Roderick William Boswell AM FAA FTSE (born 1932 in `Yackandandah) [1] is an Australian physicist. He is a professor at the Australian National University in Canberra, in the Space Plasma, Power and Propulsion group of the Plasma Research Laboratory. [2] He invented a technology which become the basis for the development of a new type of rocket thruster, the Helicon Double Layer Thruster: the ongoing development of the Australian Plasma Thruster is supported by the European Space Agency. [3]
After taking his B.Sc. at the University of Adelaide, he completed a Ph.D. at Flinders University. [1] His graduate studies were undertaken at Flinders University, in South Australia where, in 1969, he was instrumental in establishing the radical student newspaper " Empire Times" by purchasing and running, in the living room of his home, an offset press, thereby liberating the new newspaper from the censorious tendencies of commercial printers. [4]
His honours and awards include:
- In 2000, he received the Plasma Science & Technology Division Plasma Prize from the American Vacuum Society "for outstanding scientific and technical contributions to the fields of plasma science and technology." [5]
- In 2001 he was awarded a Centenary Medal "for service to Australian society in applied physics". [6]
- In 2008 he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science [7] [8]
- In 2012 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) "for service to science in the field of plasma physics as an academic and researcher and through contributions to the international scientific community". [9]
References
- ^ a b Rod W. Boswell - The Story, people.physics.anu.edu.au
- ^ "To infinity and beyond: Progress of the Australian Plasma Thruster". School Seminar Program. Research School of Physics & Engineering, Australian National University. 20 September 2012.
- ^ "ESA and Australian team develop breakthrough in space propulsion". ESA. 18 January 2006. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ Aidan Cornelius-Bell (18 October 2021). Student Activism in Higher Education: The politics of students' role in hegemonic university change (PDF) (Thesis). Flinders University. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Plasma Science & Technology Division Plasma Prize". American Vacuum Society. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Centenary Medal". It's an Honour. 1 January 2001.
- ^ "Fellows elected in 2008". Archived from the original on 23 March 2016.
- ^ "Boswell". People.physics.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ "Member of the Order of Australia (AM)". It's an Honour. 26 January 2012.
External links
- "ANU people given The Order on Australia Day". States News Service. 27 January 2012. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2015.(subscription required)
- "A vision to Mars". Australasian Business Intelligence. 2 April 2004. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2015.(subscription required)
| International | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
- 1932 births
- Living people
- 20th-century Australian scientists
- 21st-century Australian scientists
- Academic staff of the Australian National University
- 21st-century Australian physicists
- Members of the Order of Australia
- Fellows of the American Physical Society
- Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science
- Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
- Flinders University alumni
- University of Adelaide alumni