Michael Birt was born on 18 January 1932 in Melbourne, Australia. He was educated at Melbourne Boys High School and the University of Melbourne, where he completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, a Bachelor of Science and a PhD in biochemistry.
In 1960, Birt returned to the University of Melbourne taking up the position of lecturer and then senior lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry. In 1967 he was invited to become the inaugural chair and head of the Australian National University Department of Biochemistry, where he remained until his appointment in 1973 as vice-chancellor designate at the Wollongong University College. Foundation vice-chancellor at the University of Wollongong from 1975, Michael Birt then moved on to the vice-chancellorship of the University of New South Wales in 1981.
During his time as Vice Chancellor at the University of Wollongong, Birt had been responsible for getting the University of Wollongong up and running, and also preparing it for amalgamation with the Wollongong Teachers College in 1982. He left Wollongong to take on the position of Vice Chancellor at the University of New South Wales.[1] In honour of Birt's contribution to the University of Wollongong, its main library is named the Michael Birt Library.
As the Vice Chancellor of the University of New South Wales, Birt managed the university through the reintroduction of student fees and oversaw the development of the College of Fine Arts and the Australian Defence Force Academy. In 1993 the Michael Birt Gardens at UNSW were named in honour of Birt's contribution to the UNSW.[2]
Birt was appointed a Commander of the British Empire in 1980[3] and an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1986.[4]
Birt died on 28 October 2001, survived by his widow, Jenny, and two sons. Following a burial mass at St Mary's Church, North Sydney he was cremated.[5]
References
^. Archived from the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
^"The Vice-Chancellors of the University of New South Wales Exhibition". UNSW Records & Archives Office. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
^"Prof Lindsay Michael Birt". Australian Honours Search Facility, Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 22 September 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Emeritus Professor Lindsay Michael Birt, CBE". Australian Honours Search Facility, Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 22 September 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Clipping from The Sydney Morning Herald - Newspapers.com". Fairfax Media. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
Further reading
Horne, Julia (1997). Not an ivory tower : the making of an Australian vice-chancellor : based on interviews with Michael and Jenny Birt. Australia: University of New South Wales Archives. ISBN0-7334-0449-9.
michael, birt, biochemist, other, people, with, same, name, michael, birt, lindsay, michael, birt, january, 1932, october, 2001, inaugural, vice, chancellor, university, wollongong, between, 1975, 1980, fourth, vice, chancellor, university, south, wales, betwe. For other people with the same name see Michael Birt Lindsay Michael Birt AO CBE 18 January 1932 28 October 2001 was the inaugural vice chancellor of the University of Wollongong between 1975 and 1980 and the fourth vice chancellor of the University of New South Wales between 1981 and 1992 Biography EditMichael Birt was born on 18 January 1932 in Melbourne Australia He was educated at Melbourne Boys High School and the University of Melbourne where he completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science a Bachelor of Science and a PhD in biochemistry In 1960 Birt returned to the University of Melbourne taking up the position of lecturer and then senior lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry In 1967 he was invited to become the inaugural chair and head of the Australian National University Department of Biochemistry where he remained until his appointment in 1973 as vice chancellor designate at the Wollongong University College Foundation vice chancellor at the University of Wollongong from 1975 Michael Birt then moved on to the vice chancellorship of the University of New South Wales in 1981 During his time as Vice Chancellor at the University of Wollongong Birt had been responsible for getting the University of Wollongong up and running and also preparing it for amalgamation with the Wollongong Teachers College in 1982 He left Wollongong to take on the position of Vice Chancellor at the University of New South Wales 1 In honour of Birt s contribution to the University of Wollongong its main library is named the Michael Birt Library As the Vice Chancellor of the University of New South Wales Birt managed the university through the reintroduction of student fees and oversaw the development of the College of Fine Arts and the Australian Defence Force Academy In 1993 the Michael Birt Gardens at UNSW were named in honour of Birt s contribution to the UNSW 2 Birt was appointed a Commander of the British Empire in 1980 3 and an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1986 4 Birt died on 28 October 2001 survived by his widow Jenny and two sons Following a burial mass at St Mary s Church North Sydney he was cremated 5 References Edit History of the University of Wollongong Archived from the original on 20 October 2008 Retrieved 9 October 2010 The Vice Chancellors of the University of New South Wales Exhibition UNSW Records amp Archives Office Retrieved 28 June 2011 Prof Lindsay Michael Birt Australian Honours Search Facility Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Retrieved 22 September 2020 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Emeritus Professor Lindsay Michael Birt CBE Australian Honours Search Facility Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Retrieved 22 September 2020 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Clipping from The Sydney Morning Herald Newspapers com Fairfax Media Retrieved 22 September 2020 Further reading EditHorne Julia 1997 Not an ivory tower the making of an Australian vice chancellor based on interviews with Michael and Jenny Birt Australia University of New South Wales Archives ISBN 0 7334 0449 9 Academic officesNew title Vice Chancellor of the University of Wollongong1975 1980 Succeeded byKen McKinnonPreceded bySir Rupert Myers Vice Chancellor of the University of New South Wales1981 1992 Succeeded byJohn Niland This biography of an Australian academic is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michael Birt biochemist amp oldid 987880866, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
