Ian Clunies Ross

Sir William Ian Clunies Ross (22 February 189920 June 1959) was an Australian veterinary scientist. He has been described as the "architect" of Australia's scientific boom, for his stewardship of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the Australian scientific organisation.

Family Ian Clunies Ross was born in Bathurst, New South Wales on 22 February 1899. His grandfather, Robert Clunies Ross, was a brother of John Clunies-Ross, who settled with his family and crew on Cocos (Keeling) Islands in 1826–7 and proclaimed a kingdom. He married Janet Leslie Carter on 6 October 1927, in Sydney, Australia. The couple had three sons, Anthony, Adrian and David.

Education Clunies Ross was educated at Newington College (1912–1916) and in 1917 he entered the University of Sydney, in the Agriculture Faculty, and transferred to veterinary science at the beginning of 1918, graduating with second class honours in 1920.

His father died in 1914, and his brothers Egerton and Rob died in WWI, killed in action and from pneumonic influenza respectively.

While in his role at the CSIRO Clunies Ross came into conflict with pioneering radio astronomer Ruby Payne-Scott over the role of women in the organization, and her role in particular. The two met in person to discuss the disparity in pay and working conditions between male and female employees of CSIRO, but this did not result in change to the status quo. When Payne-Scott's marriage and pregnancy were revealed, the two had a hostile exchange of letters, and CSIRO consequently deprived her of permanent employee status and pension funds.

Later years and legacy

In 1954, Clunies Ross was knighted and appointed Order of St Michael and St George (CMG), and made a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (FAA).

He died of atherosclerotic heart disease on 20 June 1959 in Melbourne, and is buried in Box Hill cemetery. Knight Bachelor (10 June 1954) as Chairman of the CSIRO

Namesakes Clunies Ross National Science and Technology Award Clunies Ross Street in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Clunies Ross Street in Prospect, New South Wales, Australia Clunies Ross Court in Brisbane Technology Park, Eight Mile Plains, Queensland, Australia Clunies Ross Award or the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Clunies Ross Award from 1959 Clunies Ross House at Newington College Ian Clunies Ross lecture theatre in the J.D.Stewart Building, School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney