Ebook: Making Waves: The Story of Ruby Payne-Scott: Australian Pioneer Radio Astronomer

This book is an abbreviated, partly re-written version of "Under the Radar - The First Woman in Radio Astronomy: Ruby Payne-Scott." It addresses a general readership interested in historical and sociological aspects of astronomy and presents the biography of Ruby Payne-Scott (1912 – 1981). As the first female radio astronomer (and one of the first people in the world to consider radio astronomy), she made classic contributions to solar radio physics.
She also played a major role in the design of the Australian government's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research radars, which were in turn of vital importance in the Southwest Pacific Theatre in World War II. These radars were used by military personnel from Australia, the United States and New Zealand. From a sociological perspective, her career offers many examples of the perils of being a female academic in the first half of the 20th century.

Written in an engaging style and complemented by many historical photographs, this book offers fascinating insights into the beginnings of radio astronomy and the role of a pioneering woman in astronomy. To set the scene, the first colourfully illustrated chapter presents an overview of solar astrophysics and the tools of the radio astronomer.

From the reviews of “Under the Radar”:

“This is a beautifully-researched, copiously-illustrated and well-written book that tells us much more than the life of one amazing female radio astronomer. It also provides a profile on radar developments during WWII and on Australia’s pre-eminent place in solar radio astronomy in the years following WWII. Under the Radar is compelling reading, and if you have taken the time to read right through this review then it certainly belongs on your bookshelf!” (Wayne Orchiston, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, March, 2010)

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This book is an abbreviated, partly re-written version of "Under the Radar - The First Woman in Radio Astronomy: Ruby Payne-Scott." It addresses a general readership interested in historical and sociological aspects of astronomy and presents the biography of Ruby Payne-Scott (1912 – 1981). As the first female radio astronomer (and one of the first people in the world to consider radio astronomy), she made classic contributions to solar radio physics.
She also played a major role in the design of the Australian government's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research radars, which were in turn of vital importance in the Southwest Pacific Theatre in World War II. These radars were used by military personnel from Australia, the United States and New Zealand. From a sociological perspective, her career offers many examples of the perils of being a female academic in the first half of the 20th century.

Written in an engaging style and complemented by many historical photographs, this book offers fascinating insights into the beginnings of radio astronomy and the role of a pioneering woman in astronomy. To set the scene, the first colourfully illustrated chapter presents an overview of solar astrophysics and the tools of the radio astronomer.

From the reviews of “Under the Radar”:

“This is a beautifully-researched, copiously-illustrated and well-written book that tells us much more than the life of one amazing female radio astronomer. It also provides a profile on radar developments during WWII and on Australia’s pre-eminent place in solar radio astronomy in the years following WWII. Under the Radar is compelling reading, and if you have taken the time to read right through this review then it certainly belongs on your bookshelf!” (Wayne Orchiston, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, March, 2010)

---

This book is an abbreviated, partly re-written version of "Under the Radar - The First Woman in Radio Astronomy: Ruby Payne-Scott." It addresses a general readership interested in historical and sociological aspects of astronomy and presents the biography of Ruby Payne-Scott (1912 – 1981). As the first female radio astronomer (and one of the first people in the world to consider radio astronomy), she made classic contributions to solar radio physics.
She also played a major role in the design of the Australian government's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research radars, which were in turn of vital importance in the Southwest Pacific Theatre in World War II. These radars were used by military personnel from Australia, the United States and New Zealand. From a sociological perspective, her career offers many examples of the perils of being a female academic in the first half of the 20th century.

Written in an engaging style and complemented by many historical photographs, this book offers fascinating insights into the beginnings of radio astronomy and the role of a pioneering woman in astronomy. To set the scene, the first colourfully illustrated chapter presents an overview of solar astrophysics and the tools of the radio astronomer.

From the reviews of “Under the Radar”:

“This is a beautifully-researched, copiously-illustrated and well-written book that tells us much more than the life of one amazing female radio astronomer. It also provides a profile on radar developments during WWII and on Australia’s pre-eminent place in solar radio astronomy in the years following WWII. Under the Radar is compelling reading, and if you have taken the time to read right through this review then it certainly belongs on your bookshelf!” (Wayne Orchiston, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, March, 2010)

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xx
Introduction....Pages 1-11
A Brief, Basic Guide to Terms and Concepts of Solar Radio Astronomy....Pages 13-42
Ruby Payne-Scott’s Ancestors and Her Early Childhood....Pages 43-51
Ruby Payne-Scott’s Education and Early Employment....Pages 53-66
Wartime Research by Ruby Payne-Scott at the Radiophysics Laboratory....Pages 67-86
1944–1945: Ruby Payne-Scott – The First Woman Radio Astronomer....Pages 87-101
1945–1946: Early Radio Astronomy at Dover Heights....Pages 103-128
1946–1947: Personal Tragedy and Professional Triumph....Pages 129-146
1948: Hornsby Field Station: Daily Observations....Pages 147-165
1949–1951: Radio Astronomy Blossoms as a Field, but Ruby Must Resign from the Radiophysics Laboratory....Pages 167-199
1952: Ruby Payne-Scott’s Last Experience as a Radio Astronomer at the International Union of Radio Science....Pages 201-213
The Married Life and Motherhood of Ruby Payne-Scott....Pages 215-233
1963–1974: Employment at Danebank School....Pages 235-238
The Last Years and Legacy of Ruby Payne-Scott....Pages 239-244
Back Matter....Pages 245-262

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This book is an abbreviated, partly re-written version of "Under the Radar - The First Woman in Radio Astronomy: Ruby Payne-Scott." It addresses a general readership interested in historical and sociological aspects of astronomy and presents the biography of Ruby Payne-Scott (1912 – 1981). As the first female radio astronomer (and one of the first people in the world to consider radio astronomy), she made classic contributions to solar radio physics.
She also played a major role in the design of the Australian government's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research radars, which were in turn of vital importance in the Southwest Pacific Theatre in World War II. These radars were used by military personnel from Australia, the United States and New Zealand. From a sociological perspective, her career offers many examples of the perils of being a female academic in the first half of the 20th century.

Written in an engaging style and complemented by many historical photographs, this book offers fascinating insights into the beginnings of radio astronomy and the role of a pioneering woman in astronomy. To set the scene, the first colourfully illustrated chapter presents an overview of solar astrophysics and the tools of the radio astronomer.

From the reviews of “Under the Radar”:

“This is a beautifully-researched, copiously-illustrated and well-written book that tells us much more than the life of one amazing female radio astronomer. It also provides a profile on radar developments during WWII and on Australia’s pre-eminent place in solar radio astronomy in the years following WWII. Under the Radar is compelling reading, and if you have taken the time to read right through this review then it certainly belongs on your bookshelf!” (Wayne Orchiston, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, March, 2010)

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xx
Introduction....Pages 1-11
A Brief, Basic Guide to Terms and Concepts of Solar Radio Astronomy....Pages 13-42
Ruby Payne-Scott’s Ancestors and Her Early Childhood....Pages 43-51
Ruby Payne-Scott’s Education and Early Employment....Pages 53-66
Wartime Research by Ruby Payne-Scott at the Radiophysics Laboratory....Pages 67-86
1944–1945: Ruby Payne-Scott – The First Woman Radio Astronomer....Pages 87-101
1945–1946: Early Radio Astronomy at Dover Heights....Pages 103-128
1946–1947: Personal Tragedy and Professional Triumph....Pages 129-146
1948: Hornsby Field Station: Daily Observations....Pages 147-165
1949–1951: Radio Astronomy Blossoms as a Field, but Ruby Must Resign from the Radiophysics Laboratory....Pages 167-199
1952: Ruby Payne-Scott’s Last Experience as a Radio Astronomer at the International Union of Radio Science....Pages 201-213
The Married Life and Motherhood of Ruby Payne-Scott....Pages 215-233
1963–1974: Employment at Danebank School....Pages 235-238
The Last Years and Legacy of Ruby Payne-Scott....Pages 239-244
Back Matter....Pages 245-262
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