Media releases

Academy Fellow to head international physics union

8 November 2011

Australian Academy of Science Fellow Professor Bruce McKellar has been elected as the next
President of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP).

Professor McKellar was elected President-Designate at the IUPAP General Assembly in
London. When he takes office in 2014, he will become the Union’s first Australian President –
and its first President from the southern hemisphere.

“I warmly congratulate Professor McKellar on this well-deserved recognition of his
contributions to physics and to science internationally,” said Australian Academy of Science
President, Professor Suzanne Cory.

“Professor McKellar is a very distinguished physicist with many awards to his name, including
the Academy’s Pawsey medal for outstanding early career physicists and Matthew Flinders
Medal for scientific research of the highest standing.”

IUPAP was formed in 1922 to represent physics internationally. Australia became a member
in 1925.

The mission of the Union is to assist in the worldwide development of physics, to foster
international cooperation in physics, and to help in the application of physics toward solving
problems of concern to humanity.

“Today more than ever, physics is an international activity, with many of its problems being
attacked by international collaborations of physicists,” Professor McKellar said.

“I am honoured to accept this appointment, which recognises the increasingly significant
international role of Australian physicists.”

Professor McKellar was elected to the Australian Academy of Science in 1987. He has been
its Secretary Physical Sciences, Vice President, and Foreign Secretary. He is also a Fellow of
the Australian Institute of Physics, the Institute of Physics (UK) and the American Physical
Society, and is an Honorary Professorial Fellow of Melbourne University.

The Australian Academy of Science represents Australia’s most distinguished scientists,
recognises research excellence, advises governments and promotes science education and
public awareness of science.