 1982 1985 Career position - Chairman (part-time), Latrobe Valley Airshed Study 1982 1998 Award - Honorary Fellow, Australian Institute of Physics 1987 1998 Award - Life Fellow, Royal Meteorological Society, United Kingdom 1988 1998 Award - Honorary Member, Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science (1957 - )

Awarded the Medal 1976

 Monash University (1958 - )

Professor (part-time), Department of Mathematics 1973 - 1977

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 1954 - 1998

 CSIRO Division of Meteorological Physics, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1954 - 1971)

Chief 19 October 1954 - 7 July 1971

 Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (AMOS) (1987 - )

Honorary Member 1988 - 1998

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

Awarded the Prize 1956

 Priestley Medal, Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (1983 - )

The Medal has been awarded since 1983 by the Royal Meteorological Society Australian Branch and its successor, the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society

 Australian Institute of Physics (1963 - )

Honorary Fellow 1982 - 1998

 CSIR/O Meteorological Physics Research Section, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1946 - 1954)

Officer-inCharge 23 September 1946 - 18 October 1954

Wikidata

 Priestley, Charles Henry Brian (1915-1998)

Trove

 'Priestley, Charles Henry Brian (Bill)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Priestley, Charles Henry Brian (Bill) Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation 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: Winds of Change: Fifty Years of Achievements in the CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research 1946-1996 Garratt, John; Angus, David; and Holper, Paul Winds of Change: Fifty Years of Achievements in the CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research 1946-1996 Melbourne CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research 1998 Journal Article: Interview with Bill Priestley Morton, B Interview with Bill Priestley 1998 Bulletin of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society II 83-94 Journal Article: William Christopher Swinbank Priestley, C. H. B. William Christopher Swinbank 1975 Records of the Australian Academy of Science 3 1 76-92 Journal Article: The Global Atmosphere: a memorial to H. C. Russell Priestley, C. H. B. The Global Atmosphere: a memorial to H. C. Russell 1971 Search 2 8 Journal Article: Reminiscences of 30 years of meteorological research in Australia Priestley, C. H. B. Reminiscences of 30 years of meteorological research in Australia 1982 Australian Meteorological Magazine 30 19-30 Resource: Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture Australian Academy of Science Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture Australian Academy of Science 2025 Journal Article: Obituary: Charles Henry Brian Priestley Webb, E. K.; and Garratt, J. R. Obituary: Charles Henry Brian Priestley 1999 Quarterly journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 125 559A 2791-2 Journal Article: Obituary: C. H. B (Bill) Priestley Gibbs, W. J. Obituary: C. H. B (Bill) Priestley 1998 Australian meteorological magazine 47 179-81 Journal Article: Charles H. B. Priestley Garratt, J. R. Charles H. B. Priestley 1999 Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 80 2 314, 316 Journal Article: C. H. B. (Bill) Priestley Garratt, J. R.; Manins, P. C.; and Webb, E. K. C. H. B. (Bill) Priestley 1998 Clean air 32 3 9-10 Journal Article: Obituary: C. H. B. (Bill) Priestley Garratt, J. R. Obituary: C. H. B. (Bill) Priestley 1998 Bulletin of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society 11 4 95-6 Journal Article: Charles Henry Brian Priestley. 8 July 1915 - 18 May 1998 Garratt, J. R.; Webb, E. K.; and Mccarthy, S. Charles Henry Brian Priestley. 8 July 1915 - 18 May 1998 2011 Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 57 349-78 Journal Article: Charles Henry Brian Priestley 1915-1998 Garratt, J. R.; Webb, E. K.; and Mccarthy, S. Charles Henry Brian Priestley 1915-1998 2011 Historical Records of Australian Science 22 1 126-51 Resource: Federation and Meteorology Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre Federation and Meteorology 2001