Ian Clunies Ross

Sir Ian Clunies Ross (1899-1959) is described as the 'architect' of Australia's scientific boom, for his stewardship of Australia's scientific organisation the CSIRO.

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Early career

Clunies Ross was born William Ian Clunies Ross in Bathurst, New South Wales on February 22, 1899. His father's father, Robert Clunies Ross, was a brother of that John Clunies Ross who settled with his family and crew on Cocos (Keeling) Islands in 1826-7 and proclaimed a kingdom. He was educated at Newington College and in 1917 he entered the University of Sydney, in the Agriculture Faculty, and transferred to Veterinary Science at the beginning of 1918, graduating with honours in 1920. In 1921, Clunies Ross was given a temporary lectureship in veterinary anatomy, the following year he was made a Fellow of The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, allowing him to a travel overseas. He spent a year working on animal parasites at the Molteno Institute for Parasitology in Cambridge and the School of Tropical Medicine in London. He also spent time in the United States, mainly in Texas and Louisiana, where he looked at methods of field control of parasitic diseases.

When he returned to Sydney he set up a veterinary practice, lectured at the University and continued his own research on hydatid parasite (Echinococcus granulosus), the liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica), and the dog-tick (Ixodes holocyclus). He developed an immunization for dogs to protect against the dog-tick.

In 1926 Clunies Ross was appointed parasitologist to the newly established Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and was funded to continue research at the Sydney University Veterinary School. On October 6th 1927, Ian married Janet Carter. They had three sons: Anthony, Adrian and David. By mid-1931, three other researchers were working with him, and in November 1931 the team moved into CSIR's new McMaster Animal Health Laboratory, Clunies Ross was appointed as the Officer-in-Charge of the laboratory. In 1928, his thesis on the hydatid parasite was accepted by the University of Sydney for the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Science. Work at the McMaster Laboratory on the control of sheep liver-fluke, made a significant improvement to animal heath and the returns from agriculture in the 1930s.

Science administration

Following his time at the McMaster Laboratory, Clunies Ross spent times in Asia, and he was the Australian representative at the International Wool Secretariat in London from 1937–1940. He enjoyed this administrative role. He also served as a member of Australia's Delegation to the League of Nations Assembly in 1938. He and his family returned to Australia when World War II broke out, he returned to the Veterinary school at the University of Sydney. He was president of the Australian Institute of International Affairs from 1941–1945. He was a vocal commentator on international affairs throughout the remainder of his career.

In 1943, Clunies Ross was appointed Director of Scientific Personnel in the Commonwealth Directorate of Manpower and also Adviser on the Pastoral Industry to the Department of War Organization of Industry. He held these positions until 1945 while continuing work connected with his university position. At the end of the war he left the university to assist the CSIR in planning sheep and wool-textile research. In 1946 he was appointed a full-time member of the CSIR Executive Committee, which was situated in Melbourne.

He served as the executive officer of the CSIR until 1949 when it was renamed the CSIRO. He was chair of the CSIRO until his death in 1959. During this time he oversaw the release of myxomatosis for rabbit control in Australia.

Honours

• Clunies Ross was knighted in 1954 and in the same year awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.
• Clunies Ross National Science and Technology Award.
• Clunies Ross Street in Canberra, Australia.

References

• O'Dea, C. 1997. Ian Clunies Ross - a biography. Hyland House, South Melbourne ISBN 1-86447-018-6
• Australian Academy of Science Biography- Ian Clunies Ross [1]