Department of Mathematical Physics

The Department of Mathematical Physics began in 1951, led initially by Herbert Sydney (Bert) Green, and later by Charles Angas (Angas) Hurst.  While a small department, it had a remarkable international reputation for scholarship [1].

The Chair of Mathematical Physics in Adelaide was the first chair in theoretical physics in Australia [2].

Tenured staff appointments:

• Bert Green, Inaugural Professor, 1951-1985
• Harry Messel, Senior Lecturer, 1951-1952
• (Otto Bergmann, Senior Research Fellow, 1952-1955)
• John Ward, Senior Lecturer, 1953-1954
• Angas Hurst, Senior Lecturer/Professor 1957-1988
• Ian McCarthy, Lecturer,1960-1963
• Pat Seymour, Snr Lecturer/Reader 1963-1968
• Lindsay Dodd, Lecturer/Snr Lecturer/Reader 1969-1997
• Peter Szekeres, Lecturer/Snr Lecturer 1971-2000
• Paul Davies, Professor, 1990-1994 [3]

The Physics and Mathematical Physics departments merged into one department in 1986. The Physics Department  was part of the School of Chemistry & Physics from 2003, and the School of Physical Sciences from 2015. [4]

Professor of Mathematical Physics

• Professor Herbert Sydney Green, BSc (Lond), DSc, PhD (Edin), FAA, 1951-1985 (Emeritus Professor 1986)
• Professor Charles Angas Hurst, BA, BSc (Melb), PhD (Camb), FAA, 1964-1988 (Emeritus Professor 1989)

References

1. Taken from - https://sciences.adelaide.edu.au/physical-sciences/history/physics-history - Accessed 12 December 2020.

2. Australian Academy of Science - https://www.science.org.au/fellowship/fellows/biographical-memoirs/herbert-sydney-green-1920-1999#by - Accessed 29 January 2021.

3. Sciences.adelaide.edu.au - op cit.

4. Mathematical Physics at the University of Adelaide.  Peter Szekeres - https://sciences.adelaide.edu.au/physical-sciences/system/files/media/documents/2019-07/peter-szekeres-slides.pdf - Accessed 29 January 2021.