P000900 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn updated 2026-04-23 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000900b.htm person Wild John Paul AC CBE FAA FRS FTSE HonFIEAust AACR2 17 May 1923 10 May 2008 Place of Birth Sheffield, England Place of Death Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Radiophysicist Science administrator Paul Wild was a radiophysicist who during 30 years with the CSIRO Division of Radiophysics made significant contributions to radio astronomy and solar physics, helping to establish Australia's reputation as the leader in the field. His early work on solar radio bursts became the basis for all future work in the area. With his team he invented Interscan, a standard microwave aircraft landing system. As Chairman and Chief Executive of CSIRO he led a major restructure of the Organisation, increasing collaboration with industry. On retiring from CSIRO Wild chaired the Very Fast Train Joint Venture, which proposed a high-speed train link between Sydney and Melbourne. The Paul Wild Observatory at Culgoora, New South Wales, is named in his honour. 1943 1943 Education - Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Cambridge 1943 1947 Career position - Radar Officer, Royal Navy 1947 1953 Career position - Research Officer, CSIRO Division of Radiophysics 1950 1950 Education - Master of Arts (MA), University of Cambridge 1953 1956 Career position - Senior Research Officer, CSIRO Division of Radiophysics 1956 1958 Career position - Principal Research Officer, CSIRO Division of Radiophysics 1957 1957 Award - Edgeworth David Medal, Royal Society of New South Wale 1958 1961 Career position - Senior Principal Research Officer, CSIRO Division of Radiophysics 1961 1961 Award - Elected Honorary Foreign Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences 1961 1966 Career position - Chief Research Officer, CSIRO Division of Radiophysics 1962 1962 Award - Elected Foreign Member, American Philosophical Society 1962 1962 Award - ScD, University of Cambridge 1964 1964 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 1966 1971 Career position - Director, CSIRO Solar Observatory, Culgoora, New South Wales 1967 1970 Career position - President, Radio Astronomy Commission, International Astronomical Union 1969 1969 Award - Balthasar van der Pol Gold Medal, International Union of Radio Science 1969 1969 Award - Hendryk Arctowski Gold Medal, US National Academy of Sciences 1969 1969 Award - Elected Corresponding Member, Royal Society of Liège 1970 2008 Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS) 1971 1978 Career position - Chief, CSIRO Division of Radiophysics 1973 1977 Career position - Foreign Secretary, Australian Academy of Science 1974 1974 Award - Awarded first Herschel Medal, Royal Astronomical Society 1974 1974 Award - Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecturer, Australian Academy of Science 1975 1975 Award - Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal, Australian Academy of Science 1977 1987 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (FTS) 1978 1978 Award - Companion of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) 1978 1978 Career position - Member, CSIRO Executive 1978 1978 Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) 1978 1985 Career position - Chairman, CSIRO 1979 1979 Award - DSc (honoris causa), Australian National University 1980 1980 Award - George Ellery Hale Prize for Solar Astronomy, American Astronomical Society 1984 1984 Award - ANZAAS Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science 1986 1991 Career position - Chairman, Very Fast Train Joint Venture 26 Jan 1986 26 Jan 1986 Award - Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) - for service to science and to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 1987 1987 Award - Harley Wood Lecturer, Astronomical Society of Australia 1987 1987 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) [Awarded by AATS 1977] 1987 2008 Award - Fellow, Astronomical Society of Australia 1988 1988 Award - Hartnet Medal, Royal Society of Arts London 1991 1991 Award - Honorary Fellow (HonFIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 1 Jan 2001 1 Jan 2001 Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society and to science and to the CSIRO ANZAAS Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (1965 - )

Awarded the Medal 1984

 Edgeworth David Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales (1948 - )

Awarded the Medal 1957

 Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal, Australian National Research Council and Australian Academy of Science (1935 - )

Awarded the Medal 1975

 Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science (1957 - )

Awarded the Medal 1974

 Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (1975 - 1987)

Fellow 1977 - 1987

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 1964 - 2008; Foreign Secretary 1973 - 1977

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

Member of the Executive 1978; Chairman 1978 - 1985

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

Research Officer 1947 - 1953; Senior Research Officer 1953 - 1956; Principal Research Officer 1956 - 1958; Senior Principal Research Officer 1958 - 1961; Chief Research Officer 1961 - 1966; Chief of the Division 1971 - 1978

 Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (1987 - )

Fellow 1987 - 2008 [Elected Fellow AATS 1977]

 Astronomical Society of Australia (1966 - )

Fellow 1987 - 2008; Harley Wood Lecturer 1987

 Institution of Engineers, Australia (1919 - )

Elected Honorary Fellow 1991.

 Advisory Council - CSIRO, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1950 - 1986)

Member 1979-1986

 CSIRO - Institutes, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research (1978 - 1996)

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Wild, J P (1923-2008)

Trove

 'Wild, John Paul (Paul)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Wild, John Paul (Paul) Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book: The plastic banknote: from concept to reality Solomon, David; Spurling, Tom The plastic banknote: from concept to reality Collingwood, Vic. CSIRO Publishing 2014 Report: CSIRO thirtieth annual report 1977/78 CSIRO CSIRO thirtieth annual report 1977/78 Canberra, ACT Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation 1978 Report: CSIRO annual report 1978/79: physical sciences; industrial sciences; animal and food sciences; earth resources; biological resources CSIRO CSIRO annual report 1978/79: physical sciences; industrial sciences; animal and food sciences; earth resources; biological resources Canberra, ACT Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation 1979 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: Wild, John Paul - Ms 136 Wild, John Paul - Ms 136 Australian Academy of Science 1994 Listing of Adolph Basser Library holdings Journal Article: John Gatenby Bolton 1922-1993 Wild, J. P.; and Radhakrishnan, V. R. John Gatenby Bolton 1922-1993 1995 Historical Records of Australian Science 10 4 381-391 Journal Article: The Beginnings of Radio Astronomy in Australia Wild, J. P. The Beginnings of Radio Astronomy in Australia 1972 Records of the Australian Academy of Science 2 3 52-61 Journal Article: The Beginnings of Radio Astronomy in Australia Wild, J. P. The Beginnings of Radio Astronomy in Australia 1987 Proceedings of the Astronomical Society of Australia 7 1 95-102 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: John Paul Wild 1923-2008 Frater, R. H.; and Ekers, R. D. John Paul Wild 1923-2008 2012 Historical Records of Australian Science 23 2 212-27 Journal Article: John Paul Wild AC CBE FAA FTSE. 17 May 1923 - 10 May 2008 Frater, R. H.; and Ekers, R. D. John Paul Wild AC CBE FAA FTSE. 17 May 1923 - 10 May 2008 2012 Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 58 327-46 Book Section: The Sun Has Set on a Brilliant Mind: John Paul Wild (1923-2008), Solar Radio Astronomer Extraordinaire Stewart, Ronald, Orchiston, Wayne and Slee, Bruce The Sun Has Set on a Brilliant Mind: John Paul Wild (1923-2008), Solar Radio Astronomer Extraordinaire New York Springer 2011 Highlighting the History of Astronomy in the Asia-Pacific Region: Proceedings of the ICOA-6 Orchiston, Wayne, Nakamura, Tsuko and Strom, Richard G. 527-42 Book Section: Paul Wild and His Investigation of the H-Line Wendt, Harry Paul Wild and His Investigation of the H-Line New York Springer 2011 Highlighting the History of Astronomy in the Asia-Pacific Region: Proceedings of the ICOA-6 Orchiston, Wayne, Nakamuro, Tsuko and Strom, Richard G. 543-6 Resource Section: John Paul Wild Ward, C. John Paul Wild Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 2011 CSIROpedia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Thesis: The contribution of the CSIRO Division of Radiophysics Penrith and Dapto Field Stations to international radio astronomy Stewart, Ronald Thomas The contribution of the CSIRO Division of Radiophysics Penrith and Dapto Field Stations to international radio astronomy Townsville James Cook University 2009 Edited Book: Portraits in Science Moyal, Ann Portraits in Science Canberra National Library of Australia 1994 Resource: Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal Australian Academy of Science Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal Canberra Australian Academy of Science 2023 Resource: Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture Australian Academy of Science Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture Australian Academy of Science 2025 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 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: 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 Journal Article: Ronald Gordon Giovanelli 1915-84 Piddington, John Hobart Ronald Gordon Giovanelli 1915-84 1985 Historical Records of Australian Science 6 2 223-236 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 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 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 John Paul Wild - Records Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science John Paul Wild - Records MS 136 1975 - 1980 Letters and other records on Interscan, a system for instrument landing of aircraft 1975-1980 [1 cm, MS 136]. 0.01 m Photographs