Ian Murray Mackerras
Encyclopedia
Ian Murray Mackerras was an Australia
n zoologist
.
Mackerras was born in Balclutha
, New Zealand
to James Murray Mackerras, and Elizabeth Mary (née Creagh), both farmers. His parents separated and Ian and brother Alan lived with their mother in Sydney
. Ian was educated at Sydney Grammar School
, matriculating in 1915.
On 17 December 1915 Mackerras enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
after advancing his age. He was designated laboratory attendant in IHS Karoola on 19 December 1915. He later saw action in France
and was gassed on 28 May 1918. He returned to Australia, arriving in Melbourne
on 13 April 1919.
Mackerras studied medicine at the University of Sydney
in April 1919 but soon switched to zoology. In March 1924 Mackerras graduated MB, ChM, BSc, with First Class Honours in Zoology, the University Medal in Zoology, and shared the John Coutts Scholarship).
Mackerras was awarded the Linnean Macleay Fellowship in Zoology in 1925. He wrote papers on the flies Nemestrinidae
and Mydaidae. From January 1927 he worked at the Bureau of Microbiology of the New South Wales Department of Public Health.
In 1928 the newly founded Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
was looking for entomologists
. Mackerras joined the new organisation on 1 December 1928 and soon moved his family to Canberra
. He worked on the buffalo fly and sheep blow-fly
problems.
Mackerras served in the Middle East
and Guinea
in World War II
, advising on sanitation and malaria
.
On 2 June 1947 Mackerras became the first Director of the newly established Queensland Institute of Medical Research
(QIMR) in Brisbane
.
In 1950 Mackerras was awarded the Clarke Medal
by the Royal Society of New South Wales
; was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
at its first election in 1954, and served on its Council from 1955 to 1957; he and wife Josephine were both appointed as Research Fellows in the Division of Entomology, in the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in August 1961.
Mackerras edited a text-book, The Insects of Australia; it includes some of his own drawings.
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 zoologist
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
.
Mackerras was born in Balclutha
Balclutha, New Zealand
Balclutha is a town in Otago, it lies towards the end of the Clutha River on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is about halfway between Dunedin and Invercargill on the Main South Line railway, State Highway 1 and the Southern Scenic Route...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
to James Murray Mackerras, and Elizabeth Mary (née Creagh), both farmers. His parents separated and Ian and brother Alan lived with their mother in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. Ian was educated at Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, matriculating in 1915.
On 17 December 1915 Mackerras enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
after advancing his age. He was designated laboratory attendant in IHS Karoola on 19 December 1915. He later saw action in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and was gassed on 28 May 1918. He returned to Australia, arriving in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on 13 April 1919.
Mackerras studied medicine at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in April 1919 but soon switched to zoology. In March 1924 Mackerras graduated MB, ChM, BSc, with First Class Honours in Zoology, the University Medal in Zoology, and shared the John Coutts Scholarship).
Mackerras was awarded the Linnean Macleay Fellowship in Zoology in 1925. He wrote papers on the flies Nemestrinidae
Nemestrinoidea
The Nemestrinoidea are a small, monophyletic superfamily of flies, whose relationship to the remaining Brachycera is uncertain; they are sometimes grouped with the Tabanomorpha rather than the Asilomorpha. They are presently considered to be the sister taxon to the Asiloidea...
and Mydaidae. From January 1927 he worked at the Bureau of Microbiology of the New South Wales Department of Public Health.
In 1928 the newly founded Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is the national government body for scientific research in Australia...
was looking for entomologists
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
. Mackerras joined the new organisation on 1 December 1928 and soon moved his family to Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. He worked on the buffalo fly and sheep blow-fly
Blow-fly
Calliphoridae are insects in the Order Diptera, family Calliphoridae...
problems.
Mackerras served in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, advising on sanitation and malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
.
On 2 June 1947 Mackerras became the first Director of the newly established Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Queensland Institute of Medical Research
The Queensland Institute of Medical Research is one of Australia’s largest medical research institutes, and is recognised worldwide for the quality of its research. QIMR was established in 1945 by an Act of the Government of Queensland. The original purpose of the Institute was to further the...
(QIMR) in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.
In 1950 Mackerras was awarded the Clarke Medal
Clarke Medal
The Clarke Medal is awarded by the Royal Society of New South Wales for distinguished work in the Natural sciences.Named in honour of the Reverend William Branwhite Clarke, one of the founders of the Society...
by the Royal Society of New South Wales
Royal Society of New South Wales
The Royal Society of New South Wales is a learned society based in Sydney, Australia. It was established as the Philosophical Society of Australasia on 27 June 1821...
; was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
Australian Academy of Science
The Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London. The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The Academy is modelled after the Royal Society and operates under a Royal Charter; as such it is...
at its first election in 1954, and served on its Council from 1955 to 1957; he and wife Josephine were both appointed as Research Fellows in the Division of Entomology, in the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in August 1961.
Mackerras edited a text-book, The Insects of Australia; it includes some of his own drawings.
External links
- Mackerras, Ian Murray (1898 - 1980) Bright Sparcs Bio
- Mackerras, Ian Murray (1898 - 1980) ADB bio