Natural and Processed Materials' Strand, Structure and Properties

Write an account of the contributions of a scientist, such as Dalton, to our understanding of atoms and molecules

The Physics in Australia to 1945 site contains more detailed information on Australian physicists, with listings of their publications and biographical details. This is definitely a worthwhile location to visit. The introduction is an excellent place to start with this site.

To find out more information on a particular scientist, a Bibliography is now available through Bright Sparcs. This resource lists any biographical books or articles about an Australian scientist, which can then be located in your library.

While history tends to focus on the exciting discoveries and firsts in science, much of scientific progress is made by men and women who work steadily on their research, and slowly add to our scientific knowledge and understanding. By searching Bright Sparcs for 'physicist', you will discover many names of those who have contributed to this cumulative scientific knowledge.

A good number of these scientists have Australian Academy of Science Biographical Memoirs; the memoirs provide lengthy, detailed life stories of over eighty famous Australian scientists. These files can then be downloaded and/or printed out for later use at home or in the classroom.

The following physicists can provide a good starting point for you:

Stuart Butler, theoretical physicist;
John Sanders, physicist and crystallographer; and
John Jaeger, geophysicist and mathematician.

Analyse and discuss statistics on the participation in science of different groups in Australia

To help your students learn more about Australia's long and productive scientific, technological and medical heritage, some questions that could be asked about science in Australia are:

• Why are there proportionately fewer female scientists than male scientists listed in Bright Sparcs?

• In which scientific fields have most women worked? Why do you think this is so?

• What were the restrictions on female participation in science in the past? Do these restrictions still apply today?

• In the 1800s the distinction between careers was more blurred than it is today; few scientists received 'professional' training or were paid for the work they did. What makes someone a scientist? Why is some called a 'scientist'?