Eric Henry Stonely Burhop
(1911-1980)
Eric Burhop's parents were Salvation Army officers: their beliefs inculcated
in their son a lifelong commitment to the socially responsible uses
of scientific discoveries.
Taking his MSc from the University of Melbourne in 1933, Burhop was
the 26th winner of an Exhibition of 1851 Science Research Scholarship.
(Earlier recipients included JIO Masson and LH Martin: nine years later
it was awarded to DE Caro.) He went to the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge,
to work on an experimental project on several projects with fellow-Australians
Mark Oliphant and Harrie Massey. His research on the phenomenon of radiationless
emission of electrons made him a leading authority on the Auger effect.
He returned to Australia in 1936, completing under Professor Laby a
PhD based on his Cambridge work in nuclear physics and establishing
Australia’s first research program in this field.
During World War II, he worked on optical munitions and at the Radiophysics
Laboratory in Sydney, before joining the Manhattan Project for the development
of the atomic bomb, once again working with Massey. The remainder of
his professional life was spent overseas. After the war he worked principally
on the nucleus and sub-nuclear realm, in various collaborative projects
between University College, London, the European Centre for Nuclear
Research (CERN) and American laboratories.
Burhop's activism for the responsible use of nuclear power brought him
to the attention of both Australian and British authorities. In 1948
the Australian security service opened a file on him and his failure
to gain the Chair of Physics at Adelaide University was attributed to
his political views. In 1951, his passport was impounded and returned
by the British authorities only after public outcry. He was a foundation
member of the Australian Association of Scientific Workers, founder
of the British Society for Social Responsibility in Science, and a significant
participant in the negotiations leading to the establishment of the
Pugwash Conferences, first held in 1957, bringing together scientists
concerned about the use of nuclear energy.
