P004016 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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

These key entries are listed separately below with other indexes and lists.

 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2001-05-25 human Rosanne Walker & Rebecca Rigby updated 2026-03-20 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P004016b.htm person McCracken Kenneth Gordon AO FTSE FAA AACR2 7 August 1933 Place of Birth Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Physicist Geophysicist Mineral Physicist Dr Kenneth McCracken became involved in space science early in its history and has conducted pioneering research since the 1950s. From 1959-1970 he focused on cosmic ray research, resulting in technology that would protect astronauts from harmful cosmic radiation produced by sun flares. He was Professor of Physics at Adelaide University (1966-1969), during which time he also did pioneering research and development in the field of x-ray astronomy. He was the Founding Chief of the CSIRO's Division of Mineral Physics and Director of the CSIRO Office of Space Science. In these positions he was involved in the development of remote sensor technology for mineral deposit exploration using the NASA LANDSAT satellite. He worked with the CSIRO until his retirement in 1989.

In 1988 McCracken was awarded the CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement for leadership in space activities in Australia and for achievement in geophysics research.

1954 1954 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc(Hons)), University of Tasmania 1959 1959 Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Tasmania 1959 1961 Career position - Research Associate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A. 1961 1961 Career position - Consultant, NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.A. 1961 1962 Career position - Assistant Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A. 1962 1966 Career position - Professor, Southwest Centre for Advanced Studies, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. 1963 1965 Career position - Member, NASA Space Radiation Protection Committee 1966 1969 Career position - Professor of Physics, University of Adelaide 1969 1969 Award - Pawsey Medal. Australian Academy of Science 1970 1970 Career position - Consultant, Atomic Energy Commission of India 1970 1972 Career position - Officer-in-charge, Mineral Physics Section, CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) 1971 1971 Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Adelaide 1972 1984 Career position - Foundation Chief, CSIRO Division of Mineral Physics 1972 1984 Career position - Honorary Professor, Macquarie University 1979 1987 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (FTS) 1982 1984 Career position - Board Member, Australian Mineral Foundation 1984 1989 Career position - Director, CSIRO Office for Space Science and Applications 1986 1986 Career position - Member, National Committee on Space Engineering, Institute of Engineers, Australia 1987 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 1987 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) [Awarded by AATS 1979] 1988 1988 Award - CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement 1989 Career position - Managing Partner, Jellore Technologies 1989 Award - Honorary Member, Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists 1989 1989 Award - ASEG Gold Medal, Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists 12 June 1989 12 June 1989 Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to space science and technology 1995 1995 Award - Australia Prize (in the field of Remote Sensing( (joint)), Commonwealth of Australia 2001 2001 Award - Graham Sands Award, Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists 2001 2001 Career position - Senior Research Fellow, University of Maryland, U.S.A. 2001 2001 Award - Ian Wark Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science 2003 2003 Award - Haddon Forrester King Medal, Australian Academy of Science The University of Adelaide (1874 - 2026)

Professor of Physics 1966 - 1969

 Australian Mineral Foundation Inc (AMF) (1972 - 2001)

Member of the Board 1992 - 1994

 ASEG Gold Medal, Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (1985 - )

Awarded the Medal 1989

 CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement (1985 - )

Awarded the Medal 1988

 Pawsey Medal, Australian Academy of Science (1967 - )

Awarded the Medal 1969

 Ian Wark Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science (1987 - )

Awarded the Medal 2001

 Australia Prize, Commonwealth of Australia (1990 - 1999)

Awarded the Prize (in the field of remote sensing) 1995

 Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (1987 - )

Fellow 1987

 Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (1975 - 1987)

Fellow 1979 - 1987

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Elected Fellow 1987

 Haddon Forrester King Medal, Australian Academy of Science (1993 - )

Awarded the Medal 2003

 CSIRO Office of Space Science and Applications (COSSA), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1988 - 1996)

Director 1984 - 1989

 CSIRO Division of Mineral Physics, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1972 - 1986)

Foundation Chief of the Division 1972 - 1984

 CSIRO Mineral Physics Section, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1971 - 1972)

Officer-in-Charge 1970 - 1972

 Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (1970 - )

Honorary Member 1989 - ; received Graham Sands Award 2001

 McCracken, K G (19230807-)

Trove

 'McCracken, Kenneth Gordon', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology McCracken, Kenneth Gordon 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 Resource Section: Dr Ken McCracken (Australia) Dr Ken McCracken (Australia) Commonwealth of Australia 1995 1995 Australia Prize Department of Industry, Innovation Science, Research and Tertiary Education Journal Article: John Henry Carver 1926-2004 Crompton, R. W.; Dracoulis, G. D.; Lewis, B. R.; Mccracken, K. G.; and Williams, J. S John Henry Carver 1926-2004 2011 Historical Records of Australian Science 22 1 53-79 Resource: Pawsey Medal Australian Academy of Science Pawsey Medal Australian Academy of Science 2022 Resource: Ian Wark Medal and Lecture Australian Academy of Science Ian Wark Medal and Lecture Australian Academy of Science 2022 Resource: Haddon Forrester King Medal Australian Academy of Science Haddon Forrester King Medal Australian Academy of Science 2022 Resource: Recipients [of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science, 2000 - 2017] Recipients [of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science, 2000 - 2017] Department of Industry, Innovation and Science 2017 Resource Section: Kenneth Gordon McCracken Ward, C. Kenneth Gordon McCracken Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 2011 CSIROpedia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 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 Resource Section: CSIRO Entrepreneurship Award Ward, Colin CSIRO Entrepreneurship Award Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 2013 CSIROpedia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)