SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR PHYSICS Council Chairman Sir Robert Norman Deputy Chairman S. E. Chatterton Councillor Lynn Arnold AN J. D. Brookes THI J. Keith Campbell T. N. P. Dougherty J. I. Dryburgh Sir George Fisher T. J. N. Foley H. D. Huyer R. J. Kirby W. M. Leonard J. A. Macpherson Sir Frank Packer Sir Raymond Purves John R. Slade or Paul H. Slade A. J. White R. W. R. Wiltshire Liaison Member I. McCloy Ex Officio Chancellor of the University of Sydney Deputy Chancellor Vice-Chancellor and Principal Deputy Principal Chairman, Senate Finance Committee" Professor and Head of the School of Physics and Director of the Foundation Executive Officers Director Professor H. Messel Secretary Oscar Guth Asst Secretary Miss Rita Knight Hon Secretaries C. R. Hall Rear-Admiral H. A. Showers, R.A.N. Ret. JAN ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE SCIENCE FOUN| THE SCHOOL OF PHYSICS WITHIN THE JANUARY, 1972 Highlights of the Year: RADIO TELEMETRY GROUP MARKS FIRST STEPS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICS A HE past 12 months saw three principal highlights in the efforts of the Science Foundation. All three were in different spheres. In the sphere of the workings of the Foundation itself, a major breakthrough was achieved when the Annual General Meeting on March 17, 1971 recommended to the Senate of the University, and Senate subsequently approved, changes to the Constitution which made it possible for Life Governors and Life Members of the Foundation to remain such even if their annual contributions were not forthcoming at previous levels. The changes also made it possible for the Council of the Foundation to invite from within or outside of the Foundation, three additional Councillors to sit on the governing body of the Foundation. In the sphere of the Foundation's annual International Science Schools for High School Students, 1971 saw a departure from physics to biology as the general subject of the lectures which were given under the heading "Molecules to Man". Once again the international scholars included ten from the United States and five each from Britain and Japan. The Japanese scholars were honoured by the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr Eisaku Sato, who presented them, on behalf of the Foundation, with their scholarship certificates and medals. In London the students were presented to the Duke of Edinburgh at a Buckingham Palace garden party, and in Washington the presentation ceremony was held at the White House. The London and Tokyo ceremonies were marked by the presence of the Chancellor of the University of Sydney, Mr H. D. Black. The third highlight of the Foundation's year concerned the seventh Research Department in the School of Physics for which a Chair of Environmental Physics had already been established but has not yet been filled. The first research programme of the new department was initiated during early 1971 by Professor Messel in collaboration with the Administration of the Northern Territory. The programme concerns itself with the habits and movements of saltwater crocodiles which are at present on the verge of extinction. This programme requires the co-operative effort of physicists, electronic engineers, physiologists, anatomists, zoologists, and ecologists and provides an excellent opportunity for exciting and important interdisciplinary research. In fact, it was some seven years ago that the School of Physics decided that, if possible, it should also concern itself with studies which were more of an applied and interdisciplinary nature and hopefully more directly related to the immediate needs of society. It was felt that the School with the help of the Foundation, should endeavour to apply some of the latest scientific and technological know-how towards this end. This was one of the reasons for the establishment of the Chair of Environmental Physics in the School. The term "Environmental Studies" is exceedingly broad and even the term "Environmental Physics" covers a large number of areas. The problem of deciding what particular area or areas of Environmental Physics the new Department should endeavour to embrace is difficult and this is one of the reasons why the School has proceeded relatively slowly in this regard to the appointment of academic staff in the field. It was felt that perhaps the best way to proceed in the early stages was to build up a number of small, but important, projects having wide applicability and which could later fit in easily into the Environmental Physics Department. One such project is radio (electromagnetic) telemetry and interrogation, and this is at present the direct research concern of Professor Messel. .jiwjp; COVER PICTURE shows an 11 ft saltwater crocodile being captured with a net in Australian Northern Territory waters. Nets are best for capturing crocodiles since the animal's nose usually becomes entangled and it is unable to bite. A drug is then administered and when it has taken effect the crocodile is pulled ashore. Left, once the drugged crocodile has been pulled ashore a series of measurements are made for future reference and checking, if and when the crocodile is recaptured. ?• >• t^.. ,V'. k .••^•f, "V- i*mmmm Above, handling a large crocodile requires manpower, muscle and plenty of skill. Professor Messel's team is now able to catch and drug crocodiles successfully, as well as handle them »>• on land. Here a crocodile is being weighed with a block and tackle—it weighed close io 400 lbs. Right, to attach a miniature radio transmitter to a crocodile allowing it u> be tracked for distances up to 100 miles, stainless "--*> steel bolts are put above the animals front legs by drilling holes through the scewts. The radio transmitter is then attached to the bolts, but this system of attachment has not proved satisfactory and is now being modified. ...-.- : ..-..-. Above, the problem of drugging a crocodile is a complex and difficult one. Professor Messel's team worked "with freshwater crocodiles about 6 ft in length which are more numerous and also saltwater ones. But, as can be seen they don't like being/hauled out of the water. Right top, a drugged crocodile being hauled oul of the water. Note the characteristic turning of the head to the right which unexplainably always seems to happen when a crocodile is knocked out with a neuromuscular relaxant. Right center, the crocodile remains unconscious for about 35 minutes and then must be carefully handled in bringing it back into action again. Right bottom, Professor Messel testing a crocodile to see how far its responses have recovered. Care is needed for they bite, and fast too! The space programme gave considerable impetus to the development of microminiaturized electronic circuitry. Man's landing on the moon, the interrogation of scientific equipment on the moon, in space satellites and in deep space probes required the development of integrated circuits. These circuits made the construction of highly reliable, long term, very lightweight electronic equipment capable of functioning under severe environmental conditions possible. The field of radio (electromagnetic) interrogation of remote electronic sensors is an important and rapidly growing one to be used in a very wide sphere of scientific studies—from "machines" interrogating "man" to "machines" interrogating "machines" (for example, the radio interrogation of an electronic biosensor in the form of an "electronic pill" in the intestine of ron, or the radio interrogation by satellite of a scientific data-gathering ocean buoy). The problems involved in such work are complex and there is urgent need for much further development. The field is bound to grow rapidly and importantly provides excellent opportunity for interdisciplinary studies and research. It was for reasons such as these that in 1967 Professor Messel initiated, in conjunction with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, a research programme concerned with the radio telemetry tracking of polar bears over the Arctic Ocean. The successful completion of such a programme required the development of highly sophisticated electronic transponders and a contract was let to American industry for such development. After much work industry was at that time unable to fulfil the contract, ending in the payment and gain of $28,000 to the School of Physics for breach of contract. There was little alternative at that stage but to allow the polar bear research programme to lapse. As already mentioned, in the intervening years there has been considerable gain made in the development of electronic components. These developments have been watched closely, along with the increasing need and use of radio interrogation of remote electronic sensors. By 1971 it appeared that the time was opportune to pursue this matter further and for the School to establish a small radio telemetry and interrogation group, non-academic in the first instance. As a first step in this direction Professor Messel examined a number of possible specific research projects wherein radio telemetry techniques would be used for the solution of urgent ecological problems. He found, too, that there was considerable interest in this field throughout Australia and a two day workshop was held in the School on April 30 and May Y, 1971, for the Australian scientists concerned. Eighteen university and government scientists from Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales participated in the workshop. The workshop confirmed more strongly than ever the urgent need for the establishment of a full-time radio telemetry and interrogation group which would form the base for such work throughout Australia. This group has now been established and one of its first tasks, concerns the study of the saltwater crocodile. -'•&;• Iff -•••• SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Austr soon simuli it is seco At the Seventeenth Annual General Meeting of the Science Foundation for Physics held at the Scienc Menzies Hotel, Sydney on March 17, 1971, Sir Robert Norman was re-elected Chairman of the Stude Foundation and Mr S.