45 Facts About Harrie Massey

Sir Harrie Stewart Wilson Massey was an Australian mathematical physicist who worked primarily in the fields of atomic and atmospheric physics.

Harrie Massey was appointed Goldsmid Professor of Applied Mathematics at University College London, in 1938.

Harrie Massey joined Oliphant's British Mission at the Radiation Laboratory at the University of California, where they worked on the electromagnetic isotope separation process.

When Oliphant returned to Britain in 1945, Harrie Massey took over the Berkeley Mission.

Harrie Massey returned to University College London, in October 1945 to find it badly damaged by bombing, and the Mathematics Department in dingy temporary accommodation.

Harrie Massey worked with the Woomera Rocket Range to develop British Skylark rocket, and was on the governing board of the Anglo-Australian Telescope.

Harrie Massey was the chairman of the Committee on Space Research from 1959 to 1978, and of its British national chapter.

Harrie Massey was the first Chairman of the European Space Sciences Committee, and helped found the European Space Research Organization and the Mullard Space Science Laboratory at University College London.

Harrie Massey grew up in the rural community of Hoddles Creek, and enrolled in the local state school in 1913.

Harrie Massey received his Merit Certificate, normally awarded after completing the eighth grade, when he was nine, but due to his age he still had to stay there for another three years.

Harrie Massey won a scholarship to University High School, and moved to Parkville with his mother in 1920.

At the age of 16, Harrie Massey won a scholarship to the University of Melbourne, which he entered in 1925.

Harrie Massey had thoughts of studying chemistry, but was impressed by the physics lectures given by Eric Hercus.

Harrie Massey recalled in 1980 that "in a fairly wide experience I would rate [Laby] the worst lecturer I have heard".

Harrie Massey was awarded his Bachelor of Arts in physics with first class honours in 1928, and a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics in 1929.

At that time, the university did not offer a Doctor of Philosophy program so Harrie Massey undertook a Master of Science course, with both experimental and theoretical components.

In 1929, with the benefit of an Aitchison travelling scholarship from the University of Melbourne, Harrie Massey went to Trinity College, Cambridge to perform research at the Cavendish Laboratory led by Ernest Rutherford.

Harrie Massey obtained his PhD on The Collisions of Material Particles in 1932.

Harrie Massey applied the theory of collisions to models of neutron structure.

In June 1933, Harrie Massey became an independent lecturer in Mathematical Physics at the Queen's University of Belfast.

Harrie Massey was the only member of the department until R A Buckingham arrived in 1934.

Harrie Massey brought with him Buckingham, now an 1851 Exhibition Scholar himself, and David Bates, a promising graduate student.

In December 1939, Harrie Massey joined a group at the Admiralty Research Laboratory in Teddington led by Stephen Butterworth.

In November 1943, Harrie Massey set out with Oliphant for the Radiation Laboratory at the University of California in Berkeley in a B-24 Liberator bomber.

Harrie Massey was in charge of its Theoretical Group, which included American David Bohm and Australian Eric Burhop.

Harrie Massey returned to University College London, in October 1945 to find it badly damaged by bombing, and the Mathematics Department in dingy temporary accommodation.

Harrie Massey was allowed to pick his own lecturers, so he chose Bates, Burhop, Buckingham and Gunn.

Harrie Massey served as University College London's Vice-Provost from 1969 to 1973.

When Harrie Massey took over the Physics Department, most of his physicists, including Bates, Buckingham, Burhop and Robert Boyd, moved with him.

Harrie Massey arranged with Andrew Booth for a copy of his All Purpose Electronic Computer, and recruited two programmers, Joan Lawson and Jane Wallace.

Harrie Massey was a member of its council from 1949 to 1951 and again from 1959 to 1960, before serving as its Physical Secretary and Vice-President from 1969 to 1978.

Harrie Massey became a member of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research's Nuclear Physics Sub-Committee in 1956.

Harrie Massey became a member of the Research Grants Committee in 1959, and was chairman of the Council for Scientific Policy from 1965 to 1970.

Harrie Massey was a member of both the American Philosophical Society and the United States National Academy of Sciences.

Rockets had seen enormous development for military purposes during the Second World War, and Harrie Massey saw their potential for studying the upper atmosphere.

Harrie Massey became a major supporter of space science, and wrote a book on the subject, History of British Space Science.

Harrie Massey was the chairman of the Committee on Space Research, which was established by the International Council of Scientific Unions, from its founding in 1959 until 1978, and of the British National Committee for Space Research, its British national chapter.

Harrie Massey was the first Chairman of the European Space Sciences Committee, and helped found the European Space Research Organization and the Mullard Space Science Laboratory at University College London.

Harrie Massey was involved in the testing of balloons for upper atmosphere research at the University of Melbourne's site in Mildura, Victoria.

Harrie Massey sought to develop a UK space program in cooperation in space with Australia, the United States and European countries.

Harrie Massey was successful in building international cooperation, although his Black Knight project was cancelled in favour of Black Arrow, which launched Prospero, the only satellite launched with a British launch vehicle, from Woomera in 1971.

Harrie Massey was involved in the negotiations leading to the establishment of the Anglo-Australian Telescope at Siding Spring Mountain in New South Wales.

Harrie Massey was a United Kingdom member and deputy chairman of the telescope's governing board from 1975 to 1980, and chairman from 1980 to 1983.

Harrie Massey received honorary doctorates from both Queens University Belfast and Heriot-Watt University.

Harrie Massey's papers are in the University College London archives.