P007414 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2024-07-02 human Helen Cohn updated 2026-02-24 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P007414b.htm person Bhathal Ragbir Singh AACR2 1936 30 November 2022 Place of Death Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Astronomer Science historian Ragbir Bhathal was a much-respected astrophysicist and historian of science. His research focused on nanosecond laser pulsed communications, astrophysics, galactic surveys, and astronomical image analysis and processing. He was known for his research on extra-terrestrial intelligence (SETI), pioneering Optical SETI, the search for alien laser communication signals. For 30 years he taught at the University of Western Sydney where he became a Distinguished Teaching Fellow in the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics. He taught the only University-based course on SETI in any Australian University. Bhathal was responsible for the design and building of the 2-domed Campbelltown Observatory on the University's campus, of which he was Director from 2000 to 2022. Before coming to Australia, Bhathal was a member of the academic staff of the University of Singapore. He was Foundation Director of the Singapore Science Centre, and Secretary of the Singapore National Academy of Science. Bhathal's research in the history of Australian science, particularly astronomy, resulted in an extensive bibliography, and included a number of well-received books. He played a central role in the restoration of the Sydney Observatory, and the Powerhouse Museum. An active member of the Royal Society of New South Wales he served on Council and was President in 1984. 1982 2018 Career position - Member, Royal Society of New South Wales 1984 1986 Career position - President, Royal Society of New South Wales 1985 1985 Career position - Vice-President, Royal Society of New South Wales 1988 1988 Award - Royal Society of New South Wales Medal 1996 1996 Career position - Foundation Member, MacArthur Astronomical Society 1997 2011 Career position - Patron, MacArthur Astronomical Society 1998 2015 Career position - Member, Australian Institute of Physics 2000 2022 Career position - Director, Campbelltown Rotary Observatory, University of Western Sydney 2018 2022 Award - Fellow, Royal Astronomical Society 2018 2022 Award - Fellow, Royal Society of New South Wales University of Western Sydney (1989 - )

Director, Campbelltown Rotary Observatory 2000 - 2022

 Royal Society of New South Wales Medal (1884 - )

Awarded the Medal 1988

 Royal Society of New South Wales (1866 - )

President 1984 - 1986; Fellow 2018 -2022

 'Bhathal, Ragbir Singh', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Bhathal, Ragbir Singh Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book: Profiles, Australian women scientists Bhathal, Ragbir Profiles, Australian women scientists Canberra National Library of Australia 1999 Conference Paper: Accessibility to Scientific and Engineering Heritage Bhathal, R. Accessibility to Scientific and Engineering Heritage Barton, Australian Capital Territory Institution of Engineers, Australia 1988 Fourth National Conference on Engineering Heritage 1988: Preprints of Papers 116-118 Journal Article: The Accelerating Universe: a New View of the Universe Bhathal, Ragbir The Accelerating Universe: a New View of the Universe 2011 Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 144 3/4 63-90 Journal Article: Australia's Great Comet Hunter Bhathal, Ragbir Australia's Great Comet Hunter 2010 Astronomy and Geophysics 51 1 1.23-1.25 Journal Article: Stellar Astrophysics Bhathal, Ragbir Stellar Astrophysics 2009 Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 142 3/4 25-30 Journal Article: 150 Years of Sydney Observatory Bhathal, Ragbir 150 Years of Sydney Observatory 2009 Astronomy & Geophysics 50 3 26-30 Journal Article: Profile: Matthew Colless Bhathal, Ragbir Profile: Matthew Colless 2008 Astronomy & Geophysics 49 5 5-18 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 Journal Article: Bernard Mills and Australian Radio Astronomy Bhathal, Ragbir Bernard Mills and Australian Radio Astronomy 2012 Astronomy & Geophysics 53 2 19-21 Journal Article: Women Astronomers in Australia Bhathal, Ragbir Women Astronomers in Australia 2001 Astronomy & Geophysics 42 4 29-31 Journal Article: Profile: Brian Schmidt Bhathal, Ragbir Profile: Brian Schmidt 2012 Astronomy & Geophysics 53 1 13-15 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: Bernie Mills: inventor of the Mills Cross Telescope [interview with Mills] Bhathal, Ragbir Bernie Mills: inventor of the Mills Cross Telescope [interview with Mills] 1995 Australian and New Zealand physicist 32 10 209-14 Book Section: Lemberg, Max Rudolph (1896-1975), biochemist Bhathal, R. Lemberg, Max Rudolph (1896-1975), biochemist Melbourne Melbourne University Press 2000 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 15: 1940 - 1980 Kem-Pie John Ritchie 60-62 Journal Article: Some Aspects of the Scientific Development and Astronomical Research of Penny Sackett Bhathal, R. Some Aspects of the Scientific Development and Astronomical Research of Penny Sackett 2013 Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 146 142-52 Journal Article: Antarctic Astronomy Bhathal, R. Antarctic Astronomy 2008 Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 141 39-43 Book Section: Bosworth, Richard Charles Leslie (1907-1964), chemist and academic Bhathal, R. Bosworth, Richard Charles Leslie (1907-1964), chemist and academic Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1993 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 13: 1940 - 1980 A-De John Ritchie 226-227 Book Section: Bolliger, Adolph (1897-1962), biochemist Bhathal, R. Bolliger, Adolph (1897-1962), biochemist Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1993 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 13: 1940 - 1980 A-De John Ritchie 213-214 Journal Article: Henry Chamberlain Russell: 19th Century Astronomer, Meteorologist and Organizer of Australian Science Bhathal, R. Henry Chamberlain Russell: 19th Century Astronomer, Meteorologist and Organizer of Australian Science 1991 Journal and proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 124 1-21 Journal Article: Astronomy in Aboriginal Culture Bhathal, Ragbir Astronomy in Aboriginal Culture 2006 Astronomy & Geophysics 47 5 27-30 Journal Article: Aboriginal Astronomical Sites, Landscapes and Paintings Bhathal, Ragbir and Mason, Terry Aboriginal Astronomical Sites, Landscapes and Paintings 2011 Astronomy & Geophysics 52 4 4.12-4.16 Journal Article: Dreamtime astronomy Bhathal, R. Dreamtime astronomy 2006 Australian physics 43 5 170-4 Book: Aboriginal astronomy Bhathal, Ragbir Aboriginal astronomy Sydney ARI 2010 Journal Article: Illuminating Incidents in Antipodean Astronomy: Section A of the Royal Society of New South Wales Orchiston, Wayne and Bhathal, Ragbir Illuminating Incidents in Antipodean Astronomy: Section A of the Royal Society of New South Wales 1991 Australian Journal of Astronomy 4 2 49-67 Journal Article: Illuminating Incidents in Antipodean Astronomy: the saga of 'The Great Sydney Telescope', Orchiston, Wayne and Bhathal, Ragbir Illuminating Incidents in Antipodean Astronomy: the saga of 'The Great Sydney Telescope', 1982 British Astronomical Association, New South Wales Branch Bulletin 612 supplement S1-S9 Journal Article: Illuminating Incidents in Antipodean Astronomy: Attempted Formation of the Australian Astronomical Society in 1892 Orchiston, Wayne; and Bhathal, Ragbir Illuminating Incidents in Antipodean Astronomy: Attempted Formation of the Australian Astronomical Society in 1892 1984 Proceedings of the Astronomical Society of Australia 5 422-425 Book: Under the Southern Cross: a Brief History of Astronomy in Australia Bhathal, Ragbir; White, Graeme Under the Southern Cross: a Brief History of Astronomy in Australia Kenthurst Kangaroo Press 1991 Journal Article: A Governor's Observatory Bhathal, Ragbir A Governor's Observatory 2011 Astronomy & Geophysics 52 2 2.31 Book: Australian Astronomer John Tebbutt: the Life and World of the Man on the $100 Note Bhathal, Ragbir S. Australian Astronomer John Tebbutt: the Life and World of the Man on the $100 Note Kenthurst Kangaroo Press 1993 Journal Article: Professor Ronald Bracewell interviewed by Ragbir Bhathal Bracewell, Ronald N. and Bhathal. Ragbir Professor Ronald Bracewell interviewed by Ragbir Bhathal 2018 Journal and proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 151 2 181-208 Journal Article: Martin Asplund: stellar astrophysicist Bhathal, Ragbir Martin Asplund: stellar astrophysicist 2018 Astronomy and Geophysics 59 2 2.34-2.36 Review: Australian journal of biography and history Bhathal, Ragbir 2018 Australian journal of biography and history 1 189-90 Journal Article: Naomi McClure-Griffiths: Milky Way astronomer Bhathal, Ragbir Naomi McClure-Griffiths: Milky Way astronomer 2017 A&G: News and Reviews in Astronomy & Geophysics 58 40-2 Journal Article: A life among the galaxies Bhathal, Ragbir A life among the galaxies 2016 A & G: News and Reviews in Astronomy and Geophysics 57 5.35 - 5.36 Journal Article: How the US Influenced Mount Stromlo Bhathal, Ragbir How the US Influenced Mount Stromlo 2015 A&G: News and Reviews in Astronomy & Geophysics 56 1 1.19-1.21 Journal Article: How Mount Stromlo Observatory shed its imperial beginnings Bhathal, Ragbir How Mount Stromlo Observatory shed its imperial beginnings 2014 A&G: News and Reviews in Astronomy & Geophysics 55 6 6.33-6.35 Journal Article: Some Aspects of the Scientific Development and Astronomical Research of Warrick Couch Bhathal, Ragbir Some Aspects of the Scientific Development and Astronomical Research of Warrick Couch 2013 Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 146 17-24 Journal Article: Some Scientific Aspects of Parramatta Observatory Bhathal, Ragbir Some Scientific Aspects of Parramatta Observatory 2012 Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 145 111-27 Book: Mt Stromlo Observatory: From Bush Observatory to the Nobel Prize Bhathal, Ragbir, Sutherland, Ralph and Butcher, Harvey Mt Stromlo Observatory: From Bush Observatory to the Nobel Prize Collingwood (Vic.) CSIRO 2013 Journal Article: Ragbir Singh Bhathal FRSN 1936 - 30 November 2022 Jackson, Davina and Marks, Robert Ragbir Singh Bhathal FRSN 1936 - 30 November 2022 2023 Journal and proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 156 1 176-7 Interview with Dr Mary Rose, agricultural scientist (sound recording), interviewer: Ragbir Bhathal National Library of Australia Oral History Collection Interview with Dr Mary Rose, agricultural scientist (sound recording), interviewer: Ragbir Bhathal TRC 3586 18 April 1997 2 digital audio tapes (c. 75 minutes) and 30 page transcript. se talks about her family background; schooling at Brisbane Girls' Grammar School; undergraduate degree at University of Queensland; MSc thesis on lifetime production of sheep in north west Queensland and doctoral studies on the Queensland merino industry and her work in designing efficient breeding programs in studs. She then talks about her involvement in Woolplan; work in genetics and breeding programs and her views on the future of merinos. Rose then gives her views on women and science and discusses her career highlights. Interview with Kathleen Rachel Makinson, wool researcher and Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Textile Physics [sound recording] / interviewer, Ragbir Bhathal National Library of Australia Oral History Collection Interview with Kathleen Rachel Makinson, wool researcher and Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Textile Physics [sound recording] / interviewer, Ragbir Bhathal TRC 3564 1997 1 digital audio tape (ca. 70 min.) and transcript (38 leaves). Makinson speaks of her childhood in London and her inclinations towards science at school, winning a scholarship to Newnham College at University of Cambridge, her preference for physics, her interest in crystallography, how she might have continued at Cambridge in nuclear physics, participating in student politics in both communism and the Peace Movement, demonstrating in London against the invasion of Austria, becoming engaged to an Australian doing his doctorate at Cambridge; emigrating to Australia in 1939; work as a research assistant at the University of Sydney and her involvement in radar research during WWII; the difficulties for women applying for research positions during the War, how she ended up in wool research in CSIRO; how it was not possible to undertake doctorates in Australia during that period; returning to Cambridge in 1970; why CSIRO set up a Wool Physics Division; how her work contributed to efficiencies in wool shrinkage. Interview with Dr Shirley Jeffrey, marine biologist [sound recording] / interviewer, Ragbir Bhathal. National Library of Australia Oral History Collection Interview with Dr Shirley Jeffrey, marine biologist [sound recording] / interviewer, Ragbir Bhathal. TRC 3573 1 digital audio tape (ca. 75 min.) + transcript (35 leaves), conducted as part of Australian women scientists oral history project, 14 March 1997, Hobart. Jeffrey talks about her family background; varied school life and influence of Methodist Ladies College; influences on decision to do science; undergraduate studies at University of Sydney majoring in biochemistry and microbiology and PhD at University of London which looked at the effect of aspirin on carbohydrate metabolism. She then talks about returning to Australia to join CSIRO, Division of Fisheries Research. Jeffrey then describes her work in microalgae research; algae culture and toxic algae species. She then talks about her publication, "Phytoplankton pigments in oceanography"; involvement in mariculture; views on women in science and the achievements of her career. Audio Interview with Professor Margaret Bullock, academic, physiotherapist and ergonomist, Health and Rehabilitation, University of Queensland (sound recording), interviewer: Ragbir Bhathal National Library of Australia Oral History Collection Interview with Professor Margaret Bullock, academic, physiotherapist and ergonomist, Health and Rehabilitation, University of Queensland (sound recording), interviewer: Ragbir Bhathal TRC 3693 13 March 1998 Bullock talks about her childhood and family life; schooling; Bachelor of Applied Science at the University of Queensland, majoring in physiotherapy and her PhD, "Pedal alignments for minimal spine movements". She then describes her work on the manual work space of automobiles and aircrafts; minimal cerebral dysfunction of children and other areas of research. Bullock then talks about her work as foundation professor of physiotherapy at the University of Queensland; involvement in scientific societies and committees and her views on women in science and the general decline in the numbers of science students in Australia. Interview with Professor Helen Garnett, scientist and Executive Director of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (sound recording), interviewer: Ragbir Bhathal National Library of Australia Oral History Collection Interview with Professor Helen Garnett, scientist and Executive Director of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (sound recording), interviewer: Ragbir Bhathal TRC 3708 29 April 1998 1 digital audio tape (c. 60 minutes) and 29 page transcript. Garnett talks about her childhood memories and family life; schooling; tertiary studies at the University of Sydney and moving from medical studies to scientific studies. She then discusses her PhD which uses radioisothopes to study enzyme kinetics and the impact of viruses on membrane enzyme kinetics. Garnet then talks about her work as Foundation Professor and head of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. In 1987 she returned to Australia as professor and head of the Department of Biology at the University of Wollongong. Garnett then provides the background to her receipt of Women in Engineering award by Australian Institute for Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers. She then talks about her work as Deputy Executive Director of ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation) from 1992; work on IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency); views on women in science and taking up a career in science. Audio Interview with Lynda Beazley, Professor of Zoology, University of Western Australia (sound recording), interviewer: Ragbir Bhathal National Library of Australia Oral History Collection Interview with Lynda Beazley, Professor of Zoology, University of Western Australia (sound recording), interviewer: Ragbir Bhathal TRC 3678 20 February 1998 1 digital audio tape (c. 60 minutes) and 40 page transcript. Beazley talks about her family background; childhood memories; schooling; undergraduate studies at Somerville College, Oxford, majoring in zoology; PhD at University of Edinburgh and reasons for coming to Australia. She then describes her biological studies on the eye; career prospects; method of work; role models and her views on the declining numbers of science students. Beazley then talks about her achievements and her work on the ASTEC Committee (Australian Science Technology and Engineering Council). Audio Interview with Jan Anderson, plant biochemist and international expert in photosynthesis research, Chief Research Scientist, Division of Plant Industry, CSIRO (sound recording), interviewer: Ragbir Bhathal National Library of Australia Oral History Collection Interview with Jan Anderson, plant biochemist and international expert in photosynthesis research, Chief Research Scientist, Division of Plant Industry, CSIRO (sound recording), interviewer: Ragbir Bhathal TRC 3479 9 August 1996 2 compact discs (c. 110 minutes) and a 48 page transcript. Anderson discusses her early life in a middle class family in the mountainous district of Queenstown, N.Z., how she lived outdoors much of the time stimulating her interest in the natural world, her expectation of becoming a school teacher despite her father's wish that she become a doctor like him, the restrictive atmosphere of a girls school, how she obtained a bonded scholarship to University of Otago where her father had gone, how she completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in organic chemistry leading to a scholarship for a masters degree, how she was bonded to undertake teachers college which was interrupted by the offer of another scholarship to the University of California for a doctorate in biochemistry, how from 1956 she was supervised by Melvin Calvin an expert in photosynthesis. Australian women scientists oral history project National Library of Australia Oral History Collection Australian women scientists oral history project 1597750 [NLA bib ID] 1996 - c. 2023 This project documents the life experiences of Australian women who have chosen their career from one of the science disciplines. Notes: Interviews conducted by Ragbir Bhathal. Transcripts available for some titles. Recording media varies. Recorded from Aug. 28, 1996 and ongoing. Digital master available National Library of Australia; 23 Interviews Audio Suzanne Cory interviewed by Ragbir Bhathal in the Australian women scientists oral history project [sound recording] National Library of Australia Oral History Collection Suzanne Cory interviewed by Ragbir Bhathal in the Australian women scientists oral history project [sound recording] TRC3549 28 January 1997 2 digital audio tapes (74 minutes) and corrected typescript (27 leaves). Professor Suzanne Cory, Director Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, talks about her family background; undergraduate degree at University of Melbourne; PhD at Cambridge on a particular transfer RNA and the research environment at Cambridge. She then discusses her reasons for choosing to work at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in 1971 and some of the research undertaken at the Institute. Cory then talks about the Human Genome Project; her plans for the Institute as its Director; views on women in Australian science and her plans for the future. 2 Audio Adrienne Clarke interviewed by Ragbir Bhathal for the Australian women scientists oral history project [sound recording] National Library of Australia Oral History Collection Adrienne Clarke interviewed by Ragbir Bhathal for the Australian women scientists oral history project [sound recording] TRC 3516 18 October 1996 2 digital audio tapes (84 minutes) and uncorrected typescript (37 leaves). Adrienne Clarke, a botanist and Professor of Botany, University of Melbourne and Chair of CSIRO, 1991-1996, speaks of how she was inspired by a school excursion from inland Queensland to the Great Barrier Reef to study biology, her major in biochemistry at University of Melbourne and later completed her doctorate there, her first lecturing position at the University of Auckland but married life and having children were more pressing and so she continued her career part-time but now has become an international expert on plant biology, her research concentrates on the molecular basis for self-incompatibility and the function in plants of arabinogalactan proteins, how they adapted in the 1980s the new science of molecular biology to the investigation of the molecular mechanisms of self-incompatibility, generalised differences between the way men and women scientists approach problem-solving, the place of women in science and academia 2 Audio Papers of Ragbir Singh Bhathal, 1949-2006 (bulk 1996-1999) National Library of Australia Papers of Ragbir Singh Bhathal, 1949-2006 (bulk 1996-1999) MS 9365 1949 - 2006 MS 9365 relates to an oral history project on eminent Australian women scientists conducted by Dr Ragbir Bhathal for the National Library of Australia. They consist of correspondence between Bhathal and the interviewees relating to interview arrangements, a list of questions to be asked during the interview, journal articles written by the interviewees and newscuttings about them. There are transcripts of the interviews for eight of the women. There are also papers (typescripts, notes and correspondence) relating to the publication of Profiles, Australian women scientists. Published by the National Library in 1999, the book is based on the oral history interviews (6 boxes) The Acc06.161 instalment consists of 9 colour photographs of Australian observatories, including observatories at Windsor and The Rocks, Sydney. The photographs relate to Bhathal's book Australian backyard astronomy (with Jenny Bhathal, 2006) (1 folder) The Acc08.072 instalment includes papers and correspondence relating to conferences that Bhathal organised or attended, correspondence and drafts for the oral history project and the book Profiles, Australian women scientists, audio recordings of interviews conducted by Bhathal for the Australian astronomers oral history project, and astronomical photographs from the Mount Palomar Southern Sky Survey, and press cuttings (2 boxes, 17 elephant folios). The Acc08.121 instalment comprises research notes, illustrations, draft transcripts and correspondence with interviewees for the Australian Astronomers project, a paper on Campbelltown Rotary Observatory for Astronomical Society of Australia, research papers by Dr Robert Delbourgo for the Australian Physicists project, papers by Professor Cheryl E. Praegor for the Australian Women Scientists project (2 boxes). 16.83 m, 10 boxes