P001723 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 2026-01-08 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P001723b.htm person Lehany Frederick John AO AACR2 10 April 1915 6 August 1994 Place of Birth New Zealand Place of Death Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Physicist Science administrator Frederick Lehany worked for CSIR/O as Chief of the Division of Electrotechnology. This gradually became amalgamated with other divisions to form the National Measurement Laboratory, of which he became the first director in 1974. The main lecture room at the Laboratory was named the Lehany Theatre in his memory. Lehany was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) and received an Doctor of Science honoris causa (Hon DSc) from the University of Sydney. Lehany's expertise was in radio frequency and microwave technology. During WWII he worked on the development and manufacture of optical and electronic products for military use. On moving to CSIR be became involved in drafting microwave standards of measurement. His major contribution was as a scientific administrator. As Chief of CSIRO divisions Lehany fostered innovative research, leading to new, internationally-recognised standards for electricity. He was a founding member of the National Standards Commission until his retirement from CSIRO. In 1968 he was elected to the International Committee on Weights and Measures, maintaining his involvement until 1980. 1935 1935 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Otago, New Zealand 1936 1936 Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Otago 1937 1937 Education - Dip Hons, University of Otago 1938 1938 Career position - Teacher in New Zealand 1939 1945 Career position - Physicist, Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd (AWA) 1945 1948 Career position - Senior Research Officer at the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) Division of Radiophysics 1947 Career position - Member, Advisory Committee for Electricity, National Association of Testing Authorities 1948 1961 Career position - Senior Research Officer at the CSIR/ CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Division of Electrotechnology 1949 1962 Career position - Chief of the CSIRO Division of Electrotechnology 1950 1979 Career position - Member, National Standards Commission 1962 1974 Career position - Chief, CSIRO Division of Applied Physics [I] 1963 1963 Career event - Elected to the International Committee on Weights and Measures 1966 1967 Career position - President, Australian Institute of Physics 1968 1980 Career position - President, Consultative Committee on Electricity, International Committee on Weights and Measures 1974 1979 Career position - Director of the National Measurement Laboratory 1975 1975 Career position - Chairman, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science 1978 1978 Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to science and industry (field of measurement and standards) 1979 1980 Career position - Chief, CSIRO Division of Applied Physics [II] National Standards Commission (1950 - )

Member 1950 - 1979

 National Association of Testing Authorities (1947 - )

Member, Advisory Committee for Electricity 1947 -

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

Chairman 1975

 Australian Institute of Physics (1963 - )

President 1966 - 1967

 National Measurement Laboratory - CSIRO, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1974 - 1979)

Director 1974 - 1979

 CSIRO Division of Applied Physics [I], Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1962 - 1974)

Chief of the Division 1962 - 1974

 CSIR/O Division of Electrotechnology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1945 - 1962)

Senior Research Officer 1948 - 1961; Chief of the Division 1949 - 1962

 CSIRO Division of Applied Physics [II], Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1979 - 1996)

Chief of the Division 1979 - 1980

 National Standards Laboratory - CSIR/O, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1939 - 1973)

Chairman National Standards Laboratory Committee 22 July 1961 - 30 June 1974

Wikidata

 Lehany, Frederick John (19150410-19940806)

Trove

 'Lehany, Frederick John', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Lehany, Frederick John Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource Section: Lehany, Frederick John Lehany, Frederick John Australian Science Archives Project 1995 Physics in Australia to 1945 R.W. Home, with the assistance of Paula J. Needham Journal Article: Obituary: Frederick John Lehany, 1915 - 1994 Blevin, Bill Obituary: Frederick John Lehany, 1915 - 1994 1995 Australian & New Zealand physicist 32 4 63-4 Book: For good measure: the making of Australia's measurement system Todd, Jan For good measure: the making of Australia's measurement system Sydney Allen & Unwin 2004