Professor Eddie Holmes FAA FRS – 2021 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science (read more)
Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla FAA FTSE – 2022 NSW Australian of the Year
14 December 1935 – 18 November 2021
Professor Tony Klein was elected to the Australian Academy of Science in 1994, and was known internationally for his work on neutron optics, especially his work on neutron interferometry. He was instrumental in developing the technique of neutron interferometry as a tool to verify the sign change in rotation of a spinor through 360°. His research accomplishments include several significant fundamental experiments in quantum physics using beams of slow neutrons and many contributions to instrumentation in experimental physics.
Professor Klein was an Emeritus Professor in the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne, where he held a Personal Chair in Physics until his retirement in 1998. He served on, and presided over numerous scientific and advisor boards, including nearly two decades as Chair of the Research and Ethics Committees of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital .
In July 1969, Professor Klein was asked by the ABC to do voice-commentary explaining the technology behind the voyage of Apollo 11 during its mission, and he provided the commentary for the live TV broadcast in Australia of the Armstrong–Aldrin moon landing. He was invited back to provide commentary for the Apollo 12 and Apollo 13 missions.
He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1999 in recognition of his work.
Profesosr Klein gave his time generously to the Academy, and served as Chair of the Victorian Regional Group of Academy Fellows from 2002 to 2017. His dedication to organising intellectual and social gatherings for the Victorian Fellows was legendary, as was his good humour.
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