Barber studied at the University of New South Wales, where he received the University Medal in applied mathematics and graduated with first class honours. He received a PhD from Cornell University in the USA in theoretical physics in 1972. He is best known for the scaling theory of finite size effects at phase transitions, which he introduced together with Michael Fisher.
He assumed his first office-bearing position as Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) at the University of Western Australia in 1994 and held the position until 2002. That year, Barber was appointed Executive Director, Science Planning at the CSIRO. In 2006, he was appointed Group Executive, Information, Manufacturing and Minerals. He held this position until his appointment as Vice-Chancellor at Flinders University in 2008—a position he held until December 2014. During his time as Vice Chancellor he worked "to enhance the University’s contribution to the ‘new South Australia’ with its strong defence and resources sectors."[1] In 2008 he stated: "The University is already more engaged with the defence and resource industries than many people recognise but we need to further strengthen the science and technology base at Flinders so that the University is better positioned to grasp more of the opportunities in the new South Australia. We need to work through this in a planned and deliberate way to find appropriate strategies to address it."[2]
That same year, Barber's salary for his position as Vice Chancellor of Flinders University became a controversial topic. The Advertiser revealed that he would receive between $710,000 and $719,999 in 2012. In 2010 his salary had been $545,000. A spokesperson from Flinders University stated that his remuneration was "in line" with industry standards.[4]
Throughout his career, Barber has acted as an advisor on science and research matters to government and industry in Australia and overseas.[1][5]
In 2018 Barber was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for "distinguished service to higher education administration, and in the field of mathematical physics, particularly statistical mechanics, as an academic and researcher, and through contributions to science policy reform".[8]
^ abc. 1 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^. blogs.flinders.edu.au. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
^. 21 March 2012. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^Stokes, Katrina (26 June 2012). "$160,000 boost in annual pay for Flinders University vice-chancellor Professor Michael Barber". The Advertiser. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
^. www.industry.gov.au. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
^"Australia Day Honours 2018: The full list". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
^Derek Anderson (1993). "Barber, Horace Newton (1914–1971)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press (MUP).
^G.J. McCarthy; R.H. Walker (5 December 2013). "Barber, Horace Newton (1914-1971)". Encyclopaedia of Australian Science.
External linksedit
Biographical entry, Encyclopedia of Australian Science
SIAM fellows: class of 2009
January 01, 1970
michael, barber, academic, michael, newton, barber, born, april, 1947, mathematician, physicist, academic, vice, chancellor, flinders, university, south, australia, from, 2008, until, 2014, michael, barberao, faaborn30, april, 1947, alma, matercornell, univers. Michael Newton Barber AO FAA born 30 April 1947 is a mathematician physicist and academic He was Vice Chancellor of Flinders University in South Australia from 2008 until 2014 Michael BarberAO FAABorn30 April 1947 Alma materCornell UniversityUniversity of New South Wales OccupationMathematicianphysicist AwardsCentenary MedalSIAM FellowAcademic careerFieldsStatistical mechanics materials science computational mathematics InstitutionsAustralian National UniversityUniversity of New South WalesFlinders UniversityUniversity of Western Australia Doctoral advisorMichael FisherDoctoral studentsMurray Batchelor Peter George Hornby Contents 1 Career 2 Recognition 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksCareer editBarber studied at the University of New South Wales where he received the University Medal in applied mathematics and graduated with first class honours He received a PhD from Cornell University in the USA in theoretical physics in 1972 He is best known for the scaling theory of finite size effects at phase transitions which he introduced together with Michael Fisher Barber worked at the Australian National University and University of New South Wales as an academic in the 1970s and 1980s in 1990 he was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Science at the ANU He assumed his first office bearing position as Pro Vice Chancellor Research at the University of Western Australia in 1994 and held the position until 2002 That year Barber was appointed Executive Director Science Planning at the CSIRO In 2006 he was appointed Group Executive Information Manufacturing and Minerals He held this position until his appointment as Vice Chancellor at Flinders University in 2008 a position he held until December 2014 During his time as Vice Chancellor he worked to enhance the University s contribution to the new South Australia with its strong defence and resources sectors 1 In 2008 he stated The University is already more engaged with the defence and resource industries than many people recognise but we need to further strengthen the science and technology base at Flinders so that the University is better positioned to grasp more of the opportunities in the new South Australia We need to work through this in a planned and deliberate way to find appropriate strategies to address it 2 In 2012 Barber was a member of the South Australian State Advisory Council of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia CEDA 3 That same year Barber s salary for his position as Vice Chancellor of Flinders University became a controversial topic The Advertiser revealed that he would receive between 710 000 and 719 999 in 2012 In 2010 his salary had been 545 000 A spokesperson from Flinders University stated that his remuneration was in line with industry standards 4 Throughout his career Barber has acted as an advisor on science and research matters to government and industry in Australia and overseas 1 5 Recognition editBarber was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 1992 He served as the organisation s Secretary Science Policy from 2001 until 2005 1 In 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society through university administration and scientific research 6 In 2009 he was elected a Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics SIAM 7 In 2018 Barber was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia AO for distinguished service to higher education administration and in the field of mathematical physics particularly statistical mechanics as an academic and researcher and through contributions to science policy reform 8 Personal life editBarber s father was noted Australian botanist and geneticist Horace Barber FAA FRS 9 10 References edit a b c Vice Chancellor Flinders University 1 August 2013 Archived from the original on 1 August 2013 Retrieved 18 April 2016 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link Flinders News Blog Archive Enhancing Flinders role in the economy blogs flinders edu au Archived from the original on 14 November 2012 Retrieved 18 April 2016 South Australian state advisory council 21 March 2012 Archived from the original on 21 March 2012 Retrieved 26 April 2016 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link Stokes Katrina 26 June 2012 160 000 boost in annual pay for Flinders University vice chancellor Professor Michael Barber The Advertiser Retrieved 18 April 2016 Research Workforce Strategic Advisory Group www industry gov au Archived from the original on 25 April 2016 Retrieved 18 April 2016 Centenary Medal 1 January 2001 It s an Honour Class of 2009 SIAM Fellows fellows siam org Australia Day Honours 2018 The full list The Sydney Morning Herald 26 January 2018 Retrieved 25 January 2018 Derek Anderson 1993 Barber Horace Newton 1914 1971 Australian Dictionary of Biography Melbourne University Press MUP G J McCarthy R H Walker 5 December 2013 Barber Horace Newton 1914 1971 Encyclopaedia of Australian Science External links editBiographical entry Encyclopedia of Australian Science SIAM fellows class of 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michael Barber academic amp oldid 1145986009, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
