Home Bright Sparcs
Biographical entry

Home | Browse | Search | Previous | Next
Be a Bright Sparcs Supporter

Loewe, Fritz Philipp (1895 - 1974)

Online SourcesArchival/Heritage SourcesPublished Sources
Meteorologist and Explorer
Born: 11 March 1895  Schöneberg, Germany.  Died: 27 March 1974  Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
Fritz Philipp Loewe arrived in Australia in 1937 and established Australia’s first university Department of Meteorology (University of Melbourne). Prior to this he had spent many years working in England and in Europe. Loewe initially undertook legal studies at the University of Grenoble, but this was interrupted for four years during World War I when he worked as a Radio operator in an artillery unit. On his return from the war he transferred to the University of Berlin to study terrestrial physical sciences, graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in geography and physics in 1924.

From 1922 Loewe was appointed to a number of positions including Scientific Assistant at the Postdam Meteorological Observatory (1922), Head of Research Flights of the Prussian Meteorological Service (1925) and Personal Assistant to Wegener on the German Greenland Expedition (1930-1931). During 1933 and 1934 Loewe was subjected to much discrimination because he was Jewish and after being sacked from the German Meteorological Service in 1934 fled to the United Kingdom where he worked as a Meteorologist at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, UK. In 1937 Raymond Priestley, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, asked Frtiz Loewe to come to the University and establish university's Department of Meteorology. He remained at the University of Melbourne until his retirement in 1959.


Career Highlights

Chronology
1914 - 1918Wireless operator in the German Army
1921Tidal current surveys in Germany
1922 - c. 1924Scientific Assistant at the Postdam Meteorological Observatory
1924Cosmic radiation research in Switzerland
1924Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) completed at the University of Berlin
1925Atlantic expedition on the Meteor
1925 - c. 1928Head of Research Flights of the Prussian Meteorological Service
1926Heat balance studies on the Grossen Aletschgletscher
1929Member of the Wegener expedition to Greenland ice cap
1930 - 1931Personal Assistant to Wegener on the German Greenland Expedition
1934Fled Germany to England
1934 - 1937Meteorologist at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, UK
1937Migrated to Australia (Melbourne)
1937 - 1960First Lecturer in Meteorology at the University of Melbourne
1947Member of the failed Wyatt Earp expedition to Antarctica
1950 - 1951Member of the French lead expedition to Antarctica on the Commandant Charcot
1958UNESCO expert to Pakistan where he established a meteorological training school

 
Online SourcesPublished Sources
See Also

Google
Structure based on ISAAR(CPF) - click here for an explanation of the fields.Prepared by: McCarthy, G.J.
Created: 20 October 1993
Modified: 29 January 2007

Published by The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre on ASAPWeb, 1994 - 2007
Originally published 1994-1999 by Australian Science Archives Project, 1999-2006 by the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
Disclaimer, Copyright and Privacy Policy
Submit any comments, questions, corrections and additions
Prepared by: Acknowledgements
Updated: 26 February 2007
http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P002202b.htm

[ Foundation Supporter - National Council for the Centenary of Federation ]
[ Top of page | Bright Sparcs Home | Browse | Search ]