P000889 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/P000889b.htm person White Frederick William George KBE FAA FRS AACR2 26 May 1905 17 August 1994 Place of Birth Wellington, New Zealand Place of Death Brighton, Victoria, Australia Physicist Science administrator Ornithologist Frederick White was a physicist who, after graduating from the Victoria Univsrsity College (Wellington, New Zealand) and the University of Cambridge, and teaching in Cambridge and New Zealand for 10 years, came to Australia during WWII. Initially he worked for CSIR on the development of radar. He had a distinguished career at the head of CSIR and CSIRO for over 25 years, retiring as Chairman in 1970. Highlights of this period include significant advances in wool textile research, radio astronomy, meteorology and atmospheric physics. White was involved in a broad range of scientific endeavours and organisations including ANZAAS, the introduction of he metric system to Papua New Guinea, university councils and the Radio Research Board. Elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 1960, he served as Vice-President, a member of the National Committee for Antarctic Research, and Chairman of the Editorial Boards of the Academy's journals. He donated money to the Academy for the Frederick White Prize (later Medal) and the Elizabeth and Frederick White Conferences. He was also an amateur ornithologist, who studied the songs of the male Olive Whistler in the Kosciusko National Park and other areas in eastern Australia using a sonograph, identifying some of the song functions, tracing the birds' seasonal migrations and finding evidence for song learning. 1931 1936 Career position - Lecturer in Physics, King's College, London 1937 1941 Career position - Professor of Physics, Canterbury University College, Christchurch, New Zealand 1941 1941 Career position - Acting Chairman, Radiophysics Advisory Board, CSIR 1941 1946 Career position - Chief, Division of Radiophysics, CSIR c. 1941 1947 Career position - Member of Council, Australian Council for Aeronautics 1946 1949 Career position - Member, CSIR Executive 1949 1956 Career position - Chief Executive, CSIRO Chief Executive, CSIRO Chief Executive, CSIRO 1954 1954 Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) - Chief Executive of the CSIRO 1956 1957 Career position - President, Australian Branch, Institute of Physics 1957 Career position - Chairman, Radio Research Board 1957 1959 Career position - Deputy Chairman, CSIRO 1959 Career position - Member, National Committee on Antarctic Research, Australian Academy of Science July 1959 May 1970 Career position - Chairman, CSIRO 1960 1979 Career position - Member of Council, Australian National University 1960 1994 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 1961 1967 Career position - Member of Council, Monash University 1961 1994 Award - Honorary Fellow, Royal Society of New Zealand 1962 1962 Award - Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) - Chairman of the CSIRO 1963 1964 Career position - President, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science 1966 1994 Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS) 1969 1969 Award - DSc honoris causa, Monash University 1969 1969 Award - DSc honoris causa, Aunstralian National University 1970 1970 Award - DSc honoris causa, University of Papua New Guinea 1970 1994 Award - Honorary Fellow, Australian Institute of Physics 1971 1975 Career position - Chairman, commission to introduce metric system to Papua New Guinea 1971 1980 Career position - Chairman, Editorial Board, Records of the Australian Academy of Science 1973 1994 Award - Honorary Member, Royal Society of New South Wales 1974 1974 Career position - Chairman, Pacific Science Congress on Metric Conversion 1974 1977 Career position - Member of Council, Australian Academy of Science 1975 1975 Award - ANZAAS Medal, Australian ans New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science 1976 1977 Career position - Vice-President, Australian Academy of Science 1980 1983 Career position - Editor, Historical Records of Australian science Monash University (1958 - )

Member of Council 1961 - 1967

 CSIR/O Meteorological Physics Research Section, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1946 - 1954) Advisory Council - CSIRO, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1950 - 1986)

Member CSIR Council 1946-1949; Member 1950-1969

 Frederick White Medal, Australian Academy of Science (1984 - )

The Australian Academy of Science has awarded the Medal since 1984

 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Commonwealth of Australia (1949 - )

Chief Executive Officer 1949 - 1957; Chairman 1959 - 1970

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

Chief 1941 - 1946

 Radio Research Board (1927 - 1985)

Chairman 1957 - ?

 Australian Institute of Physics (1963 - )

Honorary Fellow 1970 - 1994

 CSIR Executive Committee, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (1926 - 1949)

Member 1 January 1946 - 18 May 1949; continued on CSIRO Executive to 30 June 1959

 Australian National University (1946 - )

Member of Council 1960 - 1979

 Australian Council for Aeronautics (1941 - 1947)

Member of Council to 1947

 ANZAAS Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (1965 - )

Awarded the Medal 1975

 Electrical Research Board (1944 - ?)

Foundation Member 1944 -

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 1960 - 1994; Vice-President 1976 - 1977; Member, National Committee on Antarctic Research 1959 - ?

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

President 1963 - 1964; Chairman 1970 - 1973

 Historical Records of Australian Science (1980 - )

Chair, Editorial Board 1980 - 1983

 Records of the Australian Academy of Science (1966 - 1980)

Chairman, Editorial Board 1971 - 1980

 Australian Branch, Institute of Physics (1928 - 1962)

President 1956 - 1957

 Royal Society of New South Wales (1866 - )

Honorary Member 1973 - 1994

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 White, Frederick (19050526-19940817)

Trove

 'White, Frederick William George', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology White, Frederick William George 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: 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 Resource Section: White, Frederick William George - Ms 111 White, Frederick William George - Ms 111 Australian Academy of Science 1994 Listing of Adolph Basser Library holdings Journal Article: Frederick William George White 1905-1994 Minnett, H. C.; and Robertson, Rutherford Sir Frederick William George White 1905-1994 1996 Historical Records of Australian Science 11 2 239-258 Resource Section: White, Frederick William George White, Frederick William George Australian Science Archives Project 1995 Physics in Australia to 1945 R.W. Home, with the assistance of Paula J. Needham Resource Section: Sir Frederick William George White Ward, C. Sir Frederick William George White Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 2011 CSIROpedia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Journal Article: James Cook and the Measurement of Longitude White, Sir Frederick James Cook and the Measurement of Longitude 1969 Navigation 3 2 179-183 Journal Article: CSIR to CSIRO - the events of 1948-1949 White, Frederick CSIR to CSIRO - the events of 1948-1949 1975 Public Administration 34 4 281-93 Journal Article: Robert Gordon Menzies (1894-1978) White, F. W.G. Robert Gordon Menzies (1894-1978) 1980 Historical Records of Australian Science 5 1 68-102 Journal Article: Radio Research Australia, 1927-39 White, F. W. G.; and Huxley, L. G. H. Radio Research Australia, 1927-39 1975 Records of the Australian Academy of Science 3 1 7-29 Journal Article: Casey of Berwick and Westminster, Baron Richard Gardiner Casey, KG, PC, GCMG, CH, DSO, MC, KStJ, FAA, MA(Cantab.) White, F. W. G. Casey of Berwick and Westminster, Baron Richard Gardiner Casey, KG, PC, GCMG, CH, DSO, MC, KStJ, FAA, MA(Cantab.) 1977 Records of the Australian Academy of Science 3 4 54-83 Journal Article: A personal account of the historical development of CSIRO White, F. W. G. A personal account of the historical development of CSIRO 1976 Nature 261 633-6 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 Journal Article: Robert Gordon Menzies, 20 December 1894 - 15 May 1978 White, Frederick William George Robert Gordon Menzies, 20 December 1894 - 15 May 1978 1979 Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 25 445-76 Journal Article: John Percival Vissing Madsen White, F. W. G. John Percival Vissing Madsen 1971 Records of the Australian Academy of Science 2 1 51-65 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: 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: Frederick White Medal Australian Academy of Science Frederick White Medal Canberra Australian Academy of Science 2022 Journal Article: Sir Frederick William George White, C.B.E., 26 May 1905 - 17 Aug 1994 Minnett, H. C.; and Robertson, Rutherford Ness Sir Frederick William George White, C.B.E., 26 May 1905 - 17 Aug 1994 1996 Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 42 497-521 Book: Engineering a Legacy: Memories of the journey of CSIRO Chemical Engineering Beale, Bob Engineering a Legacy: Memories of the journey of CSIRO Chemical Engineering Clayton, Victoria CSIRO Minerals 2005 Journal Article: Oliphant, the Father of Atomic Energy Binnie, Anna Oliphant, the Father of Atomic Energy Royal Society of New South Wales 2006 Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 139 11-22 Journal Article: A Short History of the Australian Institute of Physics, Part 2: from the Formation of the Australian Branch of the Institute of Physics to the Establishment of the Australian Institute of Physics Binnie, Anna A Short History of the Australian Institute of Physics, Part 2: from the Formation of the Australian Branch of the Institute of Physics to the Establishment of the Australian Institute of Physics November/December Australian Institute of Physics 2007 Australian Physics 44 4 128-137 Resource: Federation and Meteorology Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre Federation and Meteorology 2001 Book: The Flight of the Emu: a Hundred Years of Australian Ornithology 1901-2001 Robin, Libby The Flight of the Emu: a Hundred Years of Australian Ornithology 1901-2001 Melbourne Melbourne University Press 2001 Journal Article: Walter Victor Macfarlane 1913-82 McIntyre, A. K. Walter Victor Macfarlane 1913-82 1985 Historical Records of Australian Science 6 2 247-265 Journal Article: Ian William Wark 1899-1985 Rees, A. L. G. Ian William Wark 1899-1985 1987 Historical Records of Australian Science 6 4 533-548 Journal Article: Albert Lloyd George Rees 1916-1989 Walsh, A.; and Willis, J. B. Albert Lloyd George Rees 1916-1989 1992 Historical Records of Australian Science 9 1 31-47 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 Audio of interview with Sir Fredrick White Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, University of Melbourne Audio of interview with Sir Fredrick White P000889 12 August 1986 Interview conducted by R. W. Home 1 Tape Audio Frederick William George White - Records National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection Frederick William George White - Records MS 2384 1769 - 1969 Photocopy of a form filled in by Captain Cook regarding his observations for 12 March 1769 with a letter from White to J.C. Beaglehole of 29 January 1969 which includes the calculations for 12 March 1769 reworked by White [4 pages, MS 2384]. 4 pages Frederick William George White - Records Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science Frederick William George White - Records MS 111 1931 - 1993 Material relating to metric conversion; personal and biographical material, 1936-1993, including PhD thesis 'Some studies of the propagation of wireless waves, c.1931; CSIRO and radar material, 1926-1989; science related cassette tapes, including recordings of M. Oliphant, R. Hanbury Brown, R. G. Menzies and O. H. Frankel; science related activities and correspondence, including correspondence with C.H.B. Priestley and V.D. Burgmann 1977-1978; material relating to E. G. Bowen and memoir of Bowen published in Historical Records of Australian Science 9(2); Royal Society; Australian Academy of Science; Joint Academies Committee for the Projection of Prehistorical Places, 1979-1987; post-retirements committees; birdsong notebooks; publications by White on birds; degree and award certificates; correspondence and other papers; obituaries; Harry Minnett's memoir files. 2.23 m, 13 boxes Frederick William George White Frederick William George White All rights reserved.

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