Alf Howard
Encyclopedia
Alf Howard was an Australia
n scientist
, educator and explorer. He was most prominently known for being the last remaining member of the expedition to Antarctica, which was led by Sir Douglas Mawson on-board the RRS Discovery
in 1929-1931. Howard served in the capacity of a chemist and the hydrologist aboard the vessel, which include being the individual who was responsible for monitoring the sea-water temperatures and the collection and chemical analysis of sea-water samples.
Howard was born and raised in Camberwell
, Victoria
. He completed a Master of Science
, his first of five degrees at the University of Melbourne
in 1927; Howard also received an honorary doctorate in statistics and a PhD in linguistics from the University of Queensland
. He worked with the Department of Human Movement as a programmer and a statics consultant and an honorary researcher working full-time without pay for over 20 years. He stopped in 2003 at age 97.
He was doing work on organic chemistry when he was approached by Sir David Orme Masson
for the BANZARE. Within 48 hours Howard took the train to Perch and sailed to England on Orient Steam Navigation’s Orvieto.
Just before his 100th birthday, Howard, through pre-recorded film, opened the new Discovery’s Ocean Odyssey wing at the Discovery Point museum in Dundee
, which stands beside the old restored ship Discovery. He will be profiled in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery’s new exhibition Islands to Ice: The Great Southern Ocean and Antarctica in late 2010.
In 2005 he donated a substantial, undisclosed sum of money for a computer laboratory for undergraduate students. Four years earlier in 2001 he was presented with the Australian Geographic Society award.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
, educator and explorer. He was most prominently known for being the last remaining member of the expedition to Antarctica, which was led by Sir Douglas Mawson on-board the RRS Discovery
RRS Discovery
The RRS Discovery was the last traditional wooden three-masted ship to be built in Britain. Designed for Antarctic research, she was launched in 1901. Her first mission was the British National Antarctic Expedition, carrying Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton on their first, successful...
in 1929-1931. Howard served in the capacity of a chemist and the hydrologist aboard the vessel, which include being the individual who was responsible for monitoring the sea-water temperatures and the collection and chemical analysis of sea-water samples.
Howard was born and raised in Camberwell
Camberwell
Camberwell is a district of south London, England, and forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is a built-up inner city district located southeast of Charing Cross. To the west it has a boundary with the London Borough of Lambeth.-Toponymy:...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. He completed a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
, his first of five degrees at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
in 1927; Howard also received an honorary doctorate in statistics and a PhD in linguistics from the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
. He worked with the Department of Human Movement as a programmer and a statics consultant and an honorary researcher working full-time without pay for over 20 years. He stopped in 2003 at age 97.
He was doing work on organic chemistry when he was approached by Sir David Orme Masson
David Orme Masson
Sir David Orme Masson KBE FRS was a scientist born in England who emigrated to Australia to become Professor of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne.-Early life:...
for the BANZARE. Within 48 hours Howard took the train to Perch and sailed to England on Orient Steam Navigation’s Orvieto.
Just before his 100th birthday, Howard, through pre-recorded film, opened the new Discovery’s Ocean Odyssey wing at the Discovery Point museum in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, which stands beside the old restored ship Discovery. He will be profiled in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery’s new exhibition Islands to Ice: The Great Southern Ocean and Antarctica in late 2010.
In 2005 he donated a substantial, undisclosed sum of money for a computer laboratory for undergraduate students. Four years earlier in 2001 he was presented with the Australian Geographic Society award.